I went back to looking at the ball when I switched putters (to a PXG Blackjack they gave me as part of my 0211 testing). With my SeeMore, the putts still felt struck solid with eyes on the hole, but this one doesn’t. Might be going back to the SeeMore though, so we’ll see what happens with my eyes.
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Im a huge seemore fan
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Update…finally got the ‘stones’ to commit to do this in a round…got to say, my best putting performance in terms of length for a while. Every second putt was well within my ‘circle of confidence’. A few were a little off the heel of the putter (Spider X so quite forgiving on off center hits) and the line wasn’t always right but the only 3 putt was from about 60 feet so willing to forgive that. Should add it was a new course to me so not familiar with the greens.
I may be a convert!
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The Play Smart blog at Golf.com recently did a piece on “Heads Up” putting with some good tips:
https://golf.com/instruction/putting/heads-up-putting-technique/
I think a key one is to not necessarily look at the hole.
“On breaking putts, don’t look at the hole. Look at the point where the putt will break off. On putts without a severe break, I’ve found success looking at the entry portions of the hole: The left edge, for instance, or the back of the cup. Remember that looking up isn’t the same as looking at the hole, so pick a specific spot.”
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Great article. I agree…I look at the “straight line” of where I want the putting line to go on breakers…not the hole. On relatively small breaks or straight puts I do pick a part of the hole (very precise) and look at it…usually something at the back of the cup to make sure I don’t leave it short.
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I think I’ll be giving this a go next time out. Just getting back into regular play after our winter of discontent and shot my year’s best (87) with SIX three putts the other day… 
Just seem to have zero touch with the longer lag putts right now, so I know where to focus my immediate efforts.
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Yep, it was an interesting article. My other ‘takeaway’ is for a golfer to look at the hole only when he is comfortable doing so. A good bit of toe-dipping to build comfort and confidence.
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I just wanted to “re-up” my comment from last november. I tried it for awhile and I never really felt comfortable looking all the way to the hole and feeling like i’m swinging blindly at the ball. If you do feel like that our your contact isn’t great, I’d highly recommend looking at a spot about 12in away from the hole on the line you want the ball to travel as a good “compromise”. I feel like i get the same benefit that I felt looking at the hole without the discomfort. Not trying to spam this thread but 6 months in, i’m still loving it.
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That all speaks to the Finau “feel it, don’t force it” comment I think. Gotta find what works for you and that feel might change round to round.
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20 foot birdie today, uphill slider. Looking at hole. One last week, too. Settles it for me.
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I now use it on anything 20ft and in. Longer ones I look back from the hole along my line to the ball as I was finding with having to have a longer swing the strike purity (ha) was really suffering.
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I haven’t done any of this! This is the quiet eye stuff, not putting while looking at the hole… I think I’m going to try to incorporate it, as I’ve been WAY to focused on my stroke.
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@mpatrickriley Linked this on twitter today… I think it’s a good breakdown… My putting has definitely suffered because my eyes jump around on the putting green… I’ve documented that my putting can’t get worse (it’s gotten better, but I still had 38 putts yesterday… it was a long day on the greens… I put NOTHING close and didn’t make any mid range putts)
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Shout out to @jon and @Adamyounggolf for talking through “Heads up Putting” and connecting with the target on the latest episode of “The Sweet Spot”!!!
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So i’ve started my round warm up putting while looking at the hole… just trying to get a “feel” for speed and making sure my stroke has good tempo without staring at the head.
Highly recommended if you are on the fence about trying it. Very easy to practice with, and I think it has some tangible benefits.
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I have been looking at the hole on shorter putts. Maybe 10-15 ft or less I feel like I can look at the hole and the stroke is still short enough that I don’t really mishit it. Longer putts I have been looking at the hole for a bit and when I get my eyes back to the ball I try to pull the trigger pretty quickly. I feel like I’m putting better overall, but not really making much. Lots of lipouts lately, but this time of year the greens are slower and I seem to be over reading the break. The pro said they should be rolling much better this weekend…I’ll probably be blowing it by!
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I’ve found in doing this for a little less than a year now (started near the end of last season) that at first, longer putts were super uncomfortable while looking at the hole…but now I look at the hole on all length putts.
I’ve found most of my success isn’t so much in making a ton more (my practice time is limited)…but more in 3 putt avoidance.
Added bonus…I feel soooooo much more comfortable over 4 feet an in. Turning my brain off of mechanics is invaluable to me.
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Or, you could just hit the damned ball…
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I’ve been going on and off with this, and am finding that on mid to long putts, my distance control is much better when I look at the hole. And I completely forget about my mechanics, which helps. On the shorter ones where the line is more important, I look at the ball.
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I definitely like it for letting go of mechanics and “just hitting the damn ball”…
It’s funny, I think putting is almost a form of zen where you are aware of everything and nothing…
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