You will find a wider range of putting strokes than any other. The putting stroke that gets the ball into the hole consistently is what most golf coaches will tell you. When I hear the instruction that your feet must be in line with the putting line, it is very narrow-minded. Jack Nicklaus used open putting and it worked for him.
For short putts, I have been using the open stance (within ten feet) and I have had excellent results. The open stance allows me to keep my head in front of the ball and see it clearly without having to move my head. It is easy to see the entire line from the hole for short putts. For longer putts, I do not get the same benefits.
To put this stroke into action, there are certain conditions.
1. Use the pendulum stroke. It is the stroke that ensures the putter’s head stays in line with the ball the entire time. If the face of the putter is not in a square position, it will be difficult to consistently putt. You will have to either pull or push that three-footer sooner or later, especially if it’s a crucial putt. You can’t be more confident than that.
2. Tuck the elbow behind. The open position will allow you to stabilize your right elbow in relation to the body. This stability eliminates one other possible problem: the less you have to move during the putting stroke, the better.
3. Lean with the fronthand. The open-minded stance has been a problem for me, and I needed to fix it. “popping”The ball. The ball will naturally be in front so the putter may have a tendency get underneath the ball to lift it off of the ground. This will definitely throw off the line. It is easier to prevent the putter rising from the ball by leading with either the left or lead hands.
This is a style that goes against the grain of what most golfers consider to be unbending principles. If you are able to consistently make the adjustments necessary to make this style of play work, I believe you will find that the benefits I found can help you sink the short putts you need.