You’ve probably seen it on TV or at your local course: a golfer standing in a peculiar way over a putt, almost facing the hole, looking like they're about to roll the ball with an underhand toss. This technique, straddling or standing astride the line of a putt, has been used by legends like Sam Snead and modern-day masters like Bryson DeChambeau. This guide will break down exactly why some golfers adopt this stance, the critical rule you must know before trying it, and how a modified version might help you sink more putts.
First, let's get the language right, because in golf, the details matter. When most people talk about "standing astride a putt," they're thinking of a golfer placing their feet on both sides of the line of play - the imaginary line connecting the ball to the hole. This is the visual that comes to mind, a bit like a croquet player lining up a shot. Later, we'll discuss the big-time legality issue with this exact stance.
The modern, legal evolution of this technique is more accurately called "side-saddle" putting. In this modified stance, the golfer still faces the hole, but both feet are placed to one side of the line of play. So, while you get the feeling and visual benefit of facing your target, you're not breaking any rules.
So why would a golfer abandon the traditional, perpendicular putting stance that has worked for generations? It comes down to two major factors: superior vision and a simplified stroke.
From your normal putting stance, you’re looking at the line to the hole from the side. Your brain has to perform a complex calculation to perceive the correct path, taking into account slopes and curves from an angle. This can create a type of visual distortion known as parallax error, where the line can appear different depending on the exact position of your eyes.
When you stand facing the hole using a side-saddle technique, your eyes are positioned almost directly over the putting line. Think about it: when you want to see if something is straight, do you look at it from the side or do you look directly down its length? You look down its length, of course. For many golfers, this is a revelation. Suddenly, the line to the hole looks clearer, more obvious, and easier to trust. You're no longer guessing at the path, you're seeing it.
The standard putting stroke is a rotational motion. Your shoulders turn around your spine, creating an arc. While this is effective, it also introduces more moving parts and more room for error. A slight over-rotation of the hips, a subtle dip of the shoulder, or a flick of the wrists can send the putt offline.
The side-saddle stance is designed to remove as much of this rotation as possible. By facing the target, you anchor your lower body and create a setup that promotes a simple, back-and-through, pendulum-style motion with the shoulders and arms. It feels much more like an underhand toss or rolling a bocce ball. The putter moves almost straight back and straight through along the target line, minimizing the damaging effects of a wayward arc. For players who battle the yips or get overly tense and twitchy over short putts, this simplification can be a game-changer.
The idea of facing the hole isn't new. In the 1960s, a struggling Sam Snead, one of the greatest players of all time, tried to cure his putting yips by switching to a "croquet-style" method. He stood directly facing the target, placed his feet on either side of the line, and swung the putter like a croquet mallet between his legs. It worked wonders for him, but it looked so unorthodox that golf's governing bodies, the USGA and R&A, felt it wasn't a "proper" golf stroke. In 1968, they introduced a rule specifically to ban it.
That 1968 decision evolved into the rule we have today. Rule 10.1c ("Making a Stroke While Standing Astride Line of Play") states a player must not make a stroke from a stance where a foot is deliberately placed on either side of the line of play or an extension of it behind the ball.
This is extremely important: you cannot make a legal putt while standing with your feet astride the actual line of play. This is why the "side-saddle" method, where both feet are on one side of the line, is the correct and legal way to gain the benefits of facing the hole.
There's one huge exception to note: the rule only applies to the act of making the stroke. When you are reading your putt from behind the ball, you are free to - and absolutely should - stand astride the line to get that clear, "down-the-barrel" view of the slope. Every single pro does this before they settle into their actual address position.
If you're intrigued by the idea of a clearer line and a simpler stroke, side-saddle putting might be worth experimenting with. It's particularly useful for players who feel "stuck" over the ball, have trouble seeing the start line, or struggle with inconsistent contact.
Trying this is a process. It will feel unusual at first, so don't take it straight from the blog to the first tee of your club championship. Head to the practice green and follow these steps:
Side-saddle putting isn’t a flawless solution. One of the biggest difficulties can be distance control, especially on longer putts. Since the motion is very different from a traditional stroke, it will take dedicated practice to recalibrate your sense of feel. You might also find that it requires a putter with a different length or balance point to feel right. Players like Bryson DeChambeau use long, arm-lock style putters to further stabilize the stroke.
The impulse to stand astride a putt stems from a logical desire to improve sight lines and simplify the stroke. While the original "croquet style" is against the rules for the stroke itself, the modern "side-saddle" technique provides those same benefits legally by keeping both feet to one side of the line. For golfers who feel lost on the greens, it offers a radical but effective alternative.
Experimenting with major changes to your game, like a side-saddle putting stroke, can be a lonely process filled with uncertainty. That's why we wanted to create a better tool. For instance, you can use picture analysis with Caddie AI to verify your side-saddle setup is legal or ask for specific drills to develop better distance control with this new motion. We built it to be your 24/7 on-demand coach, giving you instant, expert-level feedback so you can stop guessing and start focusing on changes that will actually help you play better golf.
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