Visualize line to putting target spot

[treeleaf20]

Just curious how everyone visually lines up the ball. For example, I have a BirdieBall putting mat in my garage, I absolutely suck at visualizing a line to the hole so really trying to work on it. If I have my ball anywhere on the mat, I try and draw a line from the middle of the hole back to the ball but am very inconsistent in getting the line right (I miss putts way left or way right). I tried standing behind the ball and lining the shaft of my putter from the middle of the ball to the middle of the hole to try and see the line leveraging that since it's straight and that's helped slightly. 

Does anyone have any other recommendations on how to see the line to the target spot? I'm trying this approach because I can pick a spot an inch in front of the ball and can line up decently to that but the spot but the spot I pick is usually wrong in relation to the right line that would get the ball in the middle of the cup (on a straight putt).

Any suggestions would be helpful.

[RickyBobby_PR]

Are you trying to get the ball to go into the cup from the front of the hole?

 

[treeleaf20]

Yes. At least that’s my plan. 

[RickyBobby_PR]

1 hour ago, treeleaf20 said:

Yes. At least that’s my plan. 

The ball doesn’t always enter from the front of the hole. Sure on a straight putt but one with break it could enter from the side. You have to learn how to read putts and understand the break.

 

 

 

[RoverRick]

I get in a line directly behind the ball, and visualize where the ball will go if I hit it directly at the hole. Then I simply visualize moving the line until it goes in the hole. I see where it will have to enter the hole (example 8 o’clock with 6 o’clock being a straight line) and focus on hitting the ball into the cup at that point. 
 

This year, I learned Aim Point, went to a Triple Track Ball and Triple Track Putter, even got a Triple Track Ball Marker. I’m now trying to forget all that and go back to just “seeing” or “feeling” the line. Aim Point works great, in some cases. I just do better without it. 

[Golf Fever]

I found out my brain and eyes naturally align left of target.  Started using a Red Arrow Divot Tool and a line on the ball to help align the putt and seen improvement in my putting stats.

[tony@CIC]

13 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

The ball doesn’t always enter from the front of the hole. Sure on a straight putt but one with break it could enter from the side. You have to learn how to read putts and understand the break.

 

 

 

Yup! I was watching D. Kang being interviewed on her putting techniques - one thing she mentioned is that when she looks at the hole she determines which way the ball will roll in using a clock face of 3:00 to 9:00. 

[RoverRick]

 

13 hours ago, Golf Fever said:

I found out my brain and eyes naturally align left of target.  Started using a Red Arrow Divot Tool and a line on the ball to help align the putt and seen improvement in my putting stats.

 

I found that if I am consistently hitting left (or right) of the target it is a setup issue not so much an alignment issue. I was not positioned to look down the line of the putt. 

i solved this by creating a straight line on the green, either using dimes, balls or even a tape measure and making small dots with a sharpie in a line 1’ apart to the center of the hole. Then putting my ball a foot behind the last marker, and then adjusting my head to see that all the makers line up in a straight line. I ensure the putter face is square with the back of my lead hand, and then use the length of the putter arms locked against the rib cage to setup. 

The setup is very ridged so that I know I’m looking right down the line. Once I’m setup I relax. I just want to have a ridged setup routine. 

My entire routine is :

1. Read the putt from both ends and the low side. 
2. From directly behind the ball, visualize where the ball would go if I hit it straight. (Aim Point is also an option if it is not going over a hill)
3. Determine my new start line. 
4. Find an intermediate point 3-4’ in front of the ball. 
5. Ridged setup to that lime through the intermediate point. 
6. Relax and think only about the speed.

You can add some practice strokes between 4 & 5. I don’t usually take practice strokes, but when I did it was the “Goldilocks Method”. One intentionally too hard, one intentionally too soft, then a few more until it feels “just right”. 

[cksurfdude]

19 hours ago, treeleaf20 said:

Does anyone have any other recommendations on how to see the line to the target spot? I'm trying this approach because I can pick a spot an inch in front of the ball and can line up decently to that but the spot but the spot I pick is usually wrong in relation to the right line that would get the ball in the middle of the cup (on a straight putt).

Without seeing what you're doing - and I'm NOT a teaching pro - but something that I've worked on is face angle at impact.

That is.. you could be doing everything else ok but *if* right at impact the putter face is a little open or a little closed - relative to your intended start line - then the ball may roll right or left of your start line.

 

[Golf Fever]

2 hours ago, RoverRick said:

I found that if I am consistently hitting left (or right) of the target it is a setup issue not so much an alignment issue. I was not positioned to look down the line of the putt. 

That's a good point.  I'm probably just don't have my eyes above the ball.  

[cnosil]

8 minutes ago, Golf Fever said:

That's a good point.  I'm probably just don't have my eyes above the ball.  

That is not a core foundation of good putting and may not be right for you.   

[GolfSpy_APH]

Going to do a LAB plug here. They have a free virtual fitting for a putter. 

Head to their site, take the few minutes to watch the video and then do it yourself. It could help a bit just with the thinking and they will make some recommendations for you as well.

[RoverRick]

5 hours ago, Golf Fever said:

That's a good point.  I'm probably just don't have my eyes above the ball.  

That’s not exactly what I said. It’s not necessarily “over the ball”. It is wherever you see all the dots lined up in a straight line. I’m actually a couple of inches inside the line. But my “ridged setup” ensures I’m lined up properly. However you set up it simply needs to be constant and correct for you.