Contacting the ball with the putter

An important thing to remember when putting is the action of the ball itself. A ball that is struck in the center runs much truer than one struck below or above the center. The latter reacts to any irregularity of the green, but the ball hit amidships rolls over most green imperfections without losing its line.

With this in mind I advise my pupils to modify in their own minds the old rule to keep the putter as low to the ground as possible. If you put a ball down on your living room carpet or on a green and place one of today's narrow-bladed putters behind it, you will notice that the center of the ball is in line with the top of the blade. Consequently, when you putt, you should make a small adjustment in your stroke and concentrate on bringing the center of the blade through the center of the ball. When you make this kind of contact you'll hear that nice crisp sound all good putters produce.

On uphill putts I think you will find you'll get a helpfully strong overspin on the ball if you shut the face of putter slightly. Conversely, on downhill putts where delicacy is needed, the face of the putter is "turned uphill," or laid back just a shade.

JOE PRYKE, Gorge Vale Golf Club, Victoria, B.C.

PHOTO

ILLUSTRATION

Shut face slightly for uphill putts

ILLUSTRATION

Open face for downhill putts