Eyes Over the Ball Is Not a Fundamental!

[Clemsonfan]

Is an ill-fit putter wrecking your stroke? Here's how to know

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A putter that fits enhances three critical aspects of your setup: hip orientation, hand and shoulder relationship and eye position.

I know Todd Sones is a renowned instructor but eyes over the ball is not a putting fundamental! I have spoken to many instructors - from David Orr, Bruce Rearick, and Mike Shannon, and they all want you to set up where you see the line properly. I have watched numerous fittings for Odyssey, Cameron, LAB, and general fittings, and may have seen two people who were fit with their eyes over the ball. Most were inside by at least 0.5”, or so. I think eyes over the ball hurts more strokes than it helps.

[HitemHard]

0.5" inside? Seriously, the ball is just over 2" so .5" inside is only 1.5" from dead center...thats close enough for most people to call it "eyes over the ball". I see people at courses 6" plus inside the ball or even worse, their heads may be over their shoes. That's what you don't want anyone to do. .5" inside for all practicable purposes is over the ball.

[iacas]

  On 4/7/2025 at 2:10 AM, HitemHard said:

0.5" inside? Seriously, the ball is just over 2" so .5" inside is only 1.5" from dead center...thats close enough for most people to call it "eyes over the ball". I see people at courses 6" plus inside the ball or even worse, their heads may be over their shoes. That's what you don't want anyone to do. .5" inside for all practicable purposes is over the ball.

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Nah.

I'll take eyes 2" inside the ball rather than directly over the ball. No good putters have their eyes outside the ball that I've ever seen. Few are over the ball. Almost all are inside somewhere.

And the OP said "at least 0.5"."

[Clemsonfan]

  On 4/7/2025 at 2:10 AM, HitemHard said:

0.5" inside? Seriously, the ball is just over 2" so .5" inside is only 1.5" from dead center...thats close enough for most people to call it "eyes over the ball". I see people at courses 6" plus inside the ball or even worse, their heads may be over their shoes. That's what you don't want anyone to do. .5" inside for all practicable purposes is over the ball.

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Sones’ fitting device has your eyes directly over the ball. I have seen very few putters have success this way. If they use a line on the ball they often think it’s pointed left of target at setup, if they are right-handed. People who line up 6” inside the ball usually have a putter that is too long and likely haven’t had any instruction.

From Golf Digest 2/2010, Scotty Cameron: You don't want your eyes directly over the ball at address. That's a myth. It causes you to align your eyes to the left, and consequently you take the putter back to the outside. Most people stand too far from the ball, which is worse: You naturally look too far to the right, the clubhead is too upright and aimed to the left and you take the putter back to the inside. The perfect setup is one where your eyes are one inch inside the target line when you look down, below the tops of your eyebrows.

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