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How do you see the line at all? There are ways and they all start from behind the ball. Some may even involve plum-bobbing. Checking the grain of the grass is very important if it is Bermuda. Before you settle in on a particular line, ask yourself: what will the ball do the last three- to five-feet before it gets to the hole? This is a speed question. Once you have found the high side of the hole - which will be the main target, putt the ball to that side of the hole. Choose a part of the hole the ball must enter if it is to be made. Putt to that target. Before you stroke the ball find an intermediate target that will start the ball on a line that will result in the ball going to the final target. Remember this takes practice! Now do you think you see a line? How do you get the golf ball there? How do you roll the ball with the correct speed? Start with this thought. With the correct speed, the hole is four inches wide. Any faster, the hole shrinks. Yes, that’s right - this is very important. Too fast and the ball spins out (lip out) or will roll too far past the hole. Too slow and the ball may not even reach the hole at all. Your goal is to at least get the ball to the hole and not much past, around six- to 12-inches past maximum. Once you get the ball to roll past the hole, watch it very carefully so you will see how it rolled past and the path it took, so you can make the putt coming back. It will be easier if you watch it roll by the first time.
Let's practice like this. Take the putter back (away from the ball) two inches then follow through two inches toward the hole. On a level surface this will roll some four to eight feet. This depends on striking the ball in the center of the putter Try this and see how far your ball will roll. Then try striking it on the heel of the putter. Two inches back and two inches through; then four inches back and four inches through; then one foot back and one foot through. The idea is, to be consistent on both your back swing and follow-through. Practice this so you will have some idea of how far back you need to move the putter and follow-through.
To do this you must keep your head down over the ball and your body still. Move only your shoulder to stroke the ball. This will in turn move your arms with the putter through the ball. Keep your head still and don't look at the hole at all. Practice this with two tees Now place the ball in the center of the gate and putt through it to the hole. If the putter strikes the tees, your stroke was not pure. Practice, back and through, until your stroke is pure and you make the putt. If you practice this indoors, use two golf balls as your gate.
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