Putting - head inside line of ball

[ellissmith]

I'm trying to put with a 'straight back and through' stroke. Just wondering if that's possible if my head is inside the line of the ball.

 

[clubchamp98]

I would say yes it is.
But you may have to manipulate your shoulders / arms a bit to keep the head straight back and through.

 

[bobmac]

Try holding the putter further down the grip, that will bring your eyes more over the ball

 

[sweaty sock]

I can never get my head around this, in my view to have a straight back and straight through, without manipulation in the wrists requires the swing path i.e. the hula hoop to be vertical, that would need the shoulders to be rotating around an axis parrallel to the ground? Is that possible without looking like michelle wie?

What am I missing?

 

[jim8flog]

As a general rule your head should be over the ball to read the line correctly.

If you want to check where you are looking.

Take 2 golf balls
Put the one down and place stance etc where you are thinking you are looking straight down on it. Take the other ball hold it between your eyes then let it go. It should drop on the top of the other ball.

Disclaimer - I accept no responsibility for any injury sustained carrying out this procedure.

 

[jim8flog]

I can never get my head around this, in my view to have a straight back and straight through, without manipulation in the wrists requires the swing path i.e. the hula hoop to be vertical, that would need the shoulders to be rotating around an axis parrallel to the ground? Is that possible without looking like michelle wie?

What am I missing?

Yes you are part correct.

There will always be a point where the shoulders start to rotate but that is normally well beyond any fairly normal back swing in a putter stroke. Any rotation in the forward swing after the ball has been struck is irrelevant as this will normally be a fair distance afterwards.

 

[clubchamp98]

I'm trying to put with a 'straight back and through' stroke. Just wondering if that's possible if my head is inside the line of the ball.

You might also need a face balanced putter.

 

[garyinderry]

I don't like having my head exactly over the line. I feel unbalanced so my head is inside the ball.

I dont worry about it all tbh. I read the putt from behind and pick a spot a foot or so infront of the ball to roll it over.

 

[ellissmith]

Thanks for all your replies. I adopted a 'left hand low' grip a few years ago and I think it has helped me to be more consistent in my stroke. But having watched a Jordan Spieth video where he practises by keeping his putter parallel to an alignment rod, I have tried to do the same. My right eye is dominant and my head naturally wants to stay inside the line. Also I'm thinking about buying a new putter and wondered whether a face balanced putter would help a straight stroke

 

[jim8flog]

Thanks for all your replies. I adopted a 'left hand low' grip a few years ago and I think it has helped me to be more consistent in my stroke. But having watched a Jordan Spieth video where he practises by keeping his putter parallel to an alignment rod, I have tried to do the same. My right eye is dominant and my head naturally wants to stay inside the line. Also I'm thinking about buying a new putter and wondered whether a face balanced putter would help a straight stroke

Centre shafted brings the ball slightly closer to your body and tends to be better for straight back and forward.

 

[ellissmith]

Thanks Jim, I'll have to try a centre shafted putter out as it might help if I'm a bit nearer the ball.

 

[sweaty sock]

If I were you Id try and get fit by someone reputable before buying a new putter. Or at least get someones opinion.

Just having a look at the strokes gained stats you see a lot of the top guys actually have eyes inside the line (sometimes extremely inside). Zach Johnson being the obvious example.

 

[Deleted member 23344]

I'm trying to put with a 'straight back and through' stroke. Just wondering if that's possible if my head is inside the line of the ball.

Have you had a look with a putting mirror?

 

[ellissmith]

That sounds like a good idea, I'll look into it!

 

[ellissmith]

Could a putting mirror help me decide which type of putter is suited to my stroke?

 

[sev112]

Dave Pelz the putting guru worked on the basis of a pendulum (straight back and straight through) putting stroke (rather than inside to inside), but he didn’t insist eyes over the ball / line. His theory was something around the centre of gravity of the combined arms, hands and putter being vertically under the eyes, but not necessarily the putter head.

 

[Boomy]

Thanks Jim, I'll have to try a centre shafted putter out as it might help if I'm a bit nearer the ball.

I use a centre shafted Odyssey 2ball for this very reason. It works really well for me, better line of sight over the ball and for a straighter back and through stroke.