Putting looking at the hole not the ball

[geoffmangum]

Putting looking at the hole not the ball

For further information about how the "neck turn" is used by the brain to establish a sense of distance for the stroke, visit the PuttingZone and check out the "touch" tips, including the touch video clips on the PuttingZone YouTube Channel. It's not really about the eyes so much as it is about the body, its location in reference to the hole, and the impending action of the stroke.

Cheers!

Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist

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[jambalaya]

Re: Putting looking at the hole not the ball

I can definitely vouch on hitting putts in while looking at the hole... If I am setup on my line, I can almost nail every putt looking at the hole it's pretty crazy but it's been working here lately consistently which is the scary part. I mean the ball is literally falling in the hole and not rimming out like you think it should.... I think basically what is going on is the brain is the telling the rest of the body how hard to hit the ball and therefore the speed is right on for that stroke at that moment

I have definitely tried this out and it's proven to work for some people

Bingo! That is precisely what is happening. That is what happens when we toss a ball at a target. You can either look at the hole or burn the image in your mind while still looking at the ball. I wish I would remember to do that on my chips and other shots too.

[bill reed]

Re: Putting looking at the hole not the ball

hi
i have taken the looking at the hole a bit further in i stand facing the hole with my broom handled putter. my putter shaft goes from my right shoulder down my right arm and i just put my left arm on the top of the putter grip near my right shoulder to steady it. all i really do in my swing is swinging my right arm back and through with my palm of my right hand looking at the hole. no other part of my body moves but my right arm. facing that hole and both eyes looking at the hole makes it so much easer to judge the length of a putt.
there is a picture of this style of putting on page 39 of Pelz putting bible.
cheers
bill

[ataylormba]

Re: Putting looking at the hole not the ball

I have been using this method for the past 15 years. I have been a scratch golfer since I was 16 but now play to a +3 as a direct result of this change. However I only look at the hole from 3 or 4 feet when it is dead straight. All other times I look at the LINE of the put or the apex. When it is uphill I look about a foot or 2 past the hole when it is downhill I look 1-3 feet in front of the hole again on the LINE I want the put to go.

It works. Stick with it. It makes the most sense. Any other eye hand type game you always look at the target and not the ball. throwing a baseball, or football or basketball or hitting a tennis ball.

To me is makes zero sense to look down at the ball on a putt because you have to REMEMBER both the LINE and the weight. With the method I am speaking of you don't have to remember either.

I have tracked my stats for the past few years.

3 feet and less 98 percent
4-6 feet 78 percent
7-10 feet 62 percent

I average 1 3 putt per 54 holes played.

It works use it stick with it and you will have great success.

I have qualified and played in many national events and people always ask me about it as they notice after a few holes. I get a kick out of it.

I would NEVER go back to putting normal.

The senior player you are thinking about is Bill Isrealson

Cheers

PS johnny miller used this method when he shot 63 at oakmont in the US open.

[KrudlerAce]

Practice swing only

I have always used the method of looking at the hole while performing my practice stroke to get a good gauge for distance. This gives you a good guide as to how far to take the club back during the stroke. I have always looked at the ball during the real thing though. I'm sure not looking at the hole during the real stroke would hold up in the long term. Certainly worth a try at least and see what sort of results you get.

[ataylormba]

Re: Putting looking at the hole not the ball

Hey there:

If you are committed to it you will find improvement not only from long putts which will provide fewer 3 putts. (average 10 handicap has 3 in a round). But also the short ones.

A good analogy would be like standing 3 feet from a garbage can and tossing a tennis ball in there. You just need to spend time ON THE COURSE playing with it and not on the putting green only.

[srglassw]

Re: Putting looking at the hole not the ball

I would say the important thing is keeping ones head still so as not to throw the putting stroke off, regardless of whether looking at the ball, looking at the hole or looking somewhere in between or beyond the hole.

I always make my "best" putts when my head stays still and I see the spot on the ground where the ball was sitting.

[hoform22xu]

Re: Putting looking at the hole not the ball

i have taken the looking at the hole a bit further in i stand facing the hole with my broom handled putter.