New idea for putting like the ball isn't there.

[Lofty Lefty]

I have read and heard from several sources about "putting like the ball isn't there". This is what is people say you need to be able to do to avoid the yips. It is true, with putter and any other club, that we can make perfect swings when there is no ball, but we often choke when playing the ball itself, if only just a little.

This was certainly true for my putting. I miss enough putts from inside 10 feet for 2 or 3 people. Pretty sure if I was pro, I would get asked by manufacturers to not use their putter.

My remedy?

Don't look at the ball.

I've been experimenting with watching the putter head during the stroke (something I always did a lot of in the practice swing). It is SO MUCH EASIER to keep the club face online, and swing through the correct line. I don't do this every time, but I tried a few times in yesterdays round from 12 feet an in, especially from 3-4 feet, and it was working pretty well. I made everything from 3-4 feet, and I made two birdies from middle distance using this technique.

*note* - If you try this, you WILL hit the ball harder than you think you are! But the roll is fantastic!

So again, putt as normal, but watch the putter. Don't move your head! Follow the putter with your eyes, keeping your head still. Now that's 'putting like the ball isn't there'!

[Ernest Jones]

Check out Fred Shoemaker's "Extraordinary Putting" Lots of awesome drills and ideas based around that. You'll love "the spot" exercises where you basically concentrate on being able to see the afterimage of the ball after it has been struck. Amazing what it does to quiet down your putting stroke. Super smooth and I found that after doing the exercise for a while I started making putts that I had no business sinking! I mean real hail mary's.