Aiming a Putt
Also known as: aim the putter, aiming the putter, putter alignment, line on my ball, alignment line on the ball, aim my putts, putting alignment
To aim a putt, pick a spot on your start line a few inches ahead of the ball. Set the putterface square to that spot before you set your feet. Many golfers use a line on the ball, pointed along the start line rather than at the hole, then match the putter's sight line to it.
Aim starts with the read. Decide the start line, the direction the ball must roll off the face to curve into the hole. On a breaking putt, that line points away from the hole. Then pick an intermediate spot on it, such as a discolored blade of grass a few inches ahead of the ball. A close target is easier to aim at than a hole 20 feet away.
Set the putterface square to that spot first, then build your stance around it. Many golfers draw a line on the ball and set it along the start line. They then match the putter's sight line to it. That works well for some players. Others find the line distracting or freeze over it. Practice both ways before deciding.
Aim errors are easy to miss. Check yours on a flat, straight putt. Use a chalk line, a laser or two tees set as a gate just wider than the putter head. Putter shape matters as well. Mallets with long sight lines help some golfers aim. Blades suit others. A fitter can test which one you aim most accurately.
Tips by skill level
On a straight putt, lay a club on the ground pointing at the hole. Practice setting the putter square to it until square feels normal.
Test your aim with different putter shapes using a laser or a mirror with a line. Many golfers aim one head style noticeably better than another.
Example
On a left-to-right putt, he picks a dark spot of grass six inches ahead of the ball on his start line. He sets the putter's line on that spot, then his feet. The ball starts over the spot and curls into the hole.
Why it matters
A well-struck putt still misses if the face aims off line. A repeatable aiming routine makes the start line something you control.
Common mistakes
- Aiming the line on the ball at the hole on a breaking putt
- Setting the feet first and then twisting the face into place
- Spending so long lining up the ball that the stroke freezes
- Never checking aim on a straight, flat putt
Frequently asked questions
Should I use a line on my ball to aim putts?
It helps many golfers. Point the line along your start line, not at the hole on a breaking putt, then match the putter's sight line to it. If it makes you freeze or doubt, putt without it.
How do I aim my putter correctly?
Pick a spot on your start line a few inches ahead of the ball. Set the putterface square to that spot first, then set your feet and shoulders. Check your aim with a club or chalk line on a straight putt.
Related terms
- Green ReadingGreen reading is judging a green's slope, grain, and speed. The goal is to predict how much, and which way, a putt will curve from its starting line.
- Reading BreakReading break is predicting how much, and which way, a putt will curve based on slope. It is a separate skill from the putting stroke: a well-struck putt on a misread line still misses.
- Putting FundamentalsSet up with your eyes over or just inside the ball, the ball a little forward of center and a light grip. Rock your shoulders to move the putter back and through with quiet wrists. Aim the face first, then focus most of your practice on speed.
- Short PuttsShort putts are often missed because the putter face is not square at impact or the stroke slows down through the ball. Pick a precise target, make a firm stroke that would roll the ball a little past the hole, and keep your head still until the ball is gone.
- Mallet PutterA mallet putter has a large, often geometric head weighted toward its edges for forgiveness. Many are face-balanced to suit a straighter stroke.
- Eyes Over the Ball (Putting)Many coaches suggest setting your eyes directly over the ball or just inside it, on or slightly closer to you than the target line. Eyes well outside or well inside the line can make the line look bent and pull your aim off. Check it by holding a ball at the bridge of your nose and letting it drop.
Related guides & benchmarks
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