Improve Your Putting by Closing Your Eyes, Advises LPGA Pro

Improving your putting game on the greens can be a game-changer in your overall golf performance. While the common advice of keeping your head down and watching the ball is well-intended, LPGA pro Emma Talley suggests a different approach to dialing in your speed. Talley recommends closing your eyes during the stroke to improve your putting skills. This technique may seem unconventional to recreational players, but it is a method that Talley herself has used in competition, with success.
One of the best players in the world, U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, admits that he doesn’t even see the ball when hitting a shot, but focuses on feeling what his body is doing. Similarly, Jordan Spieth prefers looking at the hole rather than the ball when putting. These unique methods may seem unconventional to recreational players, but they have proven to be effective for professional players like DeChambeau and Spieth.
Closing your eyes during a putt can help you develop trust in your stroke and improve your ability to control speed and accuracy. Talley suggests practicing with a routine of three balls with closed eyes, three balls looking at the hole, and three balls naturally. By engaging different parts of your brain, you can better train yourself to adjust to different greens’ speeds and improve your putting game. Talley’s coach, Gareth Raflewski, who used to be an engineer, emphasizes the importance of training different senses in the game of golf.
By incorporating Talley’s advice into your practice routine, you can start to improve your putting skills and dial in your speed on the greens. This method may seem unconventional, but it has been successful for Talley and others who have tried it. By training your brain to adjust to different speeds and conditions, you can enhance your overall golf performance and become a more confident and skillful player on the greens.
As a golf enthusiast and experienced journalist, Jessica Marksbury offers valuable insights into improving your golf game, particularly in the area of putting. With her experience as a female varsity golfer and a golf editor, she has a strong understanding of the game and can provide expert advice on various aspects of golf improvement. By following Talley’s advice and incorporating new techniques into your practice routine, you can take your golf game to the next level and see significant improvements in your putting skills.