Setup for Straight Strokes

A good setup for straight, consistent strokes is one in which the stance and bend are comfortable and stable, the arms and hands hang naturally without unwanted tension, and the shoulders are aligned parallel to the target line. From this setup, the golfer can make consistently accurate and repeating stroke movements defined in reference to the bottom of the stroke. (audio podcast, 6 mins. 44 secs.) LISTEN

The Aim Gaze

The Aim Gaze is a tip to help golfers setup beside the ball and determine accurately where in fact the putter face aims along the green. (This has never been taught before by anyone in golf, although in the 1950s and 1960s tour pros used an around-the-elbow approach that avoided most problems.) Over 90% of all golfers, pro and amateur alike, do not accurately aim their putters where they think they are aiming on a ten-foot putt, and the vast majority usually are aimed outside the hole from this distance and farther but are not aware of the problem. There are only two simple skills to learn in order for any golfer to setup to a putter and to determine accurately where in fact it aims: first, the skill of running your line of sight along the ground sideways in a straight line, and second, the skill of matching this line on the ground to the aim of the putter. The first skill requires the golfer to use a "gaze" that aims the eyeballs dead straight and level out of the plane of the face and head and combine this with the turning of the head and face on the axis of the neck like turning an "apple on a stick." The second skill requires only that the golfer in addressing the putter align the line of his throat or neck to match the top edge of the putter face. Then when he aims his face and line of sight at the sweetspot of the putter with a straight-out gaze and turns his head and face towards the target like an apple on a stick, his line of sight will run in a straight line sideways along the ground to the spot on the green where the putter face is actually aimed. (audio podcast, 5 minutes, 17 seconds). -- Listen