(Part 2, Conclusion)

Continued from blog entry – “Keeping Your Putter on Line (Part 1)”
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The Putting Laboratory

Lay down two clubs 3 to 4 feet from the hole along a putting line that is straight and slightly uphill. The clubs should be parallel and just wide enough apart to accommodate the length of your putter head. Set down a third club across the two parallel clubs near the end opposite the hole.

Now that your putting lab is set up, conduct the following research:

• Place your putter head against the back of the third club and ask yourself if this is optically what your putter face normally looks like to you at address (photo A). If not, your club­ face hasn’t been square and needs reg­ular attention. (You’ll notice that LPGA Tour player Missie Berteotti used a cross-handed putting grip.)
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• Make several strokes between the two shafts without a ball present. If your putter head arches or moves outside to inside abruptly, concentrate on keeping the clubhead between your alignment clubs on the ground to help you groove a constant, square path. If this doesn’t solve your prob­lem, consult your professional with your findings to discuss possible setup or even equipment changes. Often, the lie or loft of your putter has affect­ed the way you’ve trained your optics.
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• Now, place a ball between your parallel alignment clubs so that, when you address the ball, your putter head is just in front of the third club (pho­tos 1, 2, and 3). From this position, stroke the ball toward the hole using no backswing, but rather moving the club forward while keeping it on line. Focus on feeling the square path of the followthrough.

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Remember, according to noted golf research analyst David Pelz, the putter strikes 43 percent of the shots you hit in a round of golf. Your putting setup and stroke should be as sound as possible.