How does inconsistent ball position in putting affect your accuracy? Placing the ball too far back in your stance will make you aim to the right. Having the ball too far forward will make you aim the ball to the left.
If your ball position changes by one inch forward or backward it will affect your aim by 3 inches for every 10 feet.
Aiming and having a set routine is something professional golfers practice every day.
Your dominant eye and vision play a large part in aiming. Along with that, every person has a spot along their stance line that will make them a good putter. The perfect ball position.
Over the last year and a half I’ve found that consistent putting setup. Here is what I did to find it.
Finding a way to be consistent
For years, I putted with the ball position in the middle of my stance. My left eye was always over the ball and my grip was left hand low. I was not consistent.
The issues I had were missing to the right and I had to switch to a chip putt swing on longer putts.
I decided to try the reverse overlap grip, measured my stats and moved my ball position trying to find the right combination for consistent putting results.
First, I figured out I was right eye dominant and worked on eye position over the ball. Then I changed my grip and ball position.
My current grip is the reverse overlap grip. I play the ball straight forward of my left heel and have two putter head lengths between my feet. My eyes are just inside the ball position and both are behind the ball.
The bottom line is that my putting stats are right in there. I’m am confident lining up putts, setting up the putt and making the stroke.
It still takes a lot of practice.
My initial changes
I started by trying to keep the ball position in the middle of my stance with my left eye over the ball. I stayed with the left hand low grip and tried to elevate the heel of the putter to try more of a straight back and thru motion.
The straight back and thru stroke is very hard to repeat and requires manipulation of the putter.
I kept trying to change my grip to eliminate my right push tendencies.
After a couple thousand putts, I needed to make a change. It was clear that my grip alone was not making me push the ball to the right and the straight back and thru motion was not repeatable.
Making a significant change
After watching several great putters closely, I changed to the reverse overlap grip, elevated the putter heel slightly and moved my ball position to straight forward of my left heel.
I found that moving the ball forward allows me to square up the putter face at impact. In other words, I adopted more of an arc in my putting stroke.
Finding the correct ball position and maintaining a consistent stance width at setup are critical.
I have now measured several thousand more putts and have found a repeatable setup.
My current thought process
Approaching the green. I mentally and visually map things out. Once on the green, I look for the fall line to determine the break if any. If there is a break, I walk below the hole to feel the break with my feet. Then, I stand well behind the ball to find the ideal line and entry point.
Walking up to the ball, I set the putter down square in relation to my intermediate target, aim line and aim point. Then, I grip the putter. Taking my stance is last. After a couple practice strokes and one more glance at my aim point, I make the putt.
My trigger is lifting the putter head slightly.
While I don’t make every putt, I’m much more consistent and confident. Confidence and accuracy are the keys to great putting. Moving my ball position was a game changer.
Images of my setup and what I’ve tried
I always have my putter with me and can use it to measure ball position and stance if I need to. The items below are Ok for practice, but you really need to take it to the course. The putter head works great.
with the ball forward in my stance.
Here are two things I’ve tried and don’t use much anymore.
The T3 Putting Arc – used to practice a perfect arc. It works for putts of 6 feet or less. However, my arc is larger for longer putts. Now, I use it only if I’m having trouble. The mirror comes off and you can take the T3 with you in your bag.
Rimer 2.0 ball position trainer – I really haven’t found this to be handy. It has a sliding indicator for position. It can be used for putting, short game or full swing. This would travel well also.
