Open Your Stance When Your Putting Goes Awry

Putting touch can come and go. In other articles I have addressed some possible on the course corrections for when your touch is off on any given day. But what about when your distance is pretty good, but you can't seem to get the ball started on the right line?

Chances are if you are missing your line consistently one way or the other you are simply misaligned. You can try to make a small adjustment to correct your alignment, but this is very difficult to do on the course.

If you are missing your line on both sides, it is a sign of confusion or lack of commitment. There is nothing you can do, physically at least, to become more committed.

If getting the ball started on line is a problem, you may want to go to a physical extreme. In other words, do something totally different.

If you are out on the course hitting your putts every which way but in the hole, take a drastic step and open your stance A LOT, say 10 to 15 degrees.

This will help you see the line a little better.

Sam Snead used to say "you gotta dance with who ya brung". But if who ya brung ain't dancin right, why get your toes stepped on? You can bet Tiger doesn't just resign himself to a mediocre day. I'm sure he tries anything and everything to save a shot.

By making a major change to the alignment of your putting stance, you give the stroke a whole new feel. If what you've got is not working, something totally different may be just what the golf doctor ordered.

You can always work on correcting a minor alignment problem on the putting green after the round, or on the mat at the house. But on the course, you need to get the ball in the hole right now. Sometimes that requires drastic measures.

Sacre Bleu, Phebe, you do realise that what you have just written goes against all the modern thinking on how to putt, although I agree entirely with waht you say.

I was fortunate enough to have a round with the great putter, Bobby Locke, many years ago and his stance and method would be ridiculed today, but, he was one of the finest putters of his generation and would be up there with the best today.

This is something I have always done, as soon as I get waywood I open my stance and crouch down ala Nicklaus and it has seen me through many rounds. Since I have adopted left hand low  I don't thhink I have had to call on this method once.

You always get width mixed up with height  Santo

You do realise, Lee, that had you 2 putted then you would have been round in 73 which is rather making a mockery of your current handicap. Your ball striking must be superb.