Change your routine, not your stroke: Why you should putt with your head up
My research indicates that golfers improve when they keep their eyes fixed on a far target during their putting stroke.
Stephen Denton
There are two targets in putting: the ball and the place where you want it to go. According to my research, you may be looking at the wrong one.
Most of the golfers I’ve tested have a higher make percentage when they putt “heads up.” By that, I mean putting while focusing on the far target instead of the ball. Change your routine, not your stroke: Take a final look at the putter behind the ball, move your gaze to the far target (where you want the ball to go) and begin your motion.
With heads-up putting most golfers improve their speed control with zero drop-off in directional control. I recommend hitting the practice green before bringing it to the course. Important: Since green reading (determining the intended starting direction and speed) has such a large influence on results, practice the method on putts where you already know the break.
Dr. Sasho MacKenzie is a biomechanics professor at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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