Lining up a putt

[jimmer1609]

When putting, I usually line my line on the ball up with the cup like most people do.  I recently found that my putts are better if I just eye it up then go with it.. Anyone else in the same boat as I am ??

[saevel25]

Well since most putts have break, i will say that isn't wise to line up to the hole 100% of the time.

For me, i can see arcs well. So i read breaking putts way better than i do straighter putts. I tend to try to find break when there isn't any. I miss more straight putts than i do breaking ones. But for me, i tend to read the line, trace it from the hole back to the ball and find a point infront of the ball that it will roll over. From there, i focus on that point when i line up to my putt.

[jimmer1609]

yeah ... on lag putts, i've just been picking a spot out close to the cup instead of lining it up and have been getting better results.  I guess ill roll with it and see what happens

[Ernest Jones]

Originally Posted by saevel25

Well since most putts have break, i will say that isn't wise to line up to the hole 100% of the time.

For me, i can see arcs well. So i read breaking putts way better than i do straighter putts. I tend to try to find break when there isn't any. I miss more straight putts than i do breaking ones. But for me, i tend to read the line, trace it from the hole back to the ball and find a point infront of the ball that it will roll over. From there, i focus on that point when i line up to my putt.

Me too. Much prefer a putt with break, at least if it has any length to it, if it's a short putt (under 5 feet) I prefer them to be straight so I can just ram it in.

[PirateJim]

I have been struggling with putt alignment. Most recently I have been trying to get right over the ball and actually close one eye while lining up the putt( not sure it matters which, but I have been closing the right since the left is closest to the target). Then I set up for the actual putt and do not "second guess" the alignment. For me, it seems to be helping.

[boil3rmak3r]

Lining up the line on the ball is important for me. Most of us amateurs tend to unconsciously pull or push putts based on our minds telling us we need to start the putt more right or left. If my ball is lined up exactly one the line I want, I am more likely to get it rolling along the line I wanted (for a putt with decent break, it'll only stay on that line for a very short period of time)... Pelz talked about this in his putting "Bible". While the techniques he suggests are not favored by many, I believe his research was well done on what I wrote above. The other phenomenon that Pelz talks about is where people think the starting line of their putt was. I played in a scramble today. I was the 4th to putt on all the holes. I can't tell you how many times someone would point to a brown spot 10' in front the ball on a 20' putt that broke 3' and say, "I think this is where we need to aim." The first putter would roll his putt so the ball nearly rolled over that spot and would almost hole the putt. It was a good putt, but the putter started the ball well outside that brown mark. The mark was simply the apex of the arc of the roll of the ball. Of course, others would aim at that same spot, subconsciously pull/push the putt, and would also end up with a decent putt..

[jimmer1609]

I 100% agree with you on short putts that lining them up keeps me from thinking too much, but as far as any putt greater than 25 ft, when lining them up I tend to come up WAY short.

[Old Timer]

I follow the same process Nicklaus uses and add my own elements.

Standing behind the ball a few feet, I visualize the line from the ball to the cup and back again.

Then, I pick a spot about a foot or so ahead of the ball on my line. It could be a spike mark, bare spot, or any surface defect that I can clearly see.

That becomes my aiming mark and I no longer worry about the hole location...only the aiming mark.

This is the same procedure Jack uses.

Here is where I differ from most...

I visualize myself rolling the ball to the cup in an underhand manner....this gives me a mental image of the speed I feel I need.

I'll take one or two practice swings based on that image, align the putter to the line, step into my stance and putt.

It works pretty well, especially with my old multiple lined Zebra mallet putter..

[inthecup]

I draw a line on the ball and line it up with the Aimpoint break I read in the putt.  That involves picking a mark next to the hole (if possible) and pointing the line at it.  Then I step back and check that alignment.  When I stand over the putt I believe in the line and it is just pure speed at that point.  Not to say that once in a while I don't subconsciously help it one way or another.

My putt swing thought is don't look up.  On short ones I hear it drop before I look.