Should head be behind ball when putting?
Emma Payne
Published Jan 19, 2026
You should always set up with the left side of your head either on this line, or behind it, on all your golf shots. Now, as the ball moves farther up in the stance with the driver, you'll see in a minute that you can set up farther behind this, but your head should never, ever, ever be in front of that line.
Where should your head be when putting?
You might have been told that when you putt, your eyes should be over the ball (above, right). But if you set up that way, your perception of the putting line can get distorted. When you lean over a ball and turn your head toward the hole, your eyes trick you into thinking the cup is left of its true position.
Should you keep your head down when putting?
“Everyone says you should keep your head still on short putts,” Wagner says, “but I've found that if you try to lock in your eyes or your head, your stroke can become restricted. One of the best tips I ever got was to forget about my head and instead try to keep my rear end still.
Where should the ball be when you putt?
The golf ball should be positioned slightly ahead of the centre of your stance – similar to the position you'd address it with a 6-iron. As you rest the putter on the ground, position your hands so that the grip of the putter points towards your left hip, just left of your belt buckle (for the right-handed golfer).
Should your head be over the golf ball?
The ideal head position in the golf swing from start to impact position should look like the image at the top in the right corner. For the right-handed golfer, this means tilting the head slightly to the right away from the golf ball.
43 related questions foundShould hands be in front of ball when putting?
It is a good idea to set your hands in front of the ball because such a position will usually lead to a clean roll. If your hands are farther back, you can actually hit a mini-chip shot which bounces along the green before it starts to roll.
How far should I stand from the ball when putting?
How Far from the Ball? It is generally recommended that the position of the ball should be under your eyes, or for your eyes to be just inside the ball. Your eyes should never be beyond the ball. Standing too close to the ball will cause your putter to follow an out-to-in path that will send your ball to the left.
How far apart should your feet be when putting?
4. Width of stance: Your feet should be shoulder-width apart. 5. Weight distribution: You want 50 percent of your weight on your front foot and 50 percent of your weight on your back foot.
How do you keep your head down when putting?
For most people, the thought of maintaining a steady head is the key to staying still while putting; for others, just focusing on your CG and its position between your feet is the key.
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Conclusion
- Control your head sway.
- Control your head rotation.
- Control your head lift.
- Control your head thrust.
How do you master a put?
Every golfer understands the importance of putting.
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Get the Putt Out of Here: 10 Ways to Master Putting
- It's All About Speed. As you practice, be sure to focus on your speed control. ...
- Relaxed Hands. ...
- Learn from Others. ...
- Head Perfectly Still. ...
- Find the Center. ...
- Hands Stay Out of It. ...
- Try One-Ball Practice. ...
- Never Miss a Chance.
How do you see the line when putting?
To find it, pick out a medium-length putt where the correct line is obvious. Then address the ball, and let your head swivel slowly left or right seeing if you can get your eyes to match that line. The nonstarters will be readily apparent, but there will likely be a few head positions that feel like you've got it.
Should you choke down on a putter?
The longer the putting stroke, on the short putts, the more chance there is for a deceleration into the ball and the putter face getting offline. Choking down on the putter will allow you much more solid struck putts when attempting those important winning putts.
Should your elbows touch your body when putting?
Interlace your fingers, clasping your hands in front of you. Then, get into your putting posture, and place your hands over your belly button, your elbows bent outward at 45 degrees. Keeping your lower body quiet, engage your core muscles and use them to rock your arms and shoulders back and forth.
Which hand should control the putter?
For a right-handed golfer, the right hand provides the power and the feel in the putting stroke, the left hand merely 'goes along for the ride'. But the left hand must do that in order to keep the putter-head low through impact and not pull 'up and out' of the shot.
Why do I hit behind the golf ball with my irons?
Improper Weight Transfer
During the backswing, the player's weight is on the back foot. Failure to naturally transfer the weight through the ball and onto the left commonly causes the club to drop behind the ball. The body and the club must work together in a proper weight transfer.
How do you stay behind the ball?
The correct ball position—opposite the left armpit—plays a pivotal role in generating more distance off the tee. Setting up this way helps you “stay behind” the ball longer through impact, encouraging a slightly ascending blow and a higher initial launch—and more carry.
How do you stay on the top of the golf ball?
You might have heard the terms "covering the ball" or "staying on top of it." They mean feeling like your chest is pointing at the ball through impact. A great drill to reinforce that feel is to hit shots off a downhill lie.
Where should your head be when hitting irons?
By keeping your head at least slightly behind the ball, it is almost automatic that you'll be able to hit up nicely through impact. To flip that around to the other end of the spectrum in your golf bag, you need to have your head just slightly in front of the ball at impact in order to hit down on your wedges.
Why do I keep lifting my head in golf?
Balance. If you are lifting up during the downswing, it means that your body is performing some unnecessary movements. Whether it's shoulders lifting, back-arching, knees or waist extending, or head raising, the result is almost always going to be a slight loss of balance.