Putt like Jordan Spieth: The Science Behind the Method!

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The science behind looking at the hole while making short putts. This could be a complete game changer if you are brave enough to stick with it.

[davist]

I have been looking at the hole for sometime in my putting stroke. I get a lot of comments and questions about it. I tell them, "if you are shooting a foul shot, do you look at the basket, or the ball when shooting"? Of course you look at the basket. Same principle. Check alignment, get a feel for distance, and then watch it into the hole!

[dennytroy]

I've been doing this for over 15 years and my distance control is better. I accelerate thru the putts instead of decel. I focus on a spot and just feed the ball to that spot. No yips because I'm not focusing on the ball anymore.

[NoLookKING]

Putting out of your mind!! Read it like 15 years ago practiced it, liked it then last year started doing it again and started putting better than ever so I started a vlog.

[KYIRISH]

I use this most of the time and have done it over my 70 years as a teacher and player (Member of PGA Half Century Club). My opinion is that looking at the hole or looking at a spot along the line ala Dave Stockton is a very positive way of making the putting stroke. It takes a player's mind from getting tied up over the technique of the stroke and totally on the job at hand, rolling the apple toward the jug. I started doing this as a kid when I happened to watch a group of expert competition croquet players in a city park tournament. I started messing around with it and when Snead started his style of doing it I thought it was pretty cool. Naturally he, and I, had to adjust his stance in time to side saddle, but the idea was still the same. I also noticed he didn't seem to look at the hole on all of his putts. In closing I will say this, if anyone has graduated into the YIPS give this method a try and stick with it for several weeks to give it a chance. Also remember, they don't all go in, it's golf!

[stepyourgameupplaya]

This totally works for me. I haven't tested how far back I should do this but from within 3 feet I make everything

[ohsballer]

I accidentally stumbled on this method today while messing around during practice. I’m waaaay better not looking at the ball. This will be my method going forward. I came across this video while looking for others who do the same

[td]

Spieth has stopped looking at the hole and I think that has contributed greatly to his continuing poor putting streak. He has said he won’t go back to looking at the hole until his putting improves. I think he’s got it backwards. He needs to return to putting while looking at the hole and then his putting will improve.

[aspacepigtaipei]

I tried this today for the first time, for all my putts and not just the short ones.

Made 5 birds in amongst overhitting a few, without having practiced it. Then spent 3 hours on the putting green really focusing on the hole, while also envisioning the path of the ball to the hole.

It felt like I was better able to send the ball on the correct path instead of guessing (puting the ball over a spot six inches in front of the ball) as when I focus on the ball.

I was much better at distance and when I did miss (mostly too strong) the putt coming back was easy as with the short ones the wrists automatically align with the intended stroke. It is far easier to picture the putt.

I'm gaming this from now on.

I even tried chipping with this technique to mixed results during my round.

Will give the chipping a real go tomorrow during practice.

[odavila]

I’ve been putting and chipping like this for two decades. I also close my eyes when I do my practice swing to feel what I’m doing right or wrong. Jordan did this but stopped it when he got the yips a few years ago. Not sure why but it works.

[JGunit]

I do it for every putt. Big help with distance. Especially lags. Ask Jack

[stevefisher]

I've tried this for lag putting and it really helps With distance control. The challenge is striking the ball solidly with a longer backstroke. Any ideas?

[geoffcohen]

Just waiting for a PGA pro to stand on one leg and putt, and the golf world and golf magazines will follow this set up as a new revolutionary way to putt, and amateurs will be doing it every week

[skpknight]

While I realize that this video is old and that Jordan is my favorite player, I think today I would have to consider either Patrick Cantlay or Cameron Smith because of their consistency!

[GreenDistantStar]

I wonder if this works with other clubs and shots?

[samhodge]

Pool/snooker players have known this for ages

[FeatheredAndLethal]

It makes a lot of sense, when you throw a football or baseball you don’t look at your own hand