Putting Tip - This is a Great Idea... I Love It !!

Why didn't I think of this...[media=]

[size=4]BTW... [color=#333333]Michael Allen leads the 2012 Champions Tour in putting average at 1.734 putts on greens hit in regulation.[/color][/size]

thats how i putt.

I don't use any lines. In fact, I probably spend more time than I should making sure that it's perfectly blank side up.

[quote name='greens hit' timestamp='1350452693' post='5805195']
I don't use any lines. In fact, I probably spend more time than I should making sure that it's perfectly blank side up.
[/quote]

I would too...

I find myself going back and forth alternating between using the line and not. I would aim the line on the ball down the path I wanted the ball to start on, but after a while, I felt less instinctive and robotic. When I felt this, I would go [i]blank-side-up[/i] and [u]always[/u] improve.

For me though, the one problem with BSU was that sometimes I would loose track of the ball-path on longer breaking putts. This would happen when I was over the ball and would cause me back off and start my routine all over again. Not good - now I felt rushed to make the putt and not hold-up the group.

I'm anxious to give this a try today... I'll report back.

Cheers,

Thanks for sharing, worth giving this a shot.
Appreciated

trying this out today!

Anybody that doesn't give this technique a try is missing the boat...

Best of both world's !!

This might be genius....

I've tried the usual line approach, but on any breaking putt... the speed has a huge influence on your line needed, so setting that line up is tricky... this way, to always aim it at the hole, then you have the 'baseline' and then view and feel your putts break and speed seems like a really good idea.

Hope i remember to try it in a month and a half when i'll be back home for golf...

It worked again today...

29 putts

Four rounds without a 3-putt

[quote name='coops' timestamp='1350737879' post='5820523']
This might be genius....

I've tried the usual line approach, but on any breaking putt... the speed has a huge influence on your line needed, so setting that line up is tricky... this way, to always aim it at the hole, then you have the 'baseline' and then view and feel your putts break and speed seems like a really good idea.[/quote]

I believe you're right... this might just be genius.

Looks interesting, going to give it a try.

Hmm ... I used to use a line ... Then I also went blank side up and it "feels" better to me. I am going to give this a try tomorrow morning! ... Thanks

Very interesting. I wonder if i would subconsciously try to hit the putt where the line is aiming especially on putts that break very little? Definitely worth a try...in six months!

My putts-per-round average has dropped by 2.4 putts over my last five rounds using this alignment method.

Has anyone else experienced an improvement using this method?

interesting! I tried the "aim with the line" and it doesn't work for me. I focus too much on the line and not enough on speed. now I put the "blank" side up and just try and feel it out.

to those who are trying this, is the line not distracting?

i like this concept, am looking forward to giving it a try.

Michael Allen hits on a crucial component of putting. Whether you use a line or not, it all comes down to TRUST. Confident putters, people that trust their ability, make more putts!!

I don't understand this at all to be honest, if you're not using your line on the inteneded path, what's the point?

But, if it helps anyone make more putts ... rock on!

ive tried using a line many times but struggle with aligning it from any distance and then start questioning if its aimed the correct place. i always use the blank bit of the ball now. all i wanna think about is my target.

[quote name='cwglum' timestamp='1351175997' post='5843783']
I don't understand this at all to be honest, if you're not using your line on the inteneded path, what's the point?

But, if it helps anyone make more putts ... rock on!
[/quote]

CW, it's just a reference point/line that always points straight to the hole.

[quote name='Joe Duffer' timestamp='1351260299' post='5849179']
[quote name='cwglum' timestamp='1351175997' post='5843783']
I don't understand this at all to be honest, if you're not using your line on the inteneded path, what's the point?

But, if it helps anyone make more putts ... rock on!
[/quote]

CW, it's just a reference point/line that always points straight to the hole.
[/quote]
+1
Been using this method since June
I use the line more for alignment tool than for aiming

[quote name='dlam' timestamp='1351263805' post='5849507']
[quote name='Joe Duffer' timestamp='1351260299' post='5849179']
[quote name='cwglum' timestamp='1351175997' post='5843783']
I don't understand this at all to be honest, if you're not using your line on the inteneded path, what's the point?

But, if it helps anyone make more putts ... rock on!
[/quote]

CW, it's just a reference point/line that always points straight to the hole.
[/quote]
+1
Been using this method since June
I use the line [u][color=#ff0000][b][i]more for alignment tool than for aiming[/i][/b][/color][/u]
[/quote]

Exactly...

Have you seen improvement?

[quote name='blindwillie' timestamp='1351175599' post='5843763']
Michael Allen hits on a crucial component of putting. Whether you use a line or not, it all comes down to TRUST. Confident putters, people that trust their ability, make more putts!!
[/quote]

I agree. self-confidence is huge... and for me, confidence begins with the [i]feeling[/i] of proper alignment of the putterface aimed on your intended starting line.

So... considering the level of interest and lack of positive feedback, I'll have to assume Michael Allen and myself are the ONLY people who've improved using this alignment technique?

And that's OK...

I really like this idea, and it is the first time I have heard about it. It is genius conceptually since it blends the best of the concsious, analytical mind (the line on the ball) withe the subconscious, intuitive side - trusting your putter face aim to the left or right of the line on the ball for breaking putts. I wonder what Mike does on dead straight putts, ie no break?

In our putting schools, we always recommend trying the line on the ball since so many students suffer from poor aim, and about half of our graduates report back to us that they stay with that method. The other half abandon it because they start to have inner "demons" in their head doubting whether or not they aimed the line correctly in the first place, or as Mike Allen says, they get "stuck" or their mind gets "frozen" on the target line, which is kind of a pre-yip stage, and a lot of bad putts are the outcome. It can really make you lose all sense of touch/feel for distance control.


I am excited about testing this method next month in Hawaii!

Interesting, I might have to try this. I am a dedicated user of the line, and usually my read is "acceptable" and it allows me to concentrate on putting a nice roll on the ball along the intended path. I will concede that once you get into position there are a few times a round where you second guess that line. That does bother me a bit but I just hope for the best and try to get it close.

My bigger issue is distance control, and it's killing me right now!

I was going through a bad patch with my putting so gave this technique a go. In the few rounds I've used it it has really helped. I never feel 'stuck' over the ball if the line isn't perfectly alingned, and as a result it has also helped me focus more on the pace of the putt which has improved. Certainly enjoying putting this way so far.

I've been doing this forever and never thought anything special of it. I never trusted the line when I tried to aim it at the break but when I just lined it straight to the cup then made my face adjustment off of that it seemed to work well. Surprised not many people who use the line havent just tried this on a whim. Those who are questioning it on the short almost straight in putts are correct however. It takes a lot of trust in your stroke for that putter to not want to follow that line if you are playing a very minimal amount of break.