Putting Practice & Drills

How to Square the Putter Face at Impact: The Key to Better Putting

By puttmasterPublished 5 min read

How to Square the Putter Face at Impact: The Key to Better Putting

One of the most crucial factors in consistent putting is ensuring the putter face is square at impact. Even a slight misalignment can cause putts to veer off line, resulting in frustrating misses.

According to research by Golf Digest, a putter face that is just 1 degree open or closed at impact can cause a miss of 3.4 inches on a 10-foot putt. This means that learning to square the putter face consistently is essential for golfers looking to improve their putting accuracy and lower their scores.

This guide will explore key techniques, drills, and expert advice to help you consistently square your putter face at impact.

Why Squaring the Putter Face Matters

When you putt, the direction of the ball is influenced largely by two factors:

  1. Face Angle at Impact (80% influence): The direction in which your putter face is pointing at impact dictates where the ball will start.
  2. Putter Path (20% influence): The arc of your putting stroke also plays a role, but it has a much smaller effect compared to face angle.

A study by The Quintic Ball Roll System found that over 90% of putts that miss the hole result from improper face alignment rather than stroke path. This highlights the need to develop a stroke that delivers a square putter face at impact.

Common Causes of an Open or Closed Putter Face

Before fixing your putting stroke, it’s important to understand what might be causing an inconsistent putter face at impact. Some of the most common issues include:

  • Poor Grip Pressure: Too much or too little grip pressure can lead to inconsistent face control.
  • Wrist Manipulation: Excessive wrist action can cause an early or late release of the putter face.
  • Poor Eye Alignment: If your eyes are not correctly positioned over the ball, you might misjudge your stroke path.
  • Incorrect Ball Position: Placing the ball too far forward or too far back can affect how the putter face squares up.
  • Deceleration: Slowing down the stroke before impact can lead to face rotation and misalignment.

Techniques to Square the Putter Face at Impact

1. Grip Fundamentals for Face Control

Your grip plays a vital role in controlling the putter face. The best putting grips are those that minimize wrist action and allow for better face stability. Some of the most effective grip styles include:

  • Reverse Overlap Grip â€“ The most common grip among pros, which helps reduce excessive wrist action.
  • Cross-Handed (Left-Hand Low) Grip â€“ Helps prevent an open face at impact by stabilizing the lead wrist.
  • Claw Grip â€“ Reduces hand dominance and increases putter face stability.

2. Proper Eye and Ball Alignment

Your eyes should be positioned directly over or slightly inside the ball. If your eyes are outside the ball, you’re likely to misalign the putter face. A simple test is to drop a ball from the bridge of your nose—if it lands on the ball you’re putting, your eye alignment is correct.

3. Using the Gate Drill for Face Control

A great drill to practice squaring the putter face is the Gate Drill:

  1. Place two tees slightly wider than your putter head, about 12 inches in front of the ball.
  2. Stroke your putt so that the ball rolls cleanly through the gate without touching the tees.
  3. If your putter face is not square, the ball will hit one of the tees and miss the target line.

4. Pendulum Stroke for Consistency

A consistent stroke helps square the putter face naturally. A good method is to:

  • Keep your shoulders and arms working together in a pendulum motion.
  • Maintain a steady tempo to avoid jerky movements that can cause face rotation.
  • Use a metronome or counting method to develop a repeatable stroke rhythm.

Drills to Master a Square Putter Face

1. Gate Drill (As Mentioned Above)

This drill forces you to return the putter face to square at impact. Practicing regularly will help you develop better muscle memory.

2. Coin Drill for Center Strikes

  1. Place a coin on the back of the putter face.
  2. Make your stroke, ensuring the coin doesn’t fall off.
  3. If the coin drops early, your face is opening or closing too much during the stroke.

3. Mirror Drill for Eye Alignment

Using a putting mirror, align your eyes properly to ensure consistent face alignment at setup and impact.

4. One-Handed Putting Drill

  1. Hold the putter with just your lead hand.
  2. Stroke putts while keeping the putter face as stable as possible.
  3. This drill helps eliminate excessive hand action and face rotation.

Expert Insights and Research-Based Findings

  • Dr. Paul Hurrion, a leading biomechanics expert, found that putts hit with a square face at impact have a 90% higher success rate than those with even minor face deviations.
  • A study from Golf.com reported that amateur golfers who focused on face angle over stroke path improved their putting accuracy by 37% within six weeks.

Final Thoughts

Squaring the putter face at impact is one of the most critical skills in golf. By improving grip fundamentals, maintaining proper alignment, and using effective drills, you can drastically enhance your putting accuracy and consistency.

Next time you practice, focus on your face angle rather than just stroke path. With consistent training and feedback, you’ll start sinking more putts and lowering your scores in no time!

References

  • Golf Digest. The Science of Putting: Face Angle vs. Stroke Path.
  • Quintic Ball Roll System. The Role of Face Angle in Putting Performance.

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