Arnold Palmer certainly knew his way around a golf course and when it came to the putting surface, there were few finer than the great man.
Palmer grabbed himself seven major titles over the course of a memorable career and is widely considered one of the greatest to ever do it.
Indeed, the sheer fact he has a PGA Tour event in his name in the modern era, shows just what Mr Palmer has meant to the world of golf.
Looking back at when he was still playing or reaching the tail end of his career is always a nice trip down memory lane as well.
But looking back and coming across some of his advice for amateurs on the toughest aspects of the game is even better.
That’s why it’s worth noting this putting tip from Palmer, who spoke many years ago about the exact way to set up to hit the ball.
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/WireImageArnold Palmer’s putting tip for amateurs
Putting the ball in the hole is the aim of the game and if you’re good at putting and reading the greens, you won’t go far wrong at any level.
Indeed, for Arnold Palmer, so much of putting comes in the set up, as he explained in what is still a very useful piece of information.
“I suppose one of the most important things about putting is feeling like you are very solid over the ball and make sure you’re not going to move out of position when you stroke the ball. We’re going to keep our head very still, we’re not going to get our arms in real tight against our body but we’re also not going to get them out there away from our body,” Palmer explains.
“We’re going to try and get freedom of movement and that includes being able to stroke through without feeling like you’re going to hit your body. So as we get over the putt, head in a good position, hands are comfortable on the club, firm but not squeezing too tight.
“One of the most important things we can do is take the putter back slowly and deliver it, and only as far as necessary to hit that putt to the hole. So back, and follow through.”
Arnold Palmer’s obsession with putting
Many golfers over the years have tried their best to improve their putting and some have done better than others.
However, for Arnold Palmer, it was very much the embodiment of his career and he was well known for putting as much – or more – work in on the greens than anyone else in the game.
So much so, that it’s well documented that Palmer ended up going through around 2000 putters as he sought perfection on the greens.
Speaking back before his passing, Palmer explained why he prioritised putting so much.
“It’s impossible to overestimate the importance of being a good putter in order to be a successful golfer,” Palmer told Kingdom magazine in a 2007 interview. “I used to think there was an actual formula for great putting and that if I could discover the key to that formula, I would become the greatest putter in the history of golf. It’s a formula I’m still seeking.”
With Palmer being so brilliant and having so much success, the modern golfer can learn more than a thing or two from him.