The finish position in putting is an incredibly powerful position to maintain after the shot has been taken.

You may think that it does not matter as the ball has already gone and you cannot do any more to affect your shot, however the finish position promotes two positive actions in your putting.

As an example, if you were to watch the top professionals in tournaments, every single one hits their putt and freezes afterwards watching the ball track to the hole. If those guys are doing it then everyone should be doing it.

The two positive actions are as follows:

1. A good finish position promotes a good putting stroke

A quality finish position for putting is where the ball has been hit and is rolling towards the hole but the golfer has remained absolutely still. The legs, body and head should be in the same position as they were at set up which keeps every part of the body on line with the hole. If this is the case at the finish then everything will have been on line through the impact area which will produce a solid, accurate putt. Also, when the finish position is held so that the putter head is on line with the target with the putter face pointing at the target, the putter will have been on line through the impact area with the golf ball which guarantees a straight putt at the target. All of these points are reinforced by holding a good, correct finish position.

2. Information for future putts

Holding a finish position and watching the ball track to the hole links the feel of the putting action to the result of where the ball goes. This is a quality learning experience as the golfer relates feel to result. If the finish position is relaxed before the ball stops moving, very little learning takes place and information is lost that could be very useful on the next putt.

To practice holding a good finish position, try these two thoughts.

Set up to hit some putts on the practice green. After each putt is struck count to two slowly – “one, two” – and then look up to see where the ball has gone.

Alternatively, try what Nick Faldo used to do when practicing putting – 'listen for the ball to go into the hole'. Set yourself up approximately five to six feet away from the hole. Hit your putt and keep looking at where the ball was at set up. Only move when you hear the ball hit the cup or enough time has passed that you know it has missed. Both of these practice thoughts encourage you to stay still through the ball and hold a finish position that contributes to quality putting both at the current time and prepares you for future putts.