Putting Question

[Koth]

When putting should you look at the ball or your putter?

I've been looking at my putter to try and get my Stan Utley swing down, but I wonder if I'm developing a bad habit by doing so.

[saevel25]

I look at the ball, the reason is if you look at the putter your eyes move and more likely you will move your head, once you start moving your head you're dead.

If your requiring to look at the putter, than you need to practice the stroke more to get it more muscle memory. Keep at it.

[GaijinGolfer]

Definetly look at the ball.

[zeg]

Between putter and ball, definitely ball. I've heard of people having some success looking at the target or at the aim point, but never the putter.

[bkoguy07]

Definitely look at the ball, the next thing you could look at would be the target if it works for you. I tried it but find it difficult... I look at the ball or "under" it.. So I don't follow the ball when I move. Drill to practice is place the ball on a dime and then hit the ball and look at the dime follow through then when you're obviously done see where your shot went. Works surprisingly well because you don't look up and "pull" the shot.

[DavidFehertysBike]

When im putting well, i put my head on a dimple on the ball and never come off of it. You have no control you hit it, anyway, so i never understood the instinct to look up so quickly to see the ball rolling.

[alomar123]

I guess I watch the club to see how far back I take it, but I really have both in my view. I am not just gonna concentrate on the ball, cause if I make a perfect stroke I will hit it, and its not like it is gonna move.

[allin]

You might watch the putter when practicing a technique in your living room, but I wouldn't dream of doing it when actually trying to make putts even in practice.

[BostonSully]

I had no idea watching the target was ok!

Ive been doing that and having some success but I always tell myself "eye on the ball" I am going to work on this as I always miss my putts by about an inch left or right maybe I start holing em with that stratetegy.

[Leftygolfer]

Look at the ball.

[CalBoomer]

I find the original question a bit odd. Even though I look at the ball, I always see the putter unless it is an extraordinarily long putt. So what's the big deal? Anyone can watch the ball closely and still see what the putter is doing.

[Koth]

I find the original question a bit odd. Even though I look at the ball, I always see the putter unless it is an extraordinarily long putt. So what's the big deal? Anyone can watch the ball closely and still see what the putter is doing.

You can see both, but you can only look at one. My question was which one should you

look at.

[Pyranha]

Between the two I'd say ball for sure, but I don't look at either. Once I'm over the ball and have the putter aligned I pick a spot about 4-5 inches in front of the ball on my target line and concentrate on rolling the ball right over that spot. I seem to get much better contact and distance control that way, probably because it takes my mind off of my stroke mechanics and allows me to make a nice natural stroke through the ball.

-C

[Leftygolfer]

The ball. Look at the ball. Pure contact is a huge part of being a good putter. I've never thought of looking at anything but the ball.

[mcmatt]

I focus on looking at the putter making contact with the ball. That helps me keep my head down and not looking up to where the ball will go, which causes me to pull my putts.