What do your eyes do during the putting stroke?

[howaboutme]

Question that's been bothering me. What does your eye do during the putting stroke, specifically the back stroke? I have to watch the putter go back and through the ball to have any success. I tried to keep my eyes on the ball (like a full swing) but it doesn't work and my swing is not fluid or true. Maybe it's a mental block. I do keep my head still so this is just the eyes rolling back and forth.

 

Thoughts?

[GSDriver]

Close 😀

 

I try to remain still, let my peripheral vision watch path of club going back at first, mainly focus on where I want ball to start rolling

[Socrates]

Watching the putter head go back is very bad and leads to all things bad.  Most of them are mid-stroke compensations for speed.  Never ends well.

 

Prior to addressing the ball, I've already "felt" how much stroke I need.  When I'm putting well I start with my focus on the ball (and line) and then shift it to the hands, blurring out almost everything.  I'm aware of my hands moving (obviously the putter moves too), but not really focused on either.  Much like putting with your eyes closed or putting while looking at the hole.  I'm feeling the stroke more than watching it.

[rolling green]

I can't look at the ball or the putter head.  I look at a spot on the green in front of the ball and blur out the ball and putter.  I know it's strange but it frees up my stroke

Edited February 10, 2021 by rolling green

[dlygrisse]

The key to my putting is to focus on keeping my head dead still while swinging the putter.  I have two drills that I use when I have issues.  

1.  Putt in your house with your head against the wall, the toe of the putter should brush the baseboard at the impact area.  I just make a few strokes like this to get the feel then hit real putts on my indoor putting green.

2.  Hit putts while looking at the hole.  Once you make a few like this it becomes obvious that watching the putter head isn't important.  

 

My number one swing thought when I have a makable putt is is to keep my head still, If I have a longer lag putt I focus more on speed but keeping the head from moving to me is the key to not pulling putts and eventually not pushing them by coming up and out of the shot.  

[Nels55]

I watch the putter head go back and through and have done so for many years.  I have a tendency to loop the putter head outside in and by watching the head I can make sure that I swing through on the same path that I took it back on.  I have been on SAM putt lab several times and my stroke is quite decent especially for someone who is not particularly talented.  So, in the end I believe that if something works use it and don't worry about what anyone else thinks about it!

[Pete O'Tube]

1 hour ago, rolling green said:

I can't look at the ball or the putter head.  I look at a spot on the green in front of the ball and blur out the ball and putter.  I know it's strange but it frees up my stroke

For putts under 10' or so:

Look just in front of the ball. Keeping your eyes on that spot about 1" in front of the ball, try and see the whole of the line to the hole in your peripheral vision, then putt. If it's a longer putt, find a spot on the line and bring that into your peripheral vision.

Looking in front of the ball prevents quitting and bringing the hole into your view helps with distance and line. 

 

Practicing 4 foot putts while looking at the hole is a great way to smooth out your stroke.

[Barfolomew]

try lookin at the hole to break the habit..... actually you could close your eyes and hit a great putt.  But lookin away from the target in the opposite direction is the worst cause you want your attention forward... I might be lookin at the ball but my attention is not at the ball cause its easy to flush its at where Im hitting to....

 

not like a full swing where you have more attention at the ball then putting..... so to look backwards is deaaath

 

I have a friend that looks back at his club on every shot..... he has even been ridiculed by the Dalai Lama, who's a long hitter

Edited February 10, 2021 by Barfolomew

[howaboutme]

Ok. I just tried a few putts by looking at an 1" in front of the ball. So far that feels good, much better than staring at the ball during the stroke. That does boggle my mind though. Strange sport.

[getitdaily]

I look at the front of the ball. I tend to pull more putts when i look at the back of the ball. Foe some reason, front of the ball helps me not open up. Idk why.

[harolease]

Depending on my grip I look at my hands or the butt or the end of the shaft of the putter as my last look before I putt then my eye instinctly follows the path of the ball after I stroke it 

[hoselpalooza]

i love this question almost as much as "do you breathe in or out before starting your takeaway?" saving this one for later 😂