SETUP /INSTRUCTION
THE PERFECT SETUP
To begin, find a straight ,5 foot putt on the putting green.
Insert the Pro-Align so the Alignment Bar is pointing
directly into the center of the hole. Stand behind the
Pro-Align and look down the Alignment Bar to check this.
Keep rotating the Pro-Align until it's pointing directly in the
center of the cup (fig 1).
Now set the ball directly under the Alignment Bar and just
in front of the support arm. This give you correct eye
alignment over the ball (fig 2).
Now that you have the proper Pro-Align setup, address the
ball and set the putter down behind the ball like you are
going to putt. Remember this is a straight putt.
Is your putter face square to your aim line? If not, don't
worry. Most golfers aim with an open or closed putter face.
That is one aspect we are trying to correct.
If it is not square, rotate the putter so the putter face is
square to the Support Arm like in (fig 2).
Before each and every putt using the Pro-Align, make sure
the putter face is parallel with the Support Arm. This will
guarantee that you are perfectly square to your aim line.
IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK
At this point, the Pro-Align would be well worth the money.
You can practice these putts ensuring you have a square
putter face each putt and taking the putter straight back
the Alignment Bar and straight through, out past the
orange dot. This will help you develop a smooth,
repeatable putting stroke and teach you to square your
putter face when putting.
But let's talk about immediate feedback. As you putt, focus
on the Orange Spot instead of looking at the ball. This is
called spot putting. Some of the best putters in PGA
history have putted this way. It's called spot putting. Some
people like to watch the orange spot the entire putt, and
some like to focus on the spot on the start of their forward
stroke. Do whatever feels comfortable for you.
Now as the ball rolls past the spot, you want to see the ball
roll directly under the Orange Spot (see center photo).
This will tell you instantly that you started your putt on your
aim line. If the ball went left of the spot (left photo), you
pulled it. If the ball went right (right photo) of the spot, you
pushed it. Instant feedback!
To begin, find a straight ,5 foot putt on the putting green.
Insert the Pro-Align so the Alignment Bar is pointing
directly into the center of the hole. Stand behind the
Pro-Align and look down the Alignment Bar to check this.
Keep rotating the Pro-Align until it's pointing directly in the
center of the cup (fig 1).
Now set the ball directly under the Alignment Bar and just
in front of the support arm. This give you correct eye
alignment over the ball (fig 2).
Now that you have the proper Pro-Align setup, address the
ball and set the putter down behind the ball like you are
going to putt. Remember this is a straight putt.
Is your putter face square to your aim line? If not, don't
worry. Most golfers aim with an open or closed putter face.
That is one aspect we are trying to correct.
If it is not square, rotate the putter so the putter face is
square to the Support Arm like in (fig 2).
Before each and every putt using the Pro-Align, make sure
the putter face is parallel with the Support Arm. This will
guarantee that you are perfectly square to your aim line.
IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK
At this point, the Pro-Align would be well worth the money.
You can practice these putts ensuring you have a square
putter face each putt and taking the putter straight back
the Alignment Bar and straight through, out past the
orange dot. This will help you develop a smooth,
repeatable putting stroke and teach you to square your
putter face when putting.
But let's talk about immediate feedback. As you putt, focus
on the Orange Spot instead of looking at the ball. This is
called spot putting. Some of the best putters in PGA
history have putted this way. It's called spot putting. Some
people like to watch the orange spot the entire putt, and
some like to focus on the spot on the start of their forward
stroke. Do whatever feels comfortable for you.
Now as the ball rolls past the spot, you want to see the ball
roll directly under the Orange Spot (see center photo).
This will tell you instantly that you started your putt on your
aim line. If the ball went left of the spot (left photo), you
pulled it. If the ball went right (right photo) of the spot, you
pushed it. Instant feedback!
(fig 1)
(fig 2)
Pulled Putt
Pushed Putt
Starting the ball
on your aim line.
on your aim line.
THIS IS WHAT WE
WANT TO SEE!
WANT TO SEE!
What's happening when you practice this way is that you are developing your eye / hand coordination and muscle memory.
This is what we need to develop to build a smooth, repeatable putting stroke. Think about a bowler, when he bowls, he
doesn't watch his bowling ball, he picks a spot out on the lane and rolls the ball over that spot, so should you.
The other thing you are doing is developing your own putting stroke. There is no guide to tell you how to putt. We want you
to putt the way it feels comfortable to you. However, if you can't roll the ball under the Orange Spot, you will need to make
changes to your putting stroke. Make whatever changes you need to to get the ball rolling under the spot. I like to putt with
a slightly open stance. When I developed the Pro-Align, I noticed that I had an open putter face at address which resulted
in a miss to the right or I would compensate with a pull. After training with the Pro-Align, I immediately reduced my putts per
round by 4 strokes! Keep at it.
This is what we need to develop to build a smooth, repeatable putting stroke. Think about a bowler, when he bowls, he
doesn't watch his bowling ball, he picks a spot out on the lane and rolls the ball over that spot, so should you.
The other thing you are doing is developing your own putting stroke. There is no guide to tell you how to putt. We want you
to putt the way it feels comfortable to you. However, if you can't roll the ball under the Orange Spot, you will need to make
changes to your putting stroke. Make whatever changes you need to to get the ball rolling under the spot. I like to putt with
a slightly open stance. When I developed the Pro-Align, I noticed that I had an open putter face at address which resulted
in a miss to the right or I would compensate with a pull. After training with the Pro-Align, I immediately reduced my putts per
round by 4 strokes! Keep at it.
So how is this going to help on the course? First of all, you have developed a more trustworthy putting stroke and have a
better idea how to square your putter face up to your aim line.
When you get out on the course, pick a spot on your aim line about 6 inches in front of your ball, this may be a blade of
grass or discoloration, square the putter face and focus on the spot while you putt. Keep notice on whether you hit is
directly over the spot or pulled or pushed this. Of course, you want to practice this on the putting green before you go out
on the course.
better idea how to square your putter face up to your aim line.
When you get out on the course, pick a spot on your aim line about 6 inches in front of your ball, this may be a blade of
grass or discoloration, square the putter face and focus on the spot while you putt. Keep notice on whether you hit is
directly over the spot or pulled or pushed this. Of course, you want to practice this on the putting green before you go out
on the course.
BREAKING PUTTS
The Pro-Align is most beneficial on breaking putts.
The photo to the right shows a 12 foot putt that
breaks about 24 inches right to left.
These are the putts that are difficult to trust your
line. Go through the same process as the straight
putt. Remember, every putt is a straight putt.
Practicing putts like this using the Pro-Align will
teach you what a proper aim line is on a breaking
putt. The blue line represents our aim line, where
we need to start the putt with good speed to make
it. The white balls represent the break.
It will take some time to adjust the Pro-Align to get
the proper line. Set it up on the line you think. Take
some putts until you consistently roll the ball under
the Orange Spot. If you do this and miss (with good
speed, about 18 inches past the hole), you know
you miss-read the break. Make an adjustment on
the Pro-Align and try again. Once you get is dialed
in, keep putting. Work on developing your speed
control, or tempo.
The Pro-Align is most beneficial on breaking putts.
The photo to the right shows a 12 foot putt that
breaks about 24 inches right to left.
These are the putts that are difficult to trust your
line. Go through the same process as the straight
putt. Remember, every putt is a straight putt.
Practicing putts like this using the Pro-Align will
teach you what a proper aim line is on a breaking
putt. The blue line represents our aim line, where
we need to start the putt with good speed to make
it. The white balls represent the break.
It will take some time to adjust the Pro-Align to get
the proper line. Set it up on the line you think. Take
some putts until you consistently roll the ball under
the Orange Spot. If you do this and miss (with good
speed, about 18 inches past the hole), you know
you miss-read the break. Make an adjustment on
the Pro-Align and try again. Once you get is dialed
in, keep putting. Work on developing your speed
control, or tempo.
Using the Pro-Align on
breaking putts, like this one,
on the putting green before
your round will help you get
an idea on how the greens
are breaking on the course
for that day. Pick a breaking
putt and set the Pro-Align up.
If you roll the ball under the
Orange Spot on the Pro-Align
and missed (providing you
had good speed) you know
you misread the break. Rotate
the Pro-Align and try again!
breaking putts, like this one,
on the putting green before
your round will help you get
an idea on how the greens
are breaking on the course
for that day. Pick a breaking
putt and set the Pro-Align up.
If you roll the ball under the
Orange Spot on the Pro-Align
and missed (providing you
had good speed) you know
you misread the break. Rotate
the Pro-Align and try again!
