As with all golf clubs, the Rules of Golf state that the angle of a putter’s shaft ... relative to the ground cannot exceed 80 degrees when the club is in the address position. This lie angle is what makes the putter swing naturally on an arc – slightly inside the target line on the backswing, back onto the target line and even with the ball at impact, and inside the target line again on the through-swing. (Only a putter with a 90° lie angle would be able to swing naturally straight back and through on the target line, like a pendulum.)

Many players may feel like they swing the putter straight back and straight through on the target line, but to truly do this you would have to manipulate the club considerably, which is very difficult to repeat with any regularity. Instead, use this gate drill from Titleist staff member Brandon Stooksbury to build a consistent path that arcs slightly and delivers the club face square to your intended putting line every time.