There is probably a greater variety of putting styles than with any other golf shot. Most golf instructors will probably tell you that the putting stroke that consistently puts the ball in the hole is the right one for that golfer. So when I hear that feet MUST be parallel to the line of putt, I think that kind of training is pretty narrow-minded. Jack Nicklaus used the open putt position and I would say it worked well for him.
I’ve recently gone to the open position for short putts (within about ten feet), and have had excellent results so far. With the open stance I can keep my head behind the ball, which allows me to see the line much better without moving my head. For these short putts, I can see the line to the hole, and it’s just a matter of hitting the ball on that line. For longer putts I don’t get the same advantages.
However, for this plot to work, certain things have to happen.
1. You must use the pendulum strike. This is a shot where the face of the putter remains square to the ball throughout the entire stroke. I don’t think it’s possible to putt consistently if the putter face leaves the square position at any time. Sooner or later on some putt, maybe a big one, you won’t get your face in the proper position and you’ll push or pull that three foot. And nothing kills your confidence faster than when you do that.
2. Tuck your elbow back. With the open stance you can stabilize the right elbow against the body. This stability eliminates one more possible thing that can go wrong; that is, the more of your body you can keep planted and solid, the less can go wrong during the putting stroke.
3. Lead with the lead hand. One of the issues I’ve had with the open stance that I’ve had to correct is “popping” the ball. Because the ball is naturally going to be forward, the putter will tend to dig under the ball and lift it off the surface, which will definitely cause the putt to go off the line. By driving left-handed or lead-handed, I can prevent the putter from going up through the ball.
This style certainly goes against what many consider to be the uncompromising fundamentals of golf. But if you can consistently make what I think are the necessary adjustments to make this style work, you can find the advantages I’ve found to help you sink those short putts, the ones you should be sinking.