concepts from a great putter

[golfchicago]

I've never heard of anyone trash the idea of lining up a putt with the logo. Why do some feel it is rubbish? I use the concept. I've never seen anything wrong with it. I draw lines on my putter and then line it up with an intermediate target. What objections do some have about that?

[danny_shank]

This is the equivalent of much of the golfing "hoary old chestnuts" that still prevent us from playing golf as well as we might.

No good focusing on what we are not involved with. We, in your example - and I play a lot of snooker - must focus on the ball being struck by the cue. Imprecise contact with the cue ball, despite focussing on the object ball, will damn the shot to eternity.

I must admit i'm surprised you'd say that. Personally i find snooker much easier looking at the object ball. Also don't the top snooker players all do the same?

To continue the topic do you think it is possible to get too ball conscious, at the detriment of the whole movement? Indeed how important is it actually looking at the ball at all? For example if you trace the plane line correctly and are aware and maintain the correct pressures in the hands do you need to be focused on the ball for correct striking?

As far as speed control goes i'm sure this must be easier when looking at your target. The golfer feels how hard they are gonna hit it in their practice swings then we put our head downs and do our best to remember. This can never be as accurate in speed control terms as the alternative.

I'm not saying i agree with this, as i look at the golf ball when i putt. Just throwing some ideas in the air.

[Burner]

I must admit i'm surprised you'd say that. Personally i find snooker much easier looking at the object ball. Also don't the top snooker players all do the same?

Not easy to screw the cue ball to order whilst looking at something else. Precision of impact is paramount considering the surface area of the cue tip and its contact point with the ball.

Does a sniper look over his gun sights and at his overall target when shooting, or does he focus entirely on the sights on his weapon having lined up the target?

To continue the topic do you think it is possible to get too ball conscious, at the detriment of the whole movement? Indeed how important is it actually looking at the ball at all? For example if you trace the plane line correctly and are aware and maintain the correct pressures in the hands do you need to be focused on the ball for correct striking?

Maybe, but not for us average guys. Hogan, Sorenstam, Duvall and others have said that they have no conscious knowledge of actually seeing their ball at impact when asked which part of it they were focussed on. However, their swings are much more precise and repeatable than ours and perhaps they could get away without looking at the ball - but I suspect, infact, that they see more of it than they own up to.

As far as speed control goes i'm sure this must be easier when looking at your target. The golfer feels how hard they are gonna hit it in their practice swings then we put our head downs and do our best to remember. This can never be as accurate in speed control terms as the alternative.

Having rehearsed your speed control and lined up your putt it is a question then of purety of impact that dictates the success of the outcome; and looking at something other than the ball - the putterhead, even, which many guys do - can only prejudice the outcome.

I'm not saying i agree with this, as i look at the golf ball when i putt. Just throwing some ideas in the air.

Its good to talk.

[birdie_man]

I've never heard of anyone trash the idea of lining up a putt with the logo. Why do some feel it is rubbish? I use the concept. I've never seen anything wrong with it. I draw lines on my putter and then line it up with an intermediate target. What objections do some have about that?

I think it couldn't hurt.

I usually just stand behind the ball and pick a spot to roll it over 6 inches in front of the ball. Don't feel like lining it up all carefully every time.

[vj]

The ongoing battle of putting will never end until the actions necessary to hole the putt are understood. The answer does not lie in one area, but several areas. Stroke mechanics, target conscious practice, and practice as you play(putting your computer under pressure in practice)are the areas of work.

[Sonic_Doom]

I've never heard of anyone trash the idea of lining up a putt with the logo. Why do some feel it is rubbish? I use the concept. I've never seen anything wrong with it. I draw lines on my putter and then line it up with an intermediate target. What objections do some have about that?

First of all you're attempting to align a 1-2 inch line (logo) scribed on an orb, with (in most cases) an invisible target somewhere on the green. In every case you align it while your hand is on the ball crouched down behind the target line. Then you try to square the clubface to that 1-2 inch line to that imaginary spot from a totally different visual perspective.

To me it just introduces more likelihood for errors and more uncertainty.

CW