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Message
Short/intermediate putts with eyes on the hole
Posted on 4/27/21 at 3:18 pm
Posted on 4/27/21 at 3:18 pm
Like many amateurs i struggle with consistency on short/intermediate putts.
I’ve been experimenting with this a lot in practice and a few times on the course. I am much more accurate from 3-15 feet with my eyes on the hole not the ball, on longer putts I struggle more with speed when I look at the hole.
I knew this isn’t some revolutionary new technique, some pros have done it (Speith used to do it a lot).
I’m trying to figure out why, my best guess is I grew up playing competitively as a pitcher and playing basketball, both sports where your eye is on your target and not the ball.
Anybody else do this?
I’ve been experimenting with this a lot in practice and a few times on the course. I am much more accurate from 3-15 feet with my eyes on the hole not the ball, on longer putts I struggle more with speed when I look at the hole.
I knew this isn’t some revolutionary new technique, some pros have done it (Speith used to do it a lot).
I’m trying to figure out why, my best guess is I grew up playing competitively as a pitcher and playing basketball, both sports where your eye is on your target and not the ball.
Anybody else do this?
6
Posted on 4/27/21 at 3:26 pm to Tiger1242
I have done it with decent results. Gets scary in fast greens. I definitely left less putts short.
Posted on 4/27/21 at 3:29 pm to Scottforeverlsu
quote:
I have done it with decent results. Gets scary in fast greens. I definitely left less putts short.
Yes my experience is with longer putts I tend to slam them on long putts so I’ve only been doing it on shorter putts
Posted on 4/27/21 at 3:38 pm to Tiger1242
While this is for pros, I think its an extremely important dataset for all golfers to understand. 3ft and 15ft putts are very different. I think everyone should practice being able to make it from 4-6 feet in. Meaning at that distance, reading greens isn't as important and its all about having a repeatable, accurate storke. outside of that distance, luck starts to play a bigger part and reading greens. For me nailing the short putts is about having the confidence to sent it 12-24" past the hole and knowing I can hit the comebacker, but I will drill a whole lot more inside 5'. It's easier said than done.
Posted on 4/27/21 at 3:42 pm to barry
That’s a cool chart and a great discussion. Has nothing to do with this thread though 
Posted on 4/27/21 at 3:48 pm to Tiger1242
yea i kinda got a little distracted
My point being that I think it(looking at the hole) can be useful for the inside 5" putts because you can just point and aim and don't need to read greens and luck is less of a factor. Hence the very high makeable rate from pros.
I line up my putt over the ball by just looking at the hole for all my short putts, but actually look at the ball when hitting it. My longer putts i use the line on the ball.
My point being that I think it(looking at the hole) can be useful for the inside 5" putts because you can just point and aim and don't need to read greens and luck is less of a factor. Hence the very high makeable rate from pros.
I line up my putt over the ball by just looking at the hole for all my short putts, but actually look at the ball when hitting it. My longer putts i use the line on the ball.
This post was edited on 4/27/21 at 3:49 pm
Posted on 4/27/21 at 3:50 pm to Tiger1242
It’s suppose to help you feel your putter head more. More consistent stroke from the feel.
Posted on 4/27/21 at 3:50 pm to barry
quote:
My point being that I think it can be useful for the inside 5" putts because you can just point and aim and don't need to read greens and luck is less of a factor. Hence the very high makeable rate from pros.
Yea 15’ might be a stretch. Most putts I do it on are inside 8 ft and aren’t breaking. Basically if I know a straight roll at my target will go in I will do it. I think it frees me up mentally, I’m not worried about making a good stroke just hitting a target in front of me, which I think is where the basketball player and pitcher in me comes out
Posted on 4/27/21 at 4:00 pm to Tiger1242
quote:
I think it frees me up mentally,
I could see this as I'm prone to step off a close putt if my takeaway is in anyway wonky
Posted on 4/27/21 at 7:10 pm to Tiger1242
quote:
i struggle with consistency on short/intermediate putts.
I went 2 for 5 from around 4 feet.
I will give it a try.
BTW, I’ve never seen anyone miss who just walked up and backhanded the ball into the hole without even stopping their walk to set up.
Posted on 4/28/21 at 7:05 am to makersmark1
quote:
BTW, I’ve never seen anyone miss who just walked up and backhanded the ball into the hole without even stopping their walk to set up.
Right?
And honestly for me starting at the hole on those short ones helps give me that type of freedom with a little bit of actual focus.
Something about knowing that if I hit the spot I’m looking at I will make the putt makes it easier.
On short putts that break a ton in less apt to do it because my speed control is not as good
Posted on 4/28/21 at 7:18 am to Tiger1242
Looking at the ball when you putt seems like you're making the distance/speed the peripheral focus and the line/ break the more direct focal point. It's also easier to see/feel the putter head hitting the ball square while looking at the ball.
When you look at the hole, those are reversed. The distance/speed is more of the focal point and the line is more of a peripheral focal point and you're trusting your hands to hit your ball square.
I've recently started focusing on retaining that visual in my head of distance before looking back at the ball for putting and my distance has seemingly improved lately. I play with various friends and it always seems like they're so busy reading the break that they neglect almost entirely the speed, which is the point of your original post, keeping your eye on the pin helps with the speed.
Just my $.02.
When you look at the hole, those are reversed. The distance/speed is more of the focal point and the line is more of a peripheral focal point and you're trusting your hands to hit your ball square.
I've recently started focusing on retaining that visual in my head of distance before looking back at the ball for putting and my distance has seemingly improved lately. I play with various friends and it always seems like they're so busy reading the break that they neglect almost entirely the speed, which is the point of your original post, keeping your eye on the pin helps with the speed.
Just my $.02.
Posted on 4/28/21 at 7:28 am to WhiskeyThrottle
I think people get into trouble when they try to watch both (the ball and the hole). Pick one and stick to it
ie dont watch the ball and immediately pick your head up as you are about to hit it
ie dont watch the ball and immediately pick your head up as you are about to hit it
Posted on 4/28/21 at 8:15 am to WhiskeyThrottle
quote:
Looking at the ball when you putt seems like you're making the distance/speed the peripheral focus and the line/ break the more direct focal point. It's also easier to see/feel the putter head hitting the ball square while looking at the ball.
When you look at the hole, those are reversed. The distance/speed is more of the focal point and the line is more of a peripheral focal point and you're trusting your hands to hit your ball square.
It’s actually the reverse for me. When I look at the hole I’m more focused on line because I am looking at my target. When I look at the ball I don’t see my target so I’m focused on hitting the ball straight at my chosen pace and I guess trusting I’m already lined up.
I think that’s the bottom line for me. I don’t have faith that I’m lined up correctly sometimes so if I’m not looking at my target doubt creeps in before I pull the putter back
Posted on 4/28/21 at 8:34 am to Tiger1242
i've started putting more accurately on my putts in the 5' - 10' range while having my eyes on the 'line'. once over the ball, a few short, brief practice pace strokes. then look back out 1'-2' out where i found something in my line to aim at. its helped me out a good bit. probably similar to your experiment.
Posted on 4/28/21 at 2:11 pm to makersmark1
If you’re struggling from short distances, one thing that has helped me a ton is practicing the gate drill from 3 feet out. I have a practice mat in my home office with a line down the middle so I can see my putter staying online. I’ll place 2 golf balls just outside the two edges of my putter to create the “gate”. I try and make 25-50 putts from 3 feet per day. You may not have a mat to use at your house but even doing that for 5-10 putts before the round can help.
Since I’ve started this my putting has improved dramatically. I can get over a putt from inside 10 feet and know that I’m at least going to get the ball rolling on the line I chose which gives me confidence to get it to the hole. Doesn’t mean I read it right though lol.
Since I’ve started this my putting has improved dramatically. I can get over a putt from inside 10 feet and know that I’m at least going to get the ball rolling on the line I chose which gives me confidence to get it to the hole. Doesn’t mean I read it right though lol.
Posted on 4/28/21 at 3:24 pm to Tiger1242
quote:The hole is almost never the target aim of a putt, outside of a few feet. Even in that range, the target is usually one side of the hole or the other.
When I look at the hole I’m more focused on line because I am looking at my target.
This post was edited on 4/28/21 at 3:26 pm
Posted on 4/28/21 at 6:47 pm to WhiskeyThrottle
I've started taking my glances at the hole/line with my right eye (my back eye as a righty.) I don't know exactly what it does, but I've been much more confident and my speeds have improved dramatically. I think it's just allowing me to see more of the space between the hole and the ball. Or it's more intentional than that left eye peek. I don't really know, but it's working.
Posted on 4/28/21 at 7:49 pm to Gravitiger
quote:
The hole is almost never the target aim of a putt, outside of a few feet. Even in that range, the target is usually one side of the hole or the other.
frick this advice, half the courses I play 70% of putts inside 8 ft are dead arse straight
Posted on 4/29/21 at 8:25 am to Tiger1242
quote:Play better courses
frick this advice, half the courses I play 70% of putts inside 8 ft are dead arse straight
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