Correcting taking putter outside the line?
 

I have been at best, a mediocre putter all my life.
I am right eye dominant which I must adjust for but the major problem is that I take the putter back outside the line on my backstroke. What is the best way to work on correcting that problem?
Thanks

More info needed...
 

...Please describe your grip. Is it conventional or "left hand low"? :golf:

Very often that happens with either or both of these are true:

your hands are too far 'inside' your shoulders (verticle plane)

your eyes are too far 'outside' your ball/target line

(basically both can happen if you are leaning too far out over the ball)

I have a conventional grip. I recently changed my stance to making it totally open and use #1 accumlator to push down the line.

Very coincidental that this question would come up as I have been messing some with my putting.... also trying to go to more of a hitting protocol. There is something about it I like when putting.

I'm finding the use of ONLY the right elbow to power the stroke to be a bit tricky. I know that both VJT and Yoda clearly state that "the mix is not the fix", but when experimenting with it today I simply ignored my putter head path (my tendency also seems to be to get a tad loopy outside going back as I think I get a little shoulder rotation involved) and focused my intentions solely on lag pressure and face orientation at impact. Sure felt like more consistent contact than my attempts at using a "pure" push-basic stroke with a cross-line approach.

Back to the original question..... if face is the defining factor regarding ball direction, should we not get too wrapped up in the path of the putter on the backswing? I realize there may be some loss of precision, but I wonder if the benefit of being more "instinctive" (it feels that way to me) outweighs it.


CG

Alas, if your shoulder line is open, you'll be outside going back

Regardless of how your feet/knees/hips may be aligned, especially in putting, the shoulder line/alignment is what matters most.

Having the lower body open can be very helpful in seeing the line and in giving the hands room on the through swing, but always keep those shoulders aligned parallel to your targetline.

My advice...
 

...Greyguy, is to first, trace the plane line with the right arm only, no putter. It may be helpful to hold a laser pen, and guide the light on your base line. I think you are still using your left arm/hand to control the takeaway. Second, after you have mastered a true right forearm takeaway, start making backswings with only your right arm, using your putter. Start making 2 footers using only the right arm. Finally, after at least a few hundred right arm only putts, begin putting with both hands on the club. You will realize how irrelevant your left arm is for your putting stroke. I know this will help...it has worked wonders for me.
PS If you haven't already, purchase the "Alignment Golf" dvd sold on this site...watch the putting dvd over and over. Golden information!!:)

dss,

Excellent advice. I hadn't thought of the right-handed only putting with a push-basic action to help groove that but it's a really good idea. Something about the old "bend the right elbow and maintain the right hand bend" thing that takes some getting used to in my case. Tougher to "cheat" with no left hand on the club and you get a good feel of true push basic. With right arm only putting I can place my left hand on my right shoulder and ensure it isn't moving.

Amazing how many 10 footers I could hole doing this and how good the roll and speed control were with just the right arm.

Very anxious to take this to the course this weekend and see how it transfers.

CG

Draw you a little two foot chalk line at the hole put a 2 balls behind your putter one on the toe and one on the heel. If you take it outside the heel ball will be closer to the line, and if you take it inside the toe bal will be closer to the line. Easy Dril!

Thanks,
BurleyGolf-