This Golf Tips A2Z article provides some golf putting tips on alternatives to the putting forward press. After all, pressing your hands forward just before putting is not good for everybody.

The expected benefits from the forward press are: 1) a trigger for your putting stroke to function smoothly; and 2) to encourage you to take the putter head back first before taking back the grip.

The problem, however, is that some golfers tend to open their putter face a little or throw off their putting rhythm when they forward press just before they putt.

If you are one of those golfers, or are just curious, below of some alternatives.

5 Alternatives To The Forward Press

Accordingly, the alternatives to the putting forward press will offer one or both of the benefits above. Let's discuss these alternative below......

Tip 1: Setup Already Forward Pressed - If you setup with your hands alreadly forward pressed, you still encourage a putting stroke that takes the putter head back first. You just lose the trigger effect.

Tip 2: Lively Feet - If you watch professional golfers before they putt, many have lively legs and feet. These small movements just before their putting stroke keeps them loose and serves as a trigger for their putting stroke.

Tip 3: Waggle - A putting waggle is a slight back and forth movement of the hands before putting. This waggle is a pre-rehearsal of the putting stroke and a trigger for the putt. Therefore, it can serve as a complete replacement for the forward press.

Tip 4: Breathe - Try taking your putter back breathing in and forward breathing out. This breathing golf putting tip is an excellent trigger for starting and completing your putting stroke.

Tip 5: Jack Nicklaus' Tucked Elbow - While Jack tucked his right elbow to his side mainly to keep his putter on a straight back and through line, I have found that it serves another purpose. A tucked right elbow helps you to naturally take the putter head back first.

Final Note: Try these methods as alternative to the forward press intiating your putt to see if they help you putt better. It is also possible to use some of these tips along with the forward press. Either way, this should help you to custom your own putting style.

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