Can you see "the line" ?

Just wondering how many people can see "the line" once in a while when putting. I have walked up to the green on numerous occasions thinking that I have no chance at making this putt. I mark my ball have a look at the break and then set the ball down. As soon as that ball gets back on the green there will be times when I all of a sudden see a line on the green from my ball to the hole. Putt on the line and it goes in, even the long ones... just weird...

Anyone else have this experience once in a while as well?

Sometimes you just see it and some times you don't. There is no feeling quite like standing over a putt when you see the line and know it is going in.

I think that Tiger has the ability to see it 85% of the time and about 98% of the time from 6 feet and in. He is such a great putter.

I always see multiple lines when I putt, not just one precise one. Different putt speeds will give you different lines, and I try to analyze all of them before deciding on one.

I know it sounds silly to say that I have learned my putting technique from a video game (the aim, not the swing ), but that is basically what happened.

Most golf games I have ever played use a grid-style putting system, and even the simulators I use at Parmaster has a grid setting for when you putt.

Everytime I walk up to a green now, I just instinctively see a grid pattern with the slopes/grains marked in my head. The lines I see don't always pan-out like I would hope... but do I see them? Of course

(And I still average a 3-putt from anything past 30-feet... so no, I'm not claiming to be a great putter )

Yep. I love it when I know it's going in before I hit it. I wish I happened to me more frequently.

When you know its going in, and you raise your club in the air and you feel great. Then you realize that it was for a double bogey, reality sets back in.

I guess every golfer sees the line when they putt the ball, just most choose the wrong line. Otherwise, they wouldnt have hit the ball thinking " eh, maybe it will go 5 feet by."

Just to agree with you, I think he sees the line about 98% of the time period. There's just a lot more that can go wrong from 40 feet.

Absolutely and he couples that off with knowing it's going in the hole 100% of the time.

It would be nice to see the ball actually go in the hole for more birdies.

This sensation has happened to me, its the best feeling, just standing over a putt knowing you will make it. Have you ever felt this way about other shots?
I have been playing and I was so focused I didnt know what I was shooting. Its the best feeling in the world and how to play your best.

Aint that the truth!

I once made a 60 yard wedge shot just to realize that it was for par on a par three course. Took some of the wind out of it.

Tiger sees the line 98% of the time on chip-shots for gods sake!!!

Someone once said that; "To Tiger, the hole appears to be the size of a basketball."

I can see that...

i dont think there is a "line" unless its flat. Every putt has multiple lines if there is break to it.

The harder you hit, the straighter the line, right? So if you hit the softest shot you can without leaving it short, that will be the highest arching line. All other speeds will creat lines between that and the straight line.

of course if it has a lot of break the straight line putt would have to be so hard that it would more than likely overshoot the hole, but a straight line it is nontheless.

I know exactly what you're saying when you say you just "see the line" and when you feel it and just make a confident stroke at it....there is nothing better. I have tried to work hard to be the best putter I can be and have always told my students that putting and the short game is the key to a better golf game...If I had one suggestion it would be this....I have always found that when I watch players putt on the practice green they (1) Never read their putts and (2) they almost always putt better than they do on course. Why you ask? (even though you probably didn't SPEED....They never look at the line, they just keep aiming at the same point they "thought" was the right line and adjust their speed to compensate...they make more putts this way because they're never aggressive enough to begin with.
Dave Pelz will tell you that 85% of golfers play the wrong break...true but I will tell you that 100% of golfers that play the wrong speed have no chance of making a putt. At least if you play the wrong break and hit it too hard it might go in!
So I guess what I am saying is that if you are actually reading this long winded response is that players see the "line" in different ways, personally I look at the apex, aim just inside and hit firm, others look at the apex and aim just outside and hit it a little softer....If you are having trouble finding that right aiming spot I would suggest actually lining up your practice putts on the practice green...if people look at you funny because of it I would just say that Butch Harmon or Dave Pelz told you to because players that really want to get better do this type of thing....and then kick them in the balls

I would guess you've never seen the line. When you see it the ball speed is right and the ball goes in the hole, like tossing a pair of socks on a bed. Just like in Bagger Vance at the end. Sorry to say it won't happen on every hole,even though you think you have seen it.

Just the way it works. Like I have said its all mental.