The right start line for a breaking putt is the one that is “high enough but no higher than necessary,” and the right delivery pace is the one that rolls the ball on that start line “as far as the hole, not any short, and not too quick across or far past the hole.” So what are these limits? There are two, formed by straight lines that intersect at the cup.
THE “CORNER” OF A BREAKING PUTT
FALL LINE: The “fall line” is the straight line uphill through the cup, here viewed as an imaginary short wall starting at the highest point on the rim of the hole running straight uphill.
BASE LINE: The “base line” connects the ball and the cup. The base line divides the green surface into one high side and one low side. The high side of the base line is the uphill side. The low side is like a cliff. Simple.
When these two lines meet at the hole, they form a “corner” and the green surface between these lines is the ONLY surface of the green that could possibly matter for 99% of all breaking putts. Uphill putts have a wide angle, sidehill putts have a perpendicular angle, and downhill putts have a narrow angle, like a small slice of pie. The fall line at this hole location is always the same; the base line changes with balls sidehill, uphill or downhill around the hole.
”Corner” for Sidehill Putt, Angle = 90 degrees
”Corner” for Uphill Putt, Angle > 90 degrees
“Corner” for Downhill Putt, Angle < 90 degrees
HOW TO USE THE CORNER – TOUCH FIRST, LINE SECOND
First, sort out the touch by imagining the fall line as a barrier like a short wall to send the ball straight towards with a pace that arrives nicely. Good touch will never be short of the fall line, and would roll over and past the fall line only 1-3 additional rolls, perhaps 4, but not 5 or more.
Then, the golfer considers what is “high enough” so that a straight-started roll with that pace will not fall low across the base line before / until reaching the hole. If the angle of the putter face uphill is not enough, increase the aim higher until the line is satisfactory for the pace. Only when the line is high enough will the lurking desire to add extra pace to “fix” the line or “force” the putt to stay on the high side finally evaporate like a fog of confusion. Then line and pace are LOCKED ON TARGET, so it’s time to pull the trigger.
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Related posts:
- Reading Putts: Perceiving the Fall Line Orientation
- Take it easy – Eazy Bag
- Sink the Putts is coming to Myrtle Beach
