How do you keep a straight putting stroke?

[Focker Singh]

I have a tendancy to get off line right when I take my putter back on its backswing. Not sure if its my putter weight being too light or my machanics completely wrong. It happens more on long distance putts, when I have to take a bigger backswing. It doesn't happen to me all the time and I'm not a poor putter (I average under 2 putts per hole if that means anything) but I think I can improve in that category if I can get a more consistent putting stroke. Any suggestions or tips?

[wayland]

That isn't necessarily a bad thing.

There are 2 types of putter strokes (and depending on which one you have, certain putters are more suitable for you).

1. Straight back and thru
2. Putter goes back to the inside in an arc.

Obviously the first method would seem to be less error prone as the time the face sits square to the target is longer, however we all have different swings and some work better with the 2nd and vice versa.

If you are type 2, and putting ok. I wouldn't consider going to type 1, simply refine your existing method to get better.

[Mule56]

I have a tendancy to get off line right when I take my putter back on its backswing. Not sure if its my putter weight being too light or my machanics completely wrong. It happens more on long distance putts, when I have to take a bigger backswing. It doesn't happen to me all the time and I'm not a poor putter (I average under 2 putts per hole if that means anything) but I think I can improve in that category if I can get a more consistent putting stroke. Any suggestions or tips?Focker,
More Dave Pelz help on the way. Take two yardsticks lay them on the ground (or your carpet). Place them about 1 inch wider than your putter head. Now moving only your shoulders you should be able to swing your putter back and forth and keep the head inside the yardsticks or close to it. You may not be able to do it perfect due to your body type, but the closer you can get without rotating around your spine axis or manipulating you hands the more repeatable.
Most people actually go close to straight back. It on the forward motion that they start to close the the barn door. This is caused by looking up. Looking up does not help. Once you've stroked the ball looking up won't help.
Mule

[Queen of the Beach]

I have a tendancy to get off line right when I take my putter back on its backswing. Not sure if its my putter weight being too light or my machanics completely wrong. It happens more on long distance putts, when I have to take a bigger backswing. It doesn't happen to me all the time and I'm not a poor putter (I average under 2 putts per hole if that means anything) but I think I can improve in that category if I can get a more consistent putting stroke. Any suggestions or tips?
Good question FS. I have the same problem which I think might be solved if I switch to a mallet style putter instead of the blade putter that I have? My boyfriend and a couple other golfer friends have suggested that I take a shorter back swing and complete my follow through to putt straighter. Any additional help would be appreciated though. Thanks!

[Grass Roots Tour]

You could also switch to cross handed putting style. This meothod will immediately make short putts very easy. The downside ... your feel for distance control takes a dump. Now after switching you have to relearn how big a swing to make to get the distance you want. The "hit" will be gone from your stroke leaving you with a wrist-free pendulum action but not a great sense of feel.
This feel for distance can be regained but in the meanwhile I recommend switching back and forth between conventional and cross handed depending on the length of the putt you face and your comfort level at the time.
I also find that mallet putters are best suited for cross handed putting style.

Good luck.

[Jaydog]

Good question FS. I have the same problem which I think might be solved if I switch to a mallet style putter instead of the blade putter that I have? My boyfriend and a couple other golfer friends have suggested that I take a shorter back swing and complete my follow through to putt straighter. Any additional help would be appreciated though. Thanks!

one thing that i often remember (bc my friend keeps telling me) is to follow the ball with my putter face toward the hole. that usually fixes my stroke quickly.

[wellfile]

I have the same problem and I did some investigation. I have a straight-thru putting stroke. From what I have read a lot of people have a hard time stabilizing this stroke with a 35 inch putter. So, I just built myself a shorter putter (33.5 inches) which lets my hands/arms hang down more naturally and get my head closer and more directly above the ball. Apparently a lot ofpros like Ernie Els use putters in the 33 inch range (and he's very tall!). Hopefully, eliminating the scrunched elbow bend will do the trick of keeping the 'pendulum' more stable.

Also, I was using a heel-shafted putter, but the new one is centre-shafted, which is supposed to be ideal for the straight-thru stroke (according to what I read). Now, if only the weather would warm up I could see if this will work on the course!

[AnnikaFan]

yea..i had the same problem too..except my putts tend to miss it to the left.....

when i first started golfing, i was crosshanded...then i switched to normal grip with the pendulem swing...and found myself kept on missing the putts to the left....

I just recently changed back to crosshanded and it was a lot better....all the putts rolled straight within 10 feet......now i just need to work on my alignment...

tho i've only been putting in my living room on the carpet......and havn't really tested out long putts yet..so can't really tell you about distance control...
but try it!...

[Shadow]

Good question FS. I have the same problem which I think might be solved if I switch to a mallet style putter instead of the blade putter that I have? My boyfriend and a couple other golfer friends have suggested that I take a shorter back swing and complete my follow through to putt straighter. Any additional help would be appreciated though. Thanks! Suggestions:
1. Put some impact tape on your putter face, take about 40 putts and see how close your "average" putt is to the so called sweet spot. A tendancy to make contact toward the toe will send the ball right and toward the heel, left. Center of face contact is more important than face angle or club head path. Work on hitting closer to the sweet spot.

2. Make a putt, do not look up and hold your finish. Now, look at the position of the putter face. Try to have it finish facing the hole.

3. Most golfers hit at the ball instead of through it. Work on a gentle acceleration of the putter face well past the ball. If you are tapping at the ball the putter face will likely rebound, or go to a position past the ball and then be pulled back a little toward where the ball was. Just let the putter go to the finish and hold it there.

4. MOST IMPORTANT. The reality is that most putts are missed because we allow our heads/shoulders to follow the putter face as we swing through the ball. This results in the shoulders rotating laterally, instead of up and down, causing the ball to be pulled left frequently, or blocked right. occasionally. DO NOT LOOK UP UNTIL YOUR PUTTER HAS STOPPED MOVING FORWARD.

5. A heavier putter decreases the amount of twitching that some of us do. I have added 56 g of tungsten slugs to the base of my Wishon Smoooth 7 putter, and while if feels like a log, it also feels like it makes me swing in slow motion.

Forgot to add: A "crosshanded" grip increases the probability of square contact.

[Ems]

All good suggestions. I think I'm Type 2.

Following through (when I remember) really helps!

[Focker Singh]

Focker,
More Dave Pelz help on the way. Take two yardsticks lay them on the ground (or your carpet). Place them about 1 inch wider than your putter head. Now moving only your shoulders you should be able to swing your putter back and forth and keep the head inside the yardsticks or close to it. You may not be able to do it perfect due to your body type, but the closer you can get without rotating around your spine axis or manipulating you hands the more repeatable.
Most people actually go close to straight back. It on the forward motion that they start to close the the barn door. This is caused by looking up. Looking up does not help. Once you've stroked the ball looking up won't help.
Mule
I think this might help me the most. I should have also noted that when I take my putter back, I sometimes will take it outside, so this tip should have me become more consistant. Thanks everyone for your tips too. This is my weakest part of my game and all the money relies on the putter. :D