A quick trick to straighten out putts

Golf Digest, Oct, 2001 by Randy Smith

Many players have trouble aligning their eyes properly over putts. They may think they're aligned straight when, in fact, they're aligned left or right. That can throw off their putting stroke.

Use the cap brim to check position

Your putting stroke tends to follow the line of your eyes. If your eyes are aligned left, you'll tend to pull the ball. If they're aligned right, you'll tend to push the ball.

Here's a simple way to straighten out your stroke: Just pull your cap brim down a bit and use it as an eye-alignment aid. First, set your putter behind the ball in line with the target. Then set up so that your cap brim follows the line the putter has defined. Now you know your eyes are aligned where your putter is aimed, and you'll be more likely to make an on-line stroke.

If you putt with your feet perfectly square to the target line, it's even better, because you have a secondary check for your eyes: Just line up your cap brim with your feet as well as the line defined by the putter, and watch those putts fall.

Randy Smith has been voted one of America's 50 Greatest Teachers, as determined by Golf Digest from a vote of their peers. He teaches at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas.