I think that this is a good point in that "hole line" steering on breaking putts inevitably, in my hands, leads to misses! BUT some concept of distance to target is needed. Distance targets don't cause steering problems though. There was a recent article in golf monthly, i think,which showed benefit of putting whilst looking at hole throughout the entire stroke. Took less than 30 mins practice for a group of average players to outlag putt a similar group of players who spent the same 30 mins practice normal style. Effect not present on short putts though.

Not sure of quality of statistical analysis of their study but they claimed about 9 inch difference between two groups. ie one left putt 2.5 feet from hole, other 3.25 feet from hole. Not massive but it helps my lag putting alot, except where there are large up/downhill breaks. All i feel in my hands is the weight of putt that my eyes feed into coconut!

FORGET STROKE MECHANICS - helps me - but to get to next level will need to bring some analysis back into game, i think. Tiger's long putts in Hoylake were superb!!! Forget critics of the "patchy" greens - that is what they look like in summertime - he just putted well!!

Utley
 

Stan Utley says he is PROCESS ORIENTED, rather than TARGET ORIENTED when putting. He thinks one should have some mechanical thoughts, and if a good stroke is made, the putt will be good.

I would think you need to be one or the other. Mixing them... may cause a yip attack.

What makes putts? A combination of speed and line makes putts. How do you make more putts? Practice your mechanics, practice "target conscious" putting, Practice putting just as you play. After hours and hours of practicing the above, putting becomes pretty simple. Remember not to live in just one area of the putting game. Practice all three elements as Homer set forth.

You Forgot One Thing
 

You should also practice reading greens or at least study how and put into practice green reading techniques. The best putting stroke in the world will miss most of the time if the putt is misread. The great putters are all great readers of the green and it is a skill that can be acquired.

Totally agree!!!

Learn to read direction and speed..

VARDA

Like Snooker
 

As an aside in snooker it is common practice to be taught to look at the object ball and not the cue ball. In fact looking at the cue ball is often described as a fault as its said to be like playing with your eyes closed. I find this an interesting fact as the striking of the cue ball in snooker is just as if not more a precise task than the golf putt.

This is the equivalent of much of the golfing "hoary old chestnuts" that still prevent us from playing golf as well as we might.

No good focusing on what we are not involved with. We, in your example - and I play a lot of snooker - must focus on the ball being struck by the cue. Imprecise contact with the cue ball, despite focussing on the object ball, will damn the shot to eternity.

A golfer, as should a snooker player, must focus on what he is hitting rather then what he is hitting at.

Sure, make your alignments and set out your objectives and ways of acheiving them - then focus on what you need to do to get the job done. That is hitting the golf/snooker ball correctly and accurately.

If the preparation you did before striking the golf/snooker ball was thorough then the outcome, when focussing on the primary objective - the golfball/cue ball - should be a forgone conclusion.

Good thread.

Why are the great putters great readers?
What makes one a great reader of greens?
What are the skills?

I'm Not an Expert, But...
 

Sort of a chicken / egg situation. Basically, though, pure strokes in the wrong direction with the wrong speed miss. Great putters are known for not missing much and certainly not when it counts most.

Attention to detail. Acute awareness of surroundings. Knowledge of agronomy. Look, look, look, at every ball that rolls on the green from any direction. Each will offer clues. Course architecture / construction will dictate paths for drainage for each green (find the drains). Feel the slope with your feet as you walk the green. Good eyes. Lasik hasn't been a big hit on tour just because the guys look better without glasses. Finally, supreme confidence in the read is paramount. There can be no doubt; the best always commit to the line and speed dictated by their read. There are probably many that I have missed that folks will point out.