The concept of putting is as simple as it gets: you're trying to put the golf ball in the hole. Simple and easy aren't the same thing, however, especially when it comes to putting. Setting up correctly will improve your putting consistency. A proper setup leads to much better odds of a correct putting stroke. A four ball blade putter makes lining up the head properly easier.



The first thing you need to understand about a proper putting stroke is that it moves in an arc, not a straight line. Bear in mind-and this is very important-that the arc should be natural, not one that you must think about to perform accurately. It is always best to work toward being instinctive rather than mechanical and you'll have better feel and distance control. This will give you more made putts and minimal three-putts.

The setup is fundamental to golf: get it right and you'll improve the likelihood of hitting the golf ball squarely. You'll also play more instinctively. Five lines of address comprise the building blocks of a correct setup. A four ball blade putter can enable you to notice if your setup is correct. The five lines will guide your setup to a correct one and make it so that you can be fitted with the right length of shaft. The five lines at address are:

1: Your forearms and the shaft are aligned with each other. The shaft and your forearms need to be on the same plane. Your arms can then move in unison with the shaft when you stroke. Grasp that four ball blade putter with your palms rather than fingers to set yourself on the path to optimum alignment.

2: Your hands must be directly under the shoulder line. Bow forward from your hips and face the ground with your upper body. Your hands will then naturally sit under the shoulder line, free and clear of the body. You will want to have your elbows bent slightly, and no tension at all in your hands or arms.

3. Eyes rest over the ball. If you're in your bowed forward stance, let your eyes settle over the ball. You're more likely to see the line if your eyes are there or just inside the target line. If you have problems aligning correctly, consider a four ball blade putter. The unique alignment system will make proper setup and takeaway easier.

4. Balance your weight on the middle of your feet. Once your eyes are over the ball, set up your feet at the proper distance from the ball. Can you feel your weight in the middle of your feet? If you're too close, your weight will settle on your heels, whereas if you're too far away, your weight will balance on your toes.

5. Shaft aligned 90 degrees to the ground. Don't lean the four ball blade putter shaft forward or backward at address. Leaning would change the built-in loft of the four ball blade putter. On the other hand, if you're aligned 90 degrees to the ground, the face of your four ball blade putter will have about 4 degrees of loft, and this is what you need to get the proper roll. If you can't help leaning forward at address, you will need to add loft to the four ball blade putter face to compensate for your lean. The alignment balls on the four ball blade putter can help you determine if you've compensated accurately.

If you can get to the point where you are able to achieve these five lines at address instinctively, it will be a lot easier for you to stroke on the proper arc. The arc may be small, it is highly visible in some people because of the effort to attempt to keep the putter head straight back to straight through. Don't rock your shoulders or your putter's head path will be poor. Instinctively using these five lines will help you achieve that arc.