Should you watch the putter head?

[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.

[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. :)

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[iacas]

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.

[TourSpoon]

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

[DBake]

  iacas said:

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

+1 I agree.

[giantbear]

I watch the right side of the ball with my left eye until i see the green underneath.

[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

[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.

[bca42]

Absolutely not.

[HeadCoverLeash]

I do when I practice at home. On the course I do it sometimes on short putts. I watch the heel of the putter and keep it on a straight line. It all depends on stroke and confidence that day.

[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).

[SteelDriver]

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