From pre to post test, the HU group demonstrated a significant decrease in putter speed variability (2.28 to 1.93 cm/s) relative to the HD group (2.21 to 2.34 cm/s), F(1,29) = 6.36, p = .017 (Fig. 2A). Putter speed variability was significantly less for

1
The Effect of Gaze Location on Projecting the
Ball with the Optimal Speed during Putting
Andrew Adamczyk and Sasho MacKenzie Department
of Human Kinetics St. Francis Xavier University,
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
GREEN SPEED
DISCUSSION
INTRODUCTION
OPTIMAL PUTTER SPEED
A putting robot was used to systematically
increase putter speed starting at a level in
which all putts fell short of the hole through to
a speed in which all putts passed over the hole,
or lipped out. In total, eight putter speeds were
evaluated. For each speed increment, the
orientation of the putting robot relative to the
hole was adjusted by 2.5 cm so that 10 putts
were aimed at the left side of the hole, 10 at
the center, and 10 at the right side. This
variability was implemented to account for
directional inconsistencies in a real golfers
stroke. A cubic spline was then fitted to the
data in order to predict the putter speed which
would yield the most successful putts. This
process was completed for both the 1.2 m and 4.0
m putt distances separately. Optimal putter speed
at impact was calculated to be 138 cm/s for putts
from 4.0 m and 101 cm/s for putts from 1.2 m.
According to PGA Tour statistics, the putting
stroke accounted for approximately 40 of all
strokes made during tournament rounds of golf in
2008 (PGA Putts Per Round, 2008 PGA Scoring
Average, 2008). Although common knowledge when
putting is to keep your head still and focus at
the ball, there have been efforts to prove
otherwise. Bowen (1968) concluded that there was
no significant difference between gazing at the
hole (HU) or gazing at the ball (HD) in terms of
putting success. Pelz (2000) stated that putter
head speed is four times more important than
direction in determining the success of a putt.
Labbs (1973) found that direction cues where more
easily retained in memory than distance cues. His
results showed that distance errors accounted for
60.5 of all missed putts where as only 39.5 of
misses resulted from directional errors. Putter
speed determines how far the ball will roll and,
when using the HD method, is based on the
golfers ability to retain an image of the putt
in memory. The objective was to investigate the
influence of gaze location (HU, HD) on putter
speed variability and the difference in putter
speed from the optimal speed.
Green speed is typically measured using a
Stimpmeter, which rolls a ball onto the green at
a consistent speed of 1.83 m/s (Tanner, 2001).
The distance the ball travels (in feet) is the
speed or stimp of the green. In lieu of a
Stimpmeter, 10 putts were hit with a putter with
ball speeds between 1.6 and 2.0 m/s. Ball speed
was determined using a high speed camera (250
fps). The distance each ball travelled was
recorded. A linear regression was performed on
the data yielding an equation that allowed
distance to be predicted from ball speed.
Entering the ball speed generated by a Stimpmeter
into the prediction equation provided an estimate
of green speed. The synthetic putting surface, on
which all putts were executed during the study
was determined to have a stimp reading of 11.5.
This is considered fast by PGA standards.

• Pelz (2000) suggested that imparting the ball
  with the correct speed is four times more
  important than the correct line. Following
  practice, focusing on the hole while putting
  yielded significantly less variability in putter
  head speed compared to focusing on the ball. This
  could be attributed to the fact that while using
  the heads up technique, the participants were
  not forced to retain an image of the putt in
  memory.
• There was significantly higher putter speed
  variability on longer putts. This was expected
  since an increasing level of effort is associated
  with a higher level of variability in most
  skills.
• Amateur golfers, such as the participants in this
  study, tend to underestimate the speed with which
  to strike the ball (Pelz, 2000). This
  underestimation was enhanced in the present study
  due to the fast speed of the synthetic surface
  (stimp 11.5). As the participants were not
  given feedback on the optimal speed, an
  improvement in this variable on the post test was
  not expected.
• The participants were able to putt closer to the
  optimal speed for the shorter putt. This was
  likely due to the ratio of the comeback putt
  length to the initial putt length, even though
  sinking the comeback putt was not part of this
  study. For example, hitting the ball 50 cm past
  the hole on a 4.0 m putt seems better than
  hitting it 50 cm past the hole on a 1.2 m putt.
• While demonstrating potential benefit for the
  average golfing population, the heads up
  technique may be particularly beneficial for
  golfers suffering from the yips. The yips is
  a condition which consists of involuntary
  movements such as jerks, tremors or freezing in
  the hands and forearms (Filmalter, 2008). The
  yips are directly related to the golfers
  anticipation of impact as they watch the putter
  head approach the ball during the stroke.
  Employing the heads up technique would remove
  the visual stimulus which would reduce the
  golfers ability to anticipate impact.

Putting Robot
METHODS
RESULTS
The influence of the two different gaze
locations on putter speed was examined using a
pre-test, training, and post-test study design.
Testing consisted of having all participants
(N31) putt using both gaze techniques from both
a 1.2 and 4.0 m distance. Participants were
divided into two matched groups based on their
pre-test putting performance to ensure similar
putting skill in each group. One group practiced
using the HU technique, while the second group
practiced using the HD technique. Participants
attended five practice sessions spread out over a
four week period. During each practice session
participants hit 50 putts from 1.2 m and 50 putts
from 4.0 m. All putts were straight, flat putts
which was confirmed with a putting robot. Putter
speed was measured with an optical recording
system specifically designed for the putting
stroke (TOMI). A 2x2x2x2 (test by group by gaze
by distance) ANOVA was performed to test for any
statistical significance among the independent
variables.
From pre to post test, the HU group demonstrated
a significant decrease in putter speed
variability (2.28 to 1.93 cm/s) relative to the
HD group (2.21 to 2.34 cm/s), F(1,29) 6.36, p
.017 (Fig. 2A). Putter speed variability was
significantly less for all conditions from 1.2 m
(1.75 cm/s) in comparison to the 4.0 m distance
(2.63 cm/s), F(1,29) 39.5, p lt .001 (Fig. 2B).
There was also a significant test by distance
interaction as putter speed variability decreased
from 1.2 m (1.91 to 1.58 cm/s), but slightly
increased from 4.0 m (2.57 to 2.69 cm/s), F(1,29)
4.86, p .036 (Fig. 2B). All participants,
regardless of test, gaze, or group putted
significantly closer to the optimal speed from
4.0 m (-13.8 cm/s) in comparison to the optimal
speed from 1.2 m distance (-18.3 cm/s), F(1,29)
36.8, p lt.001. Also, regardless of test, group,
gaze, or distance the actual putter speeds were
found to be significantly lower than the
predicted optimal speeds. The smallest difference
(-11.1 cm/s) occurred from the 4 m distance, on
the post test, by the HD group employing the HU
gaze, t(15) -7.97, p lt .001.
REFERENCES
Filmalter, M., Noizet, P., Poppel, E., Murthi,
B. (2008). Motor strategies disturbances in golf
the effect of Yips on the movement of the
putterhead. In Crews D, Lutz R Science and Golf
(5th Ed.), Proceedings of the World Scientific
Congress of Golf (pp.352-359). Laabs, G. J.
(1973). Retention characteristics of different
reproduction cues in motor short-term memory.
Journal of Experimental Psychology, 100(1),
168-177. Pelz, D. (2000). Dave Pelzs putting
bible. New York Doubleday. Tanner, K. (2001).
Stimpmeter measuring putting green speed.
Retrieved February 2009, From http//www.probabl
egolfinstruction.com/Stimpmeter.htm PGA Tour 2008
Putts Per Round. (2008). Retrieved March 19, 2009
From http//www.pgatour.com/r/stats/info/wm2.html?
119 PGA Tour 2008 Scoring Avg. (Actual). (2008).
Retrieved March 19, 2009 From http//www.pgatour.c
om/r/stats/info/xm.html?108
Golfers gaze is fixed on the hole during the
putt
TOMI clip
B
A
TOMI camera
Fig.2 (A) Standard deviation of putter head speed
at impact for both groups during pre test and
post test. (B) Standard deviation of putter head
speed at impact from both distances during pre
test and post test.
Fig. 1 Head's up putting technique captured using
the TOMI system.