Square Up the Face - Putting

To roll the ball down the target line with an end over end roll, the putter must strike the ball in a square position. Square is when the putter face is exactly at right angles to the target line. To have the face square at impact you must have the face square at address to avoid manipulation.

When the face is not square

I will go through an example and prove to you the importance of addressing each and every putt with the face square.

Example

When the face is open (aimed to the right of the target line at address)

When the face aims to the right

Assuming that everything else aims parallel to the target line and that you make a good stroke, this open face address position will result in a putt that is slightly pushed. (A push means that the ball comes out right of your target.) From this situation the following will result. You start missing putts to the right. To compensate you either aim more left with your body or you develop a pull in your putting stroke. Your stroke becomes full of manipulations and you start down the road to disaster.

What Happens at Impact When the Face Is Open?

Very few greens are maintained with a surface true enough to have no marks or deviations. It is a part of the game golfers have to accept. To overcome the bumps, you must create an end over end roll on the ball so that it tracks along the surface of the green. To have this roll, the ball must be struck by a square face. When a putt is struck by an open face the ball is chipped into the air and it rolls with a slight cut spin. Any opportunity it has to bounce off line it takes and you are left watching your ball bounce off every spike mark much like a pinball game.

So to roll the ball end over end and keep it tracking towards the target, you must strike the ball with a square face. To help yourself do this, you must address each putt with the clubface at right angles to the target line. Use the following exercise to check on your alignment and find the bottom of the hole on even the bumpiest of greens.