Over analysing putts

[LeftyHawk]

Some of the guys and I were talking about slow play at the pro level and even in our league. The discussion shifted to putting and why do some find it necessary to look at their putts from 4 different views, behind the ball, from the other side of the flag looking at their ball and from both sides. What do they hope to see?  Now I don't sink every putt, but I get pretty close when I don't and I only look at it from behind the ball, So I was asking the others what do you hope to see looking at the putt from all those views? Seems to me like you're just overloading/overthinking the putt. Not to mention slowing the pace of play on the green.

So I'd thought I'd put it to the spies out there, what do you see or hope to see looking at your putt from all those sides?

Chris

[THEZIPR23]

In walking a circle around a putt I am able to feel the undulation changes allowing me to get a read on the putt. If you can find flat you know which way the putt will break. Also there are times that reading from opposite sides will give different reads. It is hard to focus on line up to hole without factoring in what you see behind hole. 

 

All that being said it absolutely can be done WITHOUT being slow. 

[EEZurg]

   I am sure there is a lot to be learned by a lot of techniques.  What happens in reality...people see it on TV.....and do the same with out even knowing why they are doing it, but it looked cool on TV.  Then they go on to misjudge the putt by 3+ feet(speed or break).  It takes about 2 holes to see if what they are doing is meaningful (and shows impressive results)...or they are playing "golfer" instead of golf.

 

  When I start lipping out more putts instead of mishitting/misreading....I will look from more angles. 

 

 

[HardcoreLooper]

On 8/17/2020 at 6:52 PM, THEZIPR23 said:

In walking a circle around a putt I am able to feel the undulation changes allowing me to get a read on the putt. If you can find flat you know which way the putt will break. Also there are times that reading from opposite sides will give different reads. It is hard to focus on line up to hole without factoring in what you see behind hole. 

 

All that being said it absolutely can be done WITHOUT being slow. 

I've gotten to the point on longer putts (> 15') I just walk both sides of the line and rarely read the putt from behind.  I'll feel more with my feet than I'll see with my eyes.  And as long as I'm first on the green, I can do it without holding up play.

[Brian A]

Depends on conditions and course familiarity. My local course that I'd consider home course, I pretty much know the greens enough to know breaks without studying them. Dried out or just rained adds some complexity because I am def more of a speed/control putter vs accuracy. (Will use break of green w speed vs trying to drill it center cup, strange but it works)

New course I will look about 10 feet behind the ball and if I cant tell will walk the other side but rarely happens

[revkev]

It kills me when the guys that I play with in league do this.

We’ve been playing the same course for 15 flipping years. Everyone knows that the ball breaks towards 62nd Avenue regardless of what you see.

In fact the more you look the more likely you are to see something that’s not there, IMO.

Now on a strange course a little extra look is fine but you most certainly can over analyze it.


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

Similar to @revkev haven’t played the same course but most of the same courses and I know the greens pretty well. Quick look and I know the general break and doors mostly.

always look behind and occasionally if I am unsure or I’m walking from the opposite side I’ll look Dell the front. Other than that let it rip

[DiscipleofPenick]

I've been focusing on slowing down on the green. Just being deliberate, enough to take a deep breath and refocus. On a long putt, say 15+ feet, I've started to take a second from behind the hole. This may show some break in the last foot or two I didn't notice and it's helpful.

But otherwise I agree, stop reading your 8 footer for bogey from 6 directions. But hey, some guys gotta win that nickel.

Take Dead Aim