Putter hack for eye position: for Scotty Phantom

[NoCalHack]

So I've been working on my eye position during putting.  I'm left eye dominant and I've been trying to get my eye over the ball to give consistent visualization of the target line.   I find that you can keep the position of the ball (toward your right vs. left foot) pretty consistent because you can see your stance.  But the ball position inside vs. outside the target line is very challenging.   This even goes off in pros and a lot of them use a putting mirror to train their eye position.  I remember Hideki was struggling with eye position a while back and spending hours on the green honing it.  Apparently, Cam Smith's putting practice only consists of using a mirror to check his positions.  

 

I found a nice hack that I'll share here.  I can't take total credit for this because I once played with a college player who had put a flange line on his Phantom 5.  I held the putter and noticed the flange line changed A LOT in relation with the top line based on where my eye was over the putter.  To me, it seemed like a brilliant way to check the eye position all the time.  Kind of the same concept as the seemore putter, but checking inside vs. outside eye position.  I honestly have no idea why I've never noticed this too much on Anser/style putters with a top line and flange line, but I'm guessing it works for those too.  Perhaps because most Anser style putters do not have a double line. 

 

It turns out that the Scotty custom shop can put a flange line on the putter (For only $30).  I did this and had the line done in black paint fill so it's not distracting.  But it works brilliantly for me.  Rather than using a putting mirror, you get instant feedback every single time that your eye position is over the ball.

 

 

See attached pics.  

 

At left, eye is inside the target line- you see the lower line inside the top line.  Right, the eye is outside the target line.  Middle- eye is directly over it.

 

 

 

 

 

[EVandy]

Thanks for sharing. This would assume that your putter has the correct lie angle for your stance, posture, etc. If your putter is incorrectly fit, this could create larger issues and wouldn't be a true tell of eye position. Just my 2 cents.

[BigUrsus]

Wouldn't it be inverse of what you state? The flange line would appear outside if your eyes were inside? This makes sense but as someone who's hates playing with a level putter via lie angle it would never appear aligned to me. I have thought about a double line on the back flange of this putter. 

[Wardman]

Interesting topic.  I just moved to the Phantom 5 becuase it allows me to see more of the ball in relation to the putter head vs my Inovai

Edited June 15, 2023 by Wardman

[QuigleyDU]

Rife putters used to have a notch for doing this exact thing. You would take the flange line and make sure it was in the notch and then you were set up correctly.

[jholz]

This seems kind of similar to Mike Malaska's putting process - which I utilize. At least in my interpretation, Malaska accommodates the eye dominance thing in his alignment process. 

 

Alignment happens before you step into your putting stance.

 

Once in your putting stance, you just have to trust.

Edited June 16, 2023 by jholz

[NoCalHack]

18 hours ago, EVandy said:

Thanks for sharing. This would assume that your putter has the correct lie angle for your stance, posture, etc. If your putter is incorrectly fit, this could create larger issues and wouldn't be a true tell of eye position. Just my 2 cents.

 

 

 

This is definitely true.  My putter is 1 degree upright at 35 inches (I'm 6' even).  It also won't work if your putter doesn't sit flat (like how Sheffler sits his putter).

 

I lay the putter flat on the ground and then take my setup.  When I got this I was surprised to find out that my tendency is to put my eyes too far over the line, which most putting instructors say is bad.  Most will say inside the line is fine, outside is no good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NoCalHack]

45 minutes ago, BigUrsus said:

Wouldn't it be inverse of what you state? The flange line would appear outside if your eyes were inside? This makes sense but as someone who's hates playing with a level putter via lie angle it would never appear aligned to me. I have thought about a double line on the back flange of this putter. 

 

 

The flange line is further away than the top line so if your eyes on inside, then the flange line will be inside the top line.  Agreed.  If you don't sit your putter flat (i.e. Scheffler) or don't want your eye directly over the ball, it won't work.  However, you can calibrate the positioning of the line if you like it inside the target line.

 

 

 

My routine is I step up, take my position and check the lines are aligned, then make my stroke.  When I make my stroke, its easy to ignore the back line because its black.

 

 

 

[BigUrsus]

18 minutes ago, NoCalHack said:

 

 

The flange line is further away than the top line so if your eyes on inside, then the flange line will be inside the top line.  Agreed.  If you don't sit your putter flat (i.e. Scheffler) or don't want your eye directly over the ball, it won't work.  However, you can calibrate the positioning of the line if you like it inside the target line.

 

 

 

My routine is I step up, take my position and check the lines are aligned, then make my stroke.  When I make my stroke, its easy to ignore the back line because its black.

 

 

 

Ah got it. Sorry i was thinking lie not left/right. 

[dmeeksDC]

20 hours ago, jholz said:

This seems kind of similar to Mike Malaska's putting process - which I utilize. At least in my interpretation, Malaska accommodates the eye dominance thing is his alignment process. 

 

Alignment happens before you step into your putting stance.

 

Once in your putting stance, you just have to trust.

I like his approach to setup and alignment. Works really well at getting your eyes and brain to agree before hitting the putt.