Belly Putters as Training Tools

Belly putters have really helped some tour players regain their old touch on the greens over the past few years. If you have never tried one, it might be worth your time to practice with one every once in a while. There is no need to make the belly putter your every day putter, it is a terrific training device. Locking the butt of the grip in your belly can expose some of the faults in your stroke and can reinforce a couple of extremely important aspects of the stroke. First and foremost, it is imperative to stay still over the ball as you execute the stroke. Lateral movemet of the body, or any head movement, will quickly have you attaining very erratic impact positions. Secondly, the shoulders should remain square to the line as you strike each putt toward the hole. Using a belly putter helps to reinforce these two aspects of the putting stroke and will help when you return to your regular flat stick.