This article was machine-translated from the Korean original. Read the Korean original
There is a question that comes up most often when setting up for a putt: where should I place the ball?
However, thinking in terms of the ball itself can actually be confusing. It is much more convenient to use the putter face where the impact occurs as the reference point, rather than the ball.
I have organized the criteria for the address point by dividing them into two angles: front and side.
01Viewed from the front — the face is in the center, the head is also in the center
The first thing to look at from the front is the position of the putter face. Always align the putter face so that it is centered between your feet, and if you trace that face line straight upward, it should meet your solar plexus—that is, the position of a button on a buttoned shirt.
To summarize, this means that the center of your feet, your face, and your solar plexus must lie on a single vertical line. If your body is leaning to the left or right, this line will deviate from your solar plexus. You must always keep your head bowed while maintaining a position centered between your feet.
If the clubface is positioned below the center of the face (solar plexus) like this, the ball will naturally be placed slightly to the left of the clubface.
The reason for adhering to this standard is that the impact must occur at the lowest point of the swing path, the so-called 'low point'.
If the ball is to the right of the low point, the club will hit the ball with a downward motion while it is still descending, causing the ball to bounce and resulting in poor distance. Conversely, if it is too far to the left, the club will hit the ball while it is already ascending, causing a topping shot and a loss of power.
So, when viewed from the front, you should always think of the putter face as the center of your feet.
02How Much Grip Press? — The Story of Loft and Ballistics
I also get asked a lot how far forward I should press the grip. This requires a discussion of loft and trajectory.
The loft of a putter is usually between 3 and 4 degrees, but here we will explain based on 3 degrees. In reality, the desired trajectory at impact is between 1.5 and 2 degrees.
The reason this trajectory is necessary is that the ball must be able to escape from the grass. If the trajectory is too high, the ball will bounce irregularly as it rises and falls, while conversely, if the trajectory is too low, the ball's power will be significantly reduced due to the influence of the grass.
The trajectory is determined by the loft. If the putter maintains a 3-degree loft at address, it is effectively more upright than the desired 1.5 degrees. Therefore, you need to reduce the loft by pushing the end of the grip slightly forward at address.
The standard is as follows. If the end of the grip moves 1cm forward from the vertical, the loft decreases by 1 degree. To reduce it by 1.5 degrees, move it 1.5cm; since the diameter of a ball is 4.5cm, it is easy to understand if you think of it as roughly half a ball's width forward.
To summarize, the clubface is centered between your feet, and the end of the grip is about half a ball's width ahead. This is the ideal address when viewed from the front.
03Side view standard — keep the arm and club in a straight line
On the other hand, there are many questions about how to connect the club and the arm, and how much to bend the elbow.
The method is simple. Hold the grip and extend your arms straight so that the club forms a straight line without any angle. From that position, gently relax only your elbows and bend them slightly, resting them lightly on the front of your rib cage; this will keep your forearms and the shaft in the same line.
After assuming this position, simply bend your pelvis and knees slightly and lean forward until the club head touches the ground.
There is also a way to check the position of your hands. Your hands should be directly below your shoulders; the appropriate distance is when, while in your stance, you can comfortably let your right hand hang down and then bring it back to grip. If it is too far, you will have to extend your hand forward, and if it is too close, you will have to pull it back, so you should find the middle ground.
04How wide is the foot? — Check by pelvic direction
Foot width is basically based on the width of the pelvis. However, foot width is also related to the direction of the pelvis.
When you take your address and let your hands hang comfortably, if one hand is further forward than the other, it is a sign that your pelvis is rotated.
If you feel that your pelvis is misaligned, try widening or narrowing your stance slightly to find the point where your hands are parallel to the target line. The width you find in this way will be the stride that fits you best.
05Three things to check today
To summarize, there are three things to check during the setup: whether the putter face is centered between your feet, whether the end of the grip is about half a ball's width ahead, and whether your hands are positioned parallel to the target line.
I recommend that you do not try to get them all right at once, but instead check them one by one using a mirror or video.
