Putting Alignment Tips
The Two Forgotten Fundamentals
Photos courtesy of Tom Stickney
When it comes to putting well, the most obvious and easiest way is to align your body square to your ball’s target-line — but many people have a hard time doing so consistently.
In my putting research at Cordillera I use AMM’s 3D Motion Analysis System to analyze the body’s actions during the putting stroke. This research has yielded an alignment correlation with the two “forgotten” fundamentals that lead to inconsistency within the average golfers’ putting stroke.
In order to be consistent your body’s “flow-lines” must be parallel to one another; whenever they point in different directions putting becomes harder than it should be!
Alignment Issue Number One — The “High” Rear Forearm
Whenever you see a player whose rear forearm is too high at address you will also see an inconsistent stroke path, one that tends to move out to in. The putter shaft tends to follow the actions of the shoulders, thus, whenever the rear forearm is too high the shoulders usually align themselves open (3.2 degrees in the above example) or point to the left of your target line (for the right handed player). It is this action that influences the incorrect putter path and compensations within your stroke to correct for this.
Alignment Issue Number Two — Your Lateral Spinal Bending
The second most common address fundamental that interrupts the proper “flow-lines” of the body at address is the lateral bending of your spine. 
Whenever the spine leans too much toward the target it tends to influence the alignment of the shoulders as well.
Bending of the spine toward the target opens the shoulders and raises the right forearm as well.
The Solution:
You must audit the following things at address to ensure your “flow-lines” are consistent and accurate:
• The spine must be centered and not
leaning excessively one way or the other
• The shoulders must be parallel to your
ball’s target line
• The forearms must be parallel to your
shoulders, as well as, your ball’s target line
Use a friend or a mirror to monitor and check these positions if you are putting poorly. I guarantee one or all of these fundamentals are incorrect.
Tom F. Stickney II is Director of Golf Instruction for The Club at Cordillera, located in Edwards, Colorado. He is a Golf Magazine “Top 100 Teacher,” and is also ranked by Golf Digest as “One of the Top 20 Teachers Under 40.” Please visit www.tomstickneygolf.com for more information or call Tom directly at (970) 904-2485.
