Making Your Own Breaks

How ball position can help you sink those bending putts

One of the biggest challenges the PGA Tour pros will face at this year’s BMW Championship is how to deal with the greens at Cherry Hills Country Club. It is rare ever to have a straight putt from inside 10 feet on the William Flynn-designed course.

A great way to keep those difficult left-to-right and the right-to-left breakers is to adjust the ball position in your stance to help keep the ball on line. Try these techniques the next time you play. You will find yourself holing more breaking putts.

Left-to-right breaking putts: Move the ball slightly forward in your stance. This enables the putter face to release earlier and help the ball stay on line and not miss on the low side of the hole.

Right-to-left breaking putts: Move the ball slightly back in your stance. This enables the putter not to release as much and not miss on the low side of the hole.

John Ogden is the Head PGA Professional at Cherry Hills Country Club, site of the 2014 BMW Championship. Among his many awards is the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame’s 2012 Golf Person of the Year. Find more lessons and helpful tips at www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.

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