It starts with these two fundamentals.
There are all kinds of putting styles, but most really good putters have two fundamentals in common:
(1) They keep their heads still during the stroke, and
(2) they don’t look up until after the ball leaves the putter face.
Arnold Palmer was so stable over his putts because his head never seemed to move. And no matter what style Sam Snead was using, he said he didn’t want to look up until he heard the ball go in the hole.
I’ve always thought that most putts are missed because golfers are too anxious to see the outcome. They look up too soon. To ensure I don’t do that, I wait one count after impact before my head moves. That helps me continue my stroke through the ball.
It’s natural to want to peek at the ball rolling, especially on must-make putts. But remember these fundamentals when the pressure is on, and you’ll have a better chance of rolling it in.
Elementary Watson
If you like to take a final look at the hole before you putt, make sure you swivel your head forward and back – don’t lift it. Swiveling keeps your eye line parallel to the target line, which you set at address. If you lift, your view changes.
– Excerpted from the DVD “Lessons of a Lifetime II,” by Tom Watson.
