Looking at the hole

This is ridiculous. I’ve set up a small cup (about 2/3 the diameter of a hole) on its side on my carpet and been putting from 5 to 6 feet away. I recently changed my stroke to include a slight forward press and have had great success with it after struggling with pulling and pushing short putts for two years. Since I made this change my putting has been so much better and so much more confident. On my carpet about half have been going in the cup, the other half hitting the rim of it. Pretty decent anyway.

The day before yesterday I decided to try looking at the hole when I make my Stroke, so I just line the putter up then switch my focus to the cup and keep my gaze on it, not looking at the ball again at all. Earlier today I hit 25 successive balls into the cup, just now I used three different putters over 12 shots and all went into the centre too.

I’m laughing as I just can’t believe it - I’ve tried slow putts, I’ve tried whacking it, it just won’t miss. Of course it’s flat on the carpet so it’ll be interesting to see how it works on slopes and with reading lines. Anyway, I’m playing tomorrow so I’m going to give it a go.

On actual greens, I encountered the following issue : on a breaking putt, looking at the hole trended to make me miss low because the hole is not the directional target - some point out on the initial line is. And my hands just wanted to go at what my eyes were looking at, the hole. Picking out a empty spot to look at was uncomfortable, so I gave up on it. For a straight putt it worked pretty well though.

That’s what I’d expect to be the case. I wonder whether looking at a spot to the right or left of the hole, at the same distance as the hole, would work. Anyway, I’ll experiment, I’m in experimenting rather than scoring mode at the moment.

I may stick a tee in at that aiming point just to start off with so I have something to focus on, my playing partner won’t mind.

If one is going to look at the hole when putting, I would very very very strongly(as strongly as I can?) urge them to get, read and implement the drills within this book.

It’s a great succinct practical read and will give you the basic fundamentals along with the drills to ingrain them into your mind so that you can perfect your putting without the typical amateur hour hit/miss that so many endure with both their swing and putting stroke.

All the Best,

RP

what I find is that looking at the hole smooths out my stroke. A lot. If you don't want to trust it on the course (and generally I find it difficult to do so) at least use it as a drill, and try to feel how smooth the stroke works when you aren't ball focused. Then try to get that same feel through the ball. I find it very beneficial.

> @Forged4ever said:

> If one is going to look at the hole when putting, I would very very very strongly(as strongly as I can?) urge them to get, read and implement the drills within this book.

>

> It’s a great succinct practical read and will give you the basic fundamentals along with the drills to ingrain them into your mind so that you can perfect your putting without the typical amateur hour hit/miss that so many endure with both their swing and putting stroke.

>

> All the Best,

> RP

>

I've never seen this.. I'll get it. Thanks.

Whenever I get I to a putting funk, I start looking at the hole instead of the ball. I know me stroke is good enough to get me near or in, but it's always the head getting in the way. Taking 1 part out if the equation makes putting so much simpler.

> @Forged4ever said:

> If one is going to look at the hole when putting, I would very very very strongly(as strongly as I can?) urge them to get, read and implement the drills within this book.

>

> It’s a great succinct practical read and will give you the basic fundamentals along with the drills to ingrain them into your mind so that you can perfect your putting without the typical amateur hour hit/miss that so many endure with both their swing and putting stroke.

>

> All the Best,

> RP

>

FWIW, just bought it on Amazon..."used...good" $5.70 includes shipping....how could one lose on a deal like that?

I’ll update you after today’s round!

I’ve tried this and found it works, at least for a while. It can be useful for breaking a bad putting streak. For breaks often you can find an old mark or something to look instead of the hole. Also for putts inside about ten feet, I find I can concentrate on the hole instead of the ball with peripheral vision, so I’m seeing both the ball and the hole but concentrating more on the hole.

I’ve putted “eyes on the hole” on everything for the last 5 yrs (GOLF mag article). All in. I love it it . Target oriented. No tension. Best with: SBST face balance mallet with rounded sole - because you will mishit some. The rounded sole (think grace smart soles) helps for the occasional snag. (But I’ve also had success with a ping my day. I pretend I’m brad falxon just feeling it). On less than 10ft I might have both ball and hole in my sights. On breakers I’ve looked at a spot on the side of the hole rather than break point. Sometimes the brain takes over on breakers and naturally finds the slot. overall, I’m more decisive and committed and less iratated about results. On to the next hole.