Don’t Keep Your Head Still When Putting

February 3, 2008

Keeping your eyes on the ball is the important part.

The most common putting advice given by teaching professionals and amateurs alike is to keep your head still. Just like keeping your head still during the full swing is outdated advice, so too is keeping your head still while putting.

Whenever a golfer tries to keep something still, it takes away from that player’s rhythm and flow. There is nothing worse than trying to make a smooth, natural putting stroke and, at the same time, focusing on keeping your head from moving.

As your arms, shoulders, and torso move, it is natural for your head to tilt back and forth just slightly. To restrict this movement means to restrict the natural connection your head has with the rest of your body.

The real problem, which keeping the head still is supposed to solve, is when the golfer looks up at the hole before contact has been made with the ball. This tendency to peek up at the putt to see where it is going is what makes it nearly impossible to use the full potential of your eye-hand coordination.

My suggestion is, instead of thinking to keep your head still, to think about keeping your eyes on the ball. That way, your eyes are where they need to be to utilize your eye-hand coordination, and your head is also given the freedom to have a slight sway or rotation in unison with your upper body. As long as your not forcing any extra head movement, you shouldn’t have any problem making solid contact every time.

Written by John at 4:13 pm. Short Game