Today its slowly becoming commonplace to see tour professionals putting with their eyes closed in tournaments. In fact a growing number of players use this golf putting technique in practice. Another common trick is to look at the hole rather than at the ball while putting. The golfer Johnny Miller used the technique at the 1994 Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The technique is widely believed to be helpful to golfers with yips.

Medical research has indicated that golf players with yips have rapid eye movements (REM) during the stroke. It is the eyes which transmit necessary information to the brain. Golfers who use the eyes closed or focused on the hole technique receive information about the club head, putter momentum and stroke path through the hands.

Why do players adopt this golf putting technique and what are the advantages of using the closed eye technique for golfers? These techniques are most commonly used by golfers who struggle with their stroke during their golf putting practice. When a player is low on confidence, he can get relief by focusing on the hole rather than the ball or by closing their eyes completely. This technique leads to mental clarity, almost like getting physically away from the pressure of the situation. Moreover it allows the golfers’ own confidence and feel for the course to take over and dispatch the ball to its destination.

Here is a golf putting tip with closed eyes technique. Place three balls 10 feet from the cup, and three more each at a distance of 20 and 30 feet. At 10 feet putt the first ball as you normally would with your eyes open. As you putt the second ball, start as you normally do with your eyes open. Before you actually putt, close your eyes. Try and focus on the feel of the putter head during the stroke. Mentally guess where the ball will end up once it stops rolling. Repeat the procedure for the third ball from 30 feet and close your eyes just before making the stroke. Repeat the procedure at each three-ball station. When you incorporate this golf putting drill into your practice routine, you will steadily develop a better feel on the greens.

Can individual golfers use these techniques? As far as individual golfers are concerned, experts believe it’s probably not a great idea for an individual golfer to close his or her eyes during play. However the recreational golfer can certainly use the closed eye technique in their golf putting practice routines. This golf putting technique should help golfers develop better feel in their putting stroke.

For More information on putting, check out this collection of putting tips: Golf Putting Technique

By: John Davenport

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By how many shots would your golf scores improve and your handicap do down if you could eliminate all your 3 putts or dare we even say 4 putts? With the drill I am going to give you should be able slash between 5 and 12 shots off your next round of golf – regardless of what you are currently shooting. Think about that for a minute. If you are consistently shooting just above 100, you could break into the 90′s. If you are shooting in the low 90′s, you could break into the 80′s. Now that is exciting.

But how can you accomplish this? I am going to give you a drill to practice. This drill will give you more confidence for sinking more putts. Putting is very much a feel and confidence aspect of the game and the more putts you sink the higher your confidence will soar.

For this putting drill, you will need 10 golf balls. I suggest you use the same golf balls for all 10 and that they are the brand and type you normally play during a round of golf. Believe it or not, there is a difference in golf balls and they all have differing characteristics.

Finally, here is the drill:

Select the most central hole and place all your golf balls there. This will be your starting point Next, select 5 holes (one for every two balls you have) anywhere on the remainder of the green. The more varied the distance and slope the better the practice session. The object of this drill is to get your ball within 2 feet of the hole. From the central hole, putt two balls to each of the holes selected. Once you have putted all 10 golf balls proceed to each hole and complete the hole. Keep count your putts and and them up at the end of the practice session. Once all the balls have been sunk, putt them back to the starting hole. Once you have putted all the balls back towards the starting hole continue to putt out the hole. Never, I repeat, Never take a “gimme”. Even if you are 1 inch from the hole, you should always putt out. Repeat the entire putting drill. Also, where possible select a new starting and different outer holes for variety. Keep going until you have at least five circuits without a single 3 putt.

This drill works best when you have the putting green to yourself, as you will be using 5 – 7 holes. However, if there are only one or two other players practicing, ask them to join you and make it a friendly competition.

After completing the drill you will have better judgment on the speed and break of the greens.

So here’s to no more 3 putts!

By: Rick Byrd

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