Open Putting Stance

[ty_smith78]

After stuggling with putter accuracy and consistency I recently began opening my putting stance quite a bit and noticed a increase in both. With the open stance most of the weght is on my right foot. What are the drawback to this kind of putting stance? Am I just puting an bandaid on lager problem? Before with a square stance I pushed the ball right alot and had a hard time getting those long putts anywhere close to the hole. I seem to get a better look at the line with the open stance. My routine now is to address the ball with a normal square stance and then move my left foot back perpendicular to the target line about 6 inches and open the hips slightly. This also requires the ball be back in the stance about 3-5 inches inside the right foot. I don't see anyone else doing this so I have got to be way off somewhere.

Thank You

[LowPost42]

Re: Open Putting Stance

Sounds like you've found your solution.

I putt with an open stance, and hit the ball (as opposed to swing through).

That said, I don't tend to three putt.

[gord962]

Re: Open Putting Stance

I think I know why this is working for you. More than likely you don't have your left eye over the ball. When you set up and line up to the hole, you are actually aiming right of the hole. To test, try this drill: http://members.shaw.ca/gord962/drills/putting.htm

[LowPost42]

Re: Open Putting Stance

Once again, Gord is right.

I noticed last year that I lined everything up with my non-dominant eye (right eye) and everything went right... hence the open stance. Once I started lining up with my dominant eye, shots went straight (and putts started getting 'pulled' until I corrected!)

When I don't think about it, I still line up with my right eye.

[ty_smith78]

Re: Open Putting Stance

Thanks guys. I'll check out the drill and post the results.

ty

[RobotDoctor]

Re: Open Putting Stance

This will not work for me as I am essentially a one-eyed person. I am legally blind (due to old injury) in my right eye. I only see with my left eye (eventhough I can still see out of my right. Brain does incredible things).

I have struggled with putting in the past 14 years after being a great putter in the past. My problems started when I abandoned a slightly open stance, a la Jack Nicklaus, in favor of a square stance back around 1991. I was so stubborn to make this change work that I struggled until switching back last year. I have began to find my putting touch again. Another year with the slightly open stance and I might regain my old tough.

Also, I wear glasses and I feed that this makes putting a problem as lenses tend to distort actual sight. I am thinking about getting contact lenses again to play golf, with sunglasses (or protective lenses) for all shots except putting.

I miss the days when I could make most all my putts inside 15 feet. Well, I felt that I could make every putt eventhough I did not.