Symptom: You are often looking up right after you hit your putt.
After all, you really want to see that ball go in the cup. And the ball is moving, and you want to see where it goes.
Don’t. You must listen for the ball to drop instead.
Overview: Keep your head down until well after your putterhead strikes the golf ball. In the extreme case, and for short putts, do not watch the ball go in the hole. Listen for it to go in the hole instead.
Yes I know this is hard. But the rewards are worth it!
Sergio Garcia keeps his head still well after he strikes the putt.
Why it works: By not allowing yourself to watch the ball go in the hole, you will keep your head still throughout the swing and during impact.
This, in turn, prevents you from swiping across the ball from outside-to-in, imparting sidespin, and causing the ball to leak off to the right.
If you pay attention to most of your missed putts, you will probably find they leak off to the right, and are often short. This is the telltale sign of swiping across the ball, which happens when you don’t stay down through impact.
“Listen for the Ball to Drop” is a Wonderfully Positive Thought
Listening for the ball to drop is both a positive thought (always very important on the golf course!). It is also a way to ensure your head stays still during the stroke.
Have a look at Sergio Garcia winning the Masters in 2017. Please notice how his head stays down until well after contact, and the ball is four or five feet from it’s starting point.
That’s the way it should look — head down until well after contact. Have a look – fast forward to 5:20 to see the final winning putt:
You may find this tip harder to follow on putts with a lot of break, because your aiming point will be outside the cup. Don’t succumb to the “mini-golf effect”.
This is where you want to see the ball curving on it’s way to the hole. Be disciplined and listen for the ball to drop instead. You will be writing smaller numbers on your scorecard, and smiling more!
Did you enjoy this article? Listen for your friends to thank you for passing it on! Like, Share, Tweet, Pin, or Email below!
