Check Your Putter Face Aim With Just Your Phone, Teacher Says

A simple test using nothing more than a smartphone can show golfers exactly where their putter face is aimed at address, according to Stephen Sweeney, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and PGA Tour putting consultant.

Why putter face aim matters

On putts inside makable range, the ball's initial line is determined largely by face angle at impact. Many golfers believe they are aimed straight at the hole when their putter face is actually open or closed, a habit that is difficult to self-diagnose without a straight edge for reference.

How to check your putter aim with a phone

Sweeney's method uses the flat back of a phone as a straight edge against the putter face. Set the phone against the face at address, then look down the line it creates to see exactly where the face is pointed relative to the target.

A drill for a practice partner

Without a phone, the same check works with any flat object. Sweeney suggests using "a square edge — a scorecard or something like that" set against the putter face while a practice partner holds it in place, giving a repeatable visual reference for where the face is aimed at address.