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Should you watch the putter head?

Pimpslap

By Pimpslap,
in Instruction and Playing Tips

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  1. 1. Should you watch the putter head go backwards?

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    • No
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Pimpslap Member

Pimpslap

During your putting backswing, should you watch the putter moving backwards or stare at the ball? If you have ever read about this and can cite an article or instruction book I would find it helpful. All thoughts and comments welcome, but please no more Pelz vs. Utley arguments, not interested in path or face angles.
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Stuart Well Established Member

Stuart

I do, but just for the first foot maybe, and I make sure that my head remains still. Should I? I have no idea. :)

TaylorMade R11S TP Blur 60 X
TayloreMade R11S TP Blur 70 X

Titleist 910H 21&24
Miura Tournament Blades 5-PW DGX100 Tour Issue
Cleveland CG16 52

Miura Black Wedge 56, 60
Newport 2 Teryllium Ten

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cbe_golfer Well Established Member

cbe_golfer

I have been working on this recently. I was getting hung up on my backswing and not getting good results. Right now, all I try to think about is the initial line of the ball. Seems to work a little better for me right now.

In the bag:
905R 9.5* Fujikura Speeder S
X 15* Fujikura R
X 19* Fujikura S
4-P MP-14 TT DGS300 53* 588 Gunmetal MP series 56-14 TT wedge MP-R 60-09 Rifle SpinnerDFX Two ball Pro V1

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blkdiamond Established Member

blkdiamond

I don't know if it's good or bad, but I have always watched the putter head during my backswing to ensure that the head is coming back square and in the center of the putter.

909D-Comp
909F-2
585H Hybrids
755 Irons
Vokey Wedges 2-Ball F7 B330S

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ks8829 Great Member

ks8829

I have a habit of looking at the putter head on the back swing all the way back to help me determine the length of my backswing of the putter.

I also do the same on the other golf clubs, irons, woods and driver.

bad habit, but its second nature for me. I was helping my brother-in-law when he first started playing golf and he was doing the same thing, because he was watching me swing the club. He has since stopped doing this.

Titleist 910 D2 9.5 Driver
Titleist 910 F15 & 21 degree fairway wood
Titleist 910 hybrid 24 degree
Mizuno Mp33 5 - PW
52/1056/1160/5

"Yonex ADX Blade putter, odyssey two ball blade putter, both  33"

ProV-1

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gogolfing Great Member

gogolfing

When I'm stroking it well, I have little body movement and look at the ball until impact, then look at the green (at the spot where the ball was previously) for at least a count of one after the ball has left. It keeps me still through the putt and the putter face square. As soon as my putting is off a bit, I go to the practice green and work on this, and within five minutes have it back again.

Ping G 410 10.5 ˚ Driver Ping Tour Stiff Shaft
Ping G 410 14.5˚ 3 Ping Tour Stiff Shaft
Ping G 410 19˚ Ping Tour Stiff Shaft
i 500 irons 4-UW 1/2 inch over, blue dot, NS Pro Modus 105 Stiff Shafts
Ping Stealth Wedges Wedges  54˚ 58˚

Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport 2 34" 

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Fourputt Incredible Member

Fourputt

My answer....NO!!! Even moving my eyes will disturb my stroke. I focus on the ball, and I make sure that my head and eyes don't move until I actually see the ground under the ball after I stroke it.

I don't know how anyone could possibly be a good putter by watching the clubhead as he takes it away. It's one thing to watch your takeaway when practicing to see what is happening, but the reason for practice and for putting drills is to train the muscles so you don't have to think about that during an actual round. The focus on course should be on speed and line, not mechanics.

Rick

"He who has the fastest cart will never have a bad lie."

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NCGolfer Great Member

NCGolfer

I have a problem watching it after I stroke the putt...not on the way back. That being said, I don't think it's a good idea. Watch the guys on tour. Do you see any of them watching the putter as they are making a stroke?

Nope. At least none that I've ever seen.

They are focused on the spot where the ball is (and was) like gogolfing said. When I have the above problem I will practice putting from 5-8 feet and listen to the ball go in the hole.

Fairways and Greens.

Dave
 

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

  • Administrator
I said in a PM and I'll repeat it here: no.

Where your eyes go, your head goes. Where your head goes, the rest of your body goes.

A whole bunch of movement: bad for a putting stroke. I putt best when I feel very, very still.

Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • Author, Lowest Score Wins
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TourSpoon Super Member

TourSpoon

I concentrate on the ball and see the putter going back but try not to follow it with my eyes.

Cobra LTDx 10.5* | Big Tour 15.5*| Rad Tour 18.5*  | Titleist U500 4-23* | T100 5-P | Vokey SM7 50/8* F, 54/10* S, SM8 58/10* S | Scotty Cameron Squareback No. 1 | Vice Pro Plus  

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DBake Dedicated Member

DBake

I said in a PM and I'll repeat it here: no.

+1 I agree.

DBake
Titleist 909D3 10.5* Tour Green 89 Stiff
Titleist 906F2 15* v2 85 Stiff
Mizuno MP-30 2-PW S300
Mizuno MP-R 52* & 59*Scotty Cameron Studio Design 1.5Titleist Pro V1Leupold GX-1The Home Course (75.7/130)
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  • 2 weeks later...
giantbear Member

giantbear

I watch the right side of the ball with my left eye until i see the green underneath.
Driver: 454 big bertha driver
Woods: warbird 5 wood and 7 wood (probably replace this year)
Hybrid 19 degree rescue mid wood (probably replace this year)
Irons: x-16 2 degrees flat 4-9 iron
Wedges: 60 degree volkey, eye2 sandwedge (old club but never found its equal), x-16 50 degree gap and 46...
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stuartaustin Member

stuartaustin

I do best when i dont even worry about where the putter head is. Just make sure you get your head over the ball and keep it still, with your eyes looking at the ball through the whole swing
WHATS IN THE BAG?

Calloway 460cc Big Birtha driver
Nike NDS irons
Cleveland 54 degree wedgePing lob wedgeRIFE Martinique Island Series putter
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Ben Great Member

Ben

Absolutely not, NO!

Doing that will only lead to "coming out" of your putts. Pushing and pulling comes easy when you don't keep your head still and down in putts. Same for chipping. That's one of my major pre-shot thoughts these days. Every time I'm over a putt "keep your head down" I tell myself. On putts 5 feet and shorter I don't look up at all. If I've got the line and speed right, the putt will finish in the hole, why bother looking up.

Callaway RazrFit Extreme 9.5 w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XHot Pro 15* 3Wood w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XTour 18* 2h w/S300
Callaway XHot Pro 4/5 irons w/S300
Callaway XForged III 5-PW irons w/S300
Callaway Forged 52*/58* Wedges
Odyssey 7 Versa 90
Callaway Hex Black Tour

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bca42 Established Member

bca42

Absolutely not.

Blog: http://emergencynine.com/

In my bag you'll find lots of left-handed clubs like these:
Driver: G10 9* TFC (stock) S
3 wood: G5 Aldila NV SIrons 4 thru P: MX-20 TTDG RWedges: MP T Series Chrome, Forged - 52/56/60Putter: CallieBall: B330Bag (carry): Tour Stand; (cart): 9" Staff Tour

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Steaksauce Established Member

Steaksauce

I think the most effective way of playing for all shots is to have as little moving parts as possible, being that there is less wasted motions and a fewer chance to mess anything up.

Also I putt best with a steady head, all shoulder swing, and extending outwards towards my target line after impact (still keeping my head down).
In My Bag:
Driver: r580XD R flex
3 Wood: Mac Burrows 13*
Irons: Apex 2 iron
Irons: Edge 3-E ('89-92)Wedge: rac TP Satin 56*12Wedge: rac TP Black 60*06Putter: CER Milled CP03 (GolfWorks custom head)Ball: Pro V1 or any other found premimum ball
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  • 4 weeks later...
SteelDriver Well Established Member

SteelDriver

I watch the ball and where i want to make contact with it.

In my Bag:

Tour Burner 9.5* ProLaunch Red Shaft
Baffler TWS & DWS Hybrids: 2,4
Irons: 09 Burners 4-AWWC Liquid Copper SW 56*WC Liquid Copper LW 60*Putter: Black OZ T130 TP Black

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