Tips on Putting

Use your Eyes when Putting

Here are a few tips on putting regarding how to use your eyes correctly when standing over the golf ball for any putt. If you're noticing that you're not stroking your putts where you want them to go, and you don't sense anything wrong with your form, try using your head, or more accurately, your eyes.

One of the Misunderstood Tips on Putting

Keep your Eyes on the Golf Ball

"Keep your head down" is one of the common tips on putting in golf books, but that's a little misleading, as we’ll discuss below. Instead, remember the advice that works in many sports -- keep your eye on the ball.

Here are a few tips on putting. When setting up your putts, keep your eyes (and head) directly above the ball. One common cause of missed putts is when a golfer's head gets out of alignment on the putting stroke, and most golfers find it easier to hit the golf ball straight when the setup features their eyes right atop the ball. It ensures a consistent setup by centering the body atop the ball, and makes it easier to make contact at the appropriate spot and stroke the ball where it is aimed.

When contact is made, a golfer's head and eyes should be looking at the golf ball, but here is where the "keep your head down" advice fails. After you've struck the ball, don't continue to keep your head down for the follow-through. Many golfers do that as an added reminder to hold the stroke steady, especially those who have had problems with jerking their heads when they putt, but if you do that, you miss a lot of information. You won't see if the ball rolled along the desired line, or be able to get a more accurate read on the speed of the putting green.

Final Tip on Putting - Use this Putting Drill

Here is a final tip on putting. Next time you’re on the putting green, try this simple putting drill. Take a handful of golf balls and place them a few feet away from the hole to set up a mid-range putt. Practice keeping your head atop the ball for contact and then looking it into the hole, and you should find that the following round features a more consistent performance on the putting green as a result.

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Chip Henderson

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