Putting Tips DISTANCE CONTROL Introduction The Monty Move Distance, The Putter & The Ball The Pop Putt, The Panic Putt & The Pro Putt Applying The Pro Putt Muscle Memory PERFECT LINE Introduction Eye Position Ball Position Hand Position Body Alignment The Grip Forward Press The Takeaway Summary

PERFECT LINE

Forward Press

There're three benefits to a forward press. Firstly with your hands ahead you get a better strike than if your hands lag behind the putter head at impact.

Secondly, a forward press is your safety check before you hit the putt. You can't forward press with low hands because the face will close and you can't forward press with high hands or the face will open. In fact there's only one hand position that will forward press and continue to align the putter to the target and that's a neutral.

Thirdly by locking your wrists in a forward press it will prevent your wrists from breaking down at impact and spraying balls off line. A forward press from a neutral hand position is like locking the steering wheel so the engine can only drive the swing path and ball on line.

To achieve a solid forward use the back of your right hand as your guide. Start off with your hand in line with the putter and then push it ahead of the face noting what happens to your alignment - it will either go left, right or straight.

The most common hand position error is low hands. If your hands are low and you forward press you'll close the putter face and your alignment will go left. If your hands are high and you forward press your will open the face and your alignment will go right. In fact there's only one position where a forward press will continue to align the putter to the target.

That position happens when the putter sits flat and your hands are neutral. It's incredibly useful knowledge when the pressure's on and you really, really need the stroke and ball to go where you expect.

If you forward press and your alignment remains unchanged you have some powerful information. You know your eyes are over the line, the engine is in the right place, your strike will be good and you also know that you wont be spraying balls off line. Why don't you have a forward press again?