--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unless it's a dead-straight short putt…" description: "\"Unless it's a dead-straight short putt, you should focus on a spot somewhere along the line you want to roll the ball on.\" — Ernie Els" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/017/ernie-els-11177_along_unless-it-s-a-dead-straight-short-putt-y_2873198.png" --- # Unless it's a dead-straight short putt, you should focus… ![“Unless it's a dead-straight short putt, you should focus on a spot somewhere along the line you want to roll the ball on.” quote by Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/017/ernie-els-11177_along_unless-it-s-a-dead-straight-short-putt-y_2873198.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/017/ernie-els-11177_along_unless-it-s-a-dead-straight-short-putt-y_2873198.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/017/ernie-els-11177_along_unless-it-s-a-dead-straight-short-putt-y_2873198.png) > “Unless it's a dead-straight short putt, you should focus on a spot somewhere along the line you want to roll the ball on.” [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on a target spot along the intended line, not just the immediate putt, for better control. **In simple terms:** Aim at a point on the line you want the ball to travel. Key Takeaway Visualize the ball’s path. Themes sports strategy golf technique focus Mood focused practical Type instructional motivational When to use this quote - practice drills - coaching sessions - competition preparation Key Concepts motor learning visualization Questions to Reflect On - How does visualizing the line improve accuracy? - What drills reinforce this habit? A Different Perspective Beginners may over‑focus on the hole itself. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Along](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/along/) [Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Focus Spot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus-spot-3942313/) [Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/line/) [Putt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putt/) [Putt Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putt-focus-3942312/) [Roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roll/) [Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short/) [Short Putt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-putt-1582522/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Somewhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somewhere/) [Spot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spot/) [Straight Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/straight-short-3942314/) [Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [When I'm away playing, I get these little videos of my boy in the morning and the evening and I think, 'You know, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-casey/when-i-m-away-playing-i-get-these-little-videos-of-my-boy-in-the/) [Paul Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-casey/) > [When I was playing in a junior tournament one time, I missed a short putt and threw my putter into the trees. I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/when-i-was-playing-in-a-junior-tournament-one-time-i-missed-a-short/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [You have to be sharp with all aspects of your game at Augusta. 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Adjust your speed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/contours-on-the-second-half-of-a-long-putt-have-more-impact-on-how/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [Find a man with both feet firmly on the ground and you've found a man about to make a difficult putt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fletcher-knebel/find-a-man-with-both-feet-firmly-on-the-ground-and-you-ve-found-a-man/) [Fletcher Knebel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fletcher-knebel/) > [Never concede the putt that beats you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-vardon/never-concede-the-putt-that-beats-you/) [Harry Vardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-vardon/) > [Mary had a little putt, she needed it for par. 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He probably didn't want that putt he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sutton/chad-was-in-the-right-spot-he-got-a-little-aggressive-with-the-third/) [Hal Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sutton/) > [You have to watch your handicap. My son Steve says, "Never make a putt you don't have to."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/you-have-to-watch-your-handicap-my-son-steve-says-never-make-a-putt/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) ## More by Ernie Els > [I think most amateurs dread playing a 180-plus-yard par 3 even more than a hard par 4. Part of it is psychological: You think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-think-most-amateurs-dread-playing-a-180-plus-yard-par-3-even-more/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [Excessive drinking is not good for my health, my family or my game. There has definitely been a change, and I feel better for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/excessive-drinking-is-not-good-for-my-health-my-family-or-my-game/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [I think I would have taken a (expletive) load of Advil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-think-i-would-have-taken-a-expletive-load-of-advil/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [I plot the par 5s back from the green and make my plan. 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We keep working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/he-s-been-a-top-player-for-the-last-10-years-and-we-all-work-on-our/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [Throughout my career, I've been sponsored by several different equipment companies - Lynx, Titleist, Callaway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/throughout-my-career-i-ve-been-sponsored-by-several-different/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [Before you take your address, while you're still reading the putt, imagine the ball tracking on the line you've chosen and falling into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/before-you-take-your-address-while-you-re-still-reading-the-putt/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [Brushing up on your short game at the practice area is fine and good, but taking it with you to the golf course -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/brushing-up-on-your-short-game-at-the-practice-area-is-fine-and-good/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [I prefer old-world wines like Lafite Rothschild and Margaux.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-prefer-old-world-wines-like-lafite-rothschild-and-margaux/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [Some players like to change clubs around the green to hit high or low shots. 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It was good casting, I suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-west/it-would-have-been-an-interesting-run-if-we-hadn-t-gotten-along-it/) [Dominic West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-west/) > [Defense spending as a share of the economy dropped significantly during the early 1990s, and that was one of the things, along with other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orszag/defense-spending-as-a-share-of-the-economy-dropped-significantly/) [Peter Orszag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orszag/) > [Just remember: to be grateful and thank the people who are there and support you along the way is a great start to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-davis/just-remember-to-be-grateful-and-thank-the-people-who-are-there-and/) [Meryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-davis/) > [We feel that, with Sidney, we have a great opportunity over the next few years to put a great team on the ice. 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