Heads up putting

[lefthack]

Just reading about Tony Finau and switching to heads up and then leading the field after 2 rounds. I am totally trying this when I get home and I have a funny feeling it might work well.

 

Anybody else putt heads up?

 

https://golf.com/instruction/putting/tony-finau-putting-2021-masters-technique/

[Ripper212]

i do except for long severely breaking putts, or putts from the fringe. Stroke becomes much freer, no decel or head movement, and I think I even start it on line more reliably.

[lefthack]

So I usually haven't been putting but since I've bought 5 putters in 2 weeks, I figured I should.

 

I can't explain it, but it works. From 35 feet out, I either made it or left it within a foot. If I look down at my ball, I am anywhere from 5 feet short to 4 feet long. It feels SO weird, but it seems to work for whatever reason. 

 

I will be trying out all the various blades I bought, so this should be fun.

Edited May 31, 2021 by lefthack

[COACH9]

Been doing it for years. Started after me and the wife were putting on the carpet at home. She was looking at the dime we had laid out on the carpet as a target. I told her "you can't do that!". She said "Why?".

And I didn't have a good answer for her.

That weekend I tried it on the course. I drained a 45 footer and a 70 footer and haven't looked back. I feel completely lost now if I even try to look at the ball while putting.

 

[stryper]

On 4/11/2021 at 12:36 PM, Ripper212 said:

Stroke becomes much freer, no decel or head movement, and I think I even start it on line more reliably.

 

I noticed how well the ball rolls when I switched to a Triple Track ball last summer.  Consistent end-over-end roll virtually every time.  I haven’t looked at the ball while putting in a long time, but I can’t imagine the roll would be as consistent doing that.  I think I’d become so concerned with making the perfect stroke that my putter face could end up going anywhere.

[Barfolomew]

Its the best drill!  If we rolled a ball with our hand we would look at hole/target not our hand lol.....

 

So easy to flush a putt.... in fact I close my eyes sometimes.

 

When I putt I look at ball but my mind/attention aint at the ball but is at where Im going.... putting is my strength..... gosh what a weak attempt to make it sound like I know what I talkin bout haha but I do love putting its like a meditation to me lol

Edited June 4, 2021 by Barfolomew

[lefthack]

Yeah, I'm still working on it and I still have my other putters to try as well. But I'm pretty sure I've found my putting style.

[Barfolomew]

7 minutes ago, lefthack said:

Yeah, I'm still working on it and I still have my other putters to try as well. But I'm pretty sure I've found my putting style.

 

 i could see it being good for distance control on long putts as you mind will always be aware of the distance.... just make sure you flush it cause be tougher then the short putts to flush with more movement

[Soloman1]

Sigh.

 

Did you hear abut this new radical new idea of putting a ball on a wooden tee instead of a mound of sand?

 

I (and others before and since me) have been making short putts looking at the hole for over 50 years.

 

I even look at the dart board and a spot on the bowling lane and the catchers mitt when throwing a ball. Radical stuff. Oh, I forgot, I used to look at where I wanted the football to be when the receiver got there instead of watching the football in my hand as I threw it.

 

Edited: OK, sorry for being so snarky. It's hard to get old and see people fascinated by stuff we knew 50 years ago.

Edited June 5, 2021 by Soloman1

[lefthack]

48 minutes ago, Soloman1 said:

Sigh.

 

Did you hear abut this new radical new idea of putting a ball on a wooden tee instead of a mound of sand?

 

I (and others before and since me) have been making short putts looking at the hole for over 50 years.

 

I even look at the dart board and a spot on the bowling lane and the catchers mitt when throwing a ball. Radical stuff. Oh, I forgot, I used to look at where I wanted the football to be when the receiver got there instead of watching the football in my hand as I threw it.

 

Edited: OK, sorry for being so snarky. It's hard to get old and see people fascinated by stuff we knew 50 years ago.

 

Maybe if you would have told me, I would be less surprised. But hey, that's on you. 🤣

 

It's tough when you have been told since day one "eye on the ball". So while it makes sense, nobody has mentioned it until a few months back.

 

I'm actually doing it for all my putts and so far the results are good 

[Soloman1]

Isn't it interesting that you can focus on the precise blade of grass on the edge of the cup that you want the ball to roll over... and it does?

 

Good for you> Make 'em all!

[lefthack]

I'm not getting great contact every time. I just started using the 8802, but it's really fun.

 

I figure once my others get here, I can do some head to head and see which one I like best. 

 

It makes total sense, it's just counter intuitive to what I've always been told. It's also made me enjoy it more. I usually just pitch to as close to the hole as I can and move on (I play 3 balls a round). But I'm actually putting out and enjoying it.

[Moonlightgrm]

Get on a SAM Putting Lab and find out if it’s truly for you. I tried so many different techniques on the SAM and learned the truth about my putting stroke. Data is your friend! 
 

[lefthack]

I have not gotten my Nike yet, but my tee shot on 4 made for a perfect line for bird.

 

 

[berndgeurts]

Mmm interesting, going to try this out today on the putting green.

[lefthack]

I keep laughing because I either drop or come up inches short on some pretty silly long putts. Like 30+ feet with a little break. It's weird, but it's working for me and I'm putting out every hole now because it's so damn funny.

[lefthack]

I was doing some reading on it and they talked about visualizing the hole straight down your putt line. I have actually been setting up on line but looking at the hole when putting. 

 

 

[agoose10]

You’ve inspired me. I tried it on the practice green for an hour today. I noticed myself making more putts, more comfortably than normal and not feeling a sense of doubt when I missed. I’m going to try it this week in league. 

[lefthack]

I find when I put too much thought into it, I miss hit, usually off the toe. Or my read isn't great, but my distance is really good.

 

I played a new course with REALLY nice and fast greens that took a bit of adjustment from what I'm used to. But still managed to 2 putt at worst and I'm ok with that 

[MrHateCoffee]

Are you talking about Instinct Putting?  There's a book on it.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Instinct-Putting-Revisited-Look-Where/dp/1688417052

 

I use it pretty successfully.

[lefthack]

3 hours ago, MrHateCoffee said:

Are you talking about Instinct Putting?  There's a book on it.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Instinct-Putting-Revisited-Look-Where/dp/1688417052

 

I use it pretty successfully.

 

Oh cool! I just heard it mentioned a few months back. I did a little reading on it, but I just basically started looking at the hole after reading the green and lining up the putt rather than looking at my ball as I putt.

 

It still makes me laugh because it seems crazy on one hand yet makes total sense on the other. 

[lefthack]

Reading a review of that book hit on so many keys for me.

 

 

Edited July 12, 2021 by lefthack

[danglingangler]

I have used this technique off and on for several months. I tend to go to it when I am within 5 ft or there is a lot of break in a putt. The downside for me is I will sometimes hit the ground first.

 

It takes a lot of the yips out of my putting stroke on shorter putts.

[lefthack]

My reads are a work in progress, but my speed and distance is close. I'm hitting 30'+ putts to within 2' and often either made or on the lip if my read was good.

 

The less I think about it, the better it is. 

[agoose10]

I ended up pushing all of my birdie putts the exact same amount. 
 

All of my lag putting was great. No 3 putts. 
 

Bought the book to see if I can focus on a few things. 

[Forged4ever]

On 7/12/2021 at 12:37 PM, MrHateCoffee said:

Are you talking about Instinct Putting?  There's a book on it.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Instinct-Putting-Revisited-Look-Where/dp/1688417052

 

I use it pretty successfully.

Yeppers, and if someone is truly interested in the subject matter, I would strongly recommend obtaining the book that MHC provided a link for.

Don't just go out and start looking at the hole while you putt, lol🤪

 

These are the two brainiacs and it was their research that they based the book on. 
 

If you're serious about giving it a try, get the book, read the book, digest the material and then take it to the PRACTICE green, prior to taking it to the course.

 

This is two fold as just as you would not try a new swing on the course without first incorporating the swing changes into your own swing, your should first practice the "EOH" method(Eyes On Hole) until you are proficient enough that you have the confidence to KNOW that you can successfully stroke the putt that you are standing over,  be it getting a 30'+ lag putt close or draining a nassau winning 5'er, instead of HOPING that you lag it close or make it.
 

The second reason that you should work on this method first on the practice green by yourself is that most(95%+) of you are sheep, and whether you admit it here on this board or not, and I understand and do not expect you too, so if you want to call me an *sshole, that's fine, I've heard it before and am good with it, however caring what others think, and trying an unconventional putting method in front of a bunch of guys who will probably jerk your chain if ya yank it left or run it 5-6' by or jab a 3'er 3' across the right edge, does zero for one's self confidence and once they laugh and blow you sh*t, for the vast majority, that's it for the EOH method.

 

So, if you're serious, get the book, read the book(and reread as necessary), make a practice regime(write it out!!), then go practice.

 

It works, you just have to see if it works for you!!

 

Stay Well Gents👊

RP

Edited July 14, 2021 by Forged4ever

[sekrah]

I just posted about this on another thread, but do you look at the baseball in your hand as you're throwing it? 

 

When I'm on the practice green I am looking at the hole all the time.. I take my practice strokes looking at the hole and If you can perfect your stroke - and trust it - you can definitely do it in a live round.

[lefthack]

2 minutes ago, sekrah said:

I just posted about this on another thread, but do you look at the baseball in your hand as you're throwing it? 

 

When I'm on the practice green I am looking at the hole all the time.. I take my practice strokes looking at the hole and If you can perfect your stroke - and trust it - you can definitely do it in a live round.

 

The basketball free throw was what got me thinking. I have a "routine" but I am thinking about the target, not the ball.

 

The book was $5 on ebay, so it should be here this weekend. My round yesterday was further proof it's what works for me. Wildwood has huge greens that are crazy fast and the distance control was still right there, unless I thought about it. 

[sekrah]

5 minutes ago, lefthack said:

 

The basketball free throw was what got me thinking. I have a "routine" but I am thinking about the target, not the ball.

 

The book was $5 on ebay, so it should be here this weekend. My round yesterday was further proof it's what works for me. Wildwood has huge greens that are crazy fast and the distance control was still right there, unless I thought about it. 

Yea, like I said I'll practice stroke looking at the hole and trying to sink that feeling in as I go hit the putt.. Sometimes works really well, but if I don't strike it solidly it doesn't work.  Just something I need to practice more.

[Forged4ever]

3 minutes ago, lefthack said:

 

The basketball free throw was what got me thinking. I have a "routine" but I am thinking about the target, not the ball.

THIS is most amateurs' problem as instead of totally focusing on the hole, they focus on the ball, the stroke, yada yada yada.

 

The HOLE Gents, the HOLE!!

 

Just as with a full swing, it's the TARGET🎯!!

 

All the Best Brotha👊
RP