(PART I)

In your efforts to improve your short game, particularly your putting, I like to have my students fraction their focus. I break putting into two basic functions – DISTANCE and DIRECTION. Let’s talk DIRECTION!

DIRECTION:
I think it’s extremely important to first recognize direction’s two major components – FACE and PATH.

• FACE
  Face conditions relative to the target line at impact are important. Allowing the face to contact the ball at a right angle (square) is a major condition as to eliminate any type of sidespin being applied to the ball.
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• PATH
  Path, the second major component, is fairly simple to understand. However, it is not always as easy to recognize if extended periods of habit exist. It should also be understood that set up conditions could, and often do, vastly affect your path. The person who sets up somewhat away from the ball with his/her hand and eyes significantly inside the intended path, is likely to swing the putter head in somewhat of an arching manner. Whereas the person who sets up closer to the ball with his/her eyes over the intended path, is more likely to putt in a more straight back, straight through pendulum type putt. So, understanding set up can, and often does, affect path.