When I'm ready to putt I sole the putter and line it up in the direction I want.  Then I lift it up slightly and take a few practice strokes to make sure my stroke is towards the target and also with distance in mind. When it feels right I stroke the ball with the putter not soled. 

I sole my putter, but I lift it slightly before starting my stroke.  I also, no longer take a practice stroke before putting.  I will take a few if given the chance waiting on my turn to putt.  But when it's time to put, I put ball down, take my last looks, reads, step up and make my best stroke then.  My wife was with me while I was playing and noticed my first practice stroke was smoother and looked better than my next practice one, or even my actual stroke of the ball.  So, for the last two years, I step up and putt it.  From watching others during course events, not my normal group, most sole there putters up to there take away for the stroke.  A lot of them actually scuff the turf on the forward path of the stroke and lose distance, or hit it with a descending blow.  Of those in my normal group, 2 hover, 3 of use lift just before take away, and 1 soles it.  Also, it's split with a forward press, which I also do.  Whatever works in getting the smoothest roll with the right distance is what should be used by each.  Good luck !!

I sole my putter, although if it is really windy, I might hover it.  I find I am able to make a smoother stroke with soling the putter as I feel more relaxed than then I attempt to hover it.

I sole my putter on the ground. I feel this relieves the tension in my arms.

My putter sits on the ground behind the ball before I make my stroke.  Hovering would create too much grip pressure for me. 

Darn right I sole my putter.  I place it on the ground with my right hand and align it where I want the ball to go.  Then I place my left hand on the putter grip and and every so slowly go back then accelerate forward.  I have more success by this method.  Other details are used to make a good putt.

I keep my putter slightly elevated,this I believe helps me maintain a smooth tempo in my putting stroke.

Chris, that's a great point!  I never thought of it that way, but I definitely sole my putter to get a feel on where the ground is.

I've always soled the putter as y'all have said. Makes for a reference point.

My routine is like Bob and Tyson, I sole my putter to line it up and then lift just a bit prior to starting my back stroke.  This helps me make a smoother back stroke.

I sole my putter.  When you lift right before takeaway don't your elbows move??

I do sole my putter. It's been part of my routine for years and years. I did try not to sole my driver, but that lasted about one season. It just feels better for lining up and release of any tension.

By hovering the putter you have a positive control of it and a much better stroke.

I sole it during the aliegnment process then hoover it when I am ready to pull the trigger.  I seems to bring me positive results.  I think it is all about choices and results.  No two are the same. 

I sole my putter. Of course, I only know I am doing this on the practice green.  When I am playing, I don't think about whether I am grounding or not grounding it.  Some people tell me that I hover the putter and others tell me that I sole my putter, who knows! Bottom line, you have to be confident and trust your line and stroke.  I putt by feel and do not take practice stroke.  I see the line and stroke my putter.  

When I hover my putter, I tense up. I do use a little forward trigger to keep my stroke smooth. I guess its a personal thing.

Play Well,

Steve S.

Always sole the putter head when putting. Hovering the putter (or any club) = tension to me

I hover and am always choked up a bit on the grip; also I am in a position so I am looking straight down on the ball and putter. I never take a practice swing at the address of the ball; I may take a few while waiting my turn to putt. The putt is the strongest part of my game; I don’t confuse my muscle memory by adding movement s that is not part of my scoring stroke.

I sole the putter.  As has been noted, it takes the tension out of my arms and allows for a steady reference point for the putt.

I sole it...no practice swings, make the stroke while looking at the hole. (Like Spieth on short putts, but I do it on everything.  Makes distance control automatic.)

I sole my putter. I feel like it let's me relax my arm muscles before making my stroke. I'm not sure if it works but, it fells like I can concentrate on my line better.

Good question Gordon. It always seemed to me that the putter should be around 1/4" off of the ground at impact, so I sole it off tghe toe then lift it behind the ball before I start. One thing I've noted since doing this years ago is, if my ball is up against the "frog hair" or fringe, hovering the putter allows me to make a stroke without the grass interfering any. 

I sole it until I'm ready to take the putter back.