Three Elements To Effective Putter Aiming

For Great Putter Aim – Be Fit For A Putter You Can Aim, Develop A Consistent Putter Aim Routine, Then GO!

We did not get to watch any of the Ryder Cup yesterday; we were returning from a great time with our grandsons and their parents.  But Saturday we did see some of the team matches.  Everyone knows that Ian Poulter was the stud of this year's Ryder Cup.

 

However, during one of the Saturday matches Ian had about a 6 foot downhill right-to-left putt – and I was CERTAIN before he hit it that he would miss it.  He was aiming his putter to the left of the hole.  And, sure enough, he missed this putt left, to lose the hole.  One of the few putts he did not make during the Ryder Cup!

 

Aiming your putter at your target line is a critical skill for being a good putter.  If you cannot aim correctly, you will always be adjusting  your stroke to compensate for this.  What are, then, the things that a golfer needs to do to be able to aim his/her putter consistently on the line they choose for their stroke.  Well, here are three things that you must do:

 

1.  First, be fit for a putter that you can consistently aim at the target.  More than 90% of golfers do not have a putter that allows them to do this.  Find a custom fitter who can help you get a putter in your bag that you can aim well every time.

 

2.  Second, develop a Consistent Aim Routine so that you can identify your intended aim and set the putter on line for that aim.  One such routine is described in the book "There Is More To Putting Than Meets The Eye," by Lanny Johnson and Howard Twitty.  Here is a link to their suggested aim process – http://www.prescriptiongolf.com/BookSample/Recommended%20Putting%20Routine.pdf

 

3.  Third – and this perhaps gets a little tricky – stick with the aim line you have chosen.  In doing putter fittings, I have noticed that many players pick an aim location, and then make "slight movements" of the putter to change that aim.  Once you have picked where you believe you should aim, stick with it!

 

How about you? – do you have other suggestions to improve the process for aiming putts – please comment.

 

The Fit Is IT!!

Tony