Improved eye lines mean improved putting
What is more important: reading the green or seeing the line?
Reading the break and speed of the green is a critical aspect of making more putts, but if you cannot consistently see the line you intend the ball to roll on, made putts are more accident than skill. In order to accurately see the line, you must first establish exactly where your eye line is.
A simple test to determine your eye line is to draw a circle around the entire golf ball, and approximately 18-24 inches from the ball, set a long white tee between the ball and your target. From behind the ball, use a laser and position the line on the ball and the tee so they are in perfect alignment.
Stand over the ball as you would normally and then slowly move your head forward and back until your eye line matches the line on the ball and the laser on the tee. PGA Tour players range between 1/2-9-inches inside the ball with the average being 1-1 1/2-inches inside. Where is your ideal eye line?
Once you establish where you accurately see the line, you have made one of the most important steps required to hole more putts. Then it's time to work on your alignment, stroke path, impact, tempo and speed.
Mike Malaska, Special Contributor
Mike Malaska is the worldwide director of instruction for Nicklaus Academies. Before his current position, he was a lead instructor working alongside Jim Flick from 1991-2002 at the Nicklaus/Flick Golf Schools and during 2003 with the TaylorMade/ESPN and Jim Flick Golf Schools. He is currently listed among Golf Digest's America's 50 Greatest Teachers (No. 24) and Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers in America.
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Dave wrote on: Jul 2, 2011
This is one of the (I'm trying to be nice) most poorly explained tips I've ever seen. First, the picture doesn't seem to relate to the article. Where are the lines drawn? (Subject to interpretation). What are those 2 tees doing in the picture?
What kind of laser? More whats.
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