Shaft location?
 

Just wondered if there was a reccomendation for the shaft location on a putter? Looking at purchasing a new putter (2-ball) and was looking at the center and heel shafted versions. Is either better for TGM putting? Thanks

Putter Patter
 

At Impact, the Shaft of my heel-shafted putter has only the slightest forward lean.

That's because I locate the Ball off my left big toe. And that toe is just behind Low Point -- opposite my left shoulder -- in my Stance. My Head is Centered between my feet.

But then, unlike almost everybody else in the world...

My Left Arm is Straight.

My Left Wrist is Flat.

And my Right Forearm is On Plane.

To accomodate the above alignments, my Clubshaft is only 32" long.

Also, I grip the Clubshaft in the lifeline of my Left Hand. In other words, the Clubshaft is running up the Left Forearm (Zero #3 Angle). This means there is a gap between the last three fingers of the Left Hand and the Clubshaft, and the Club is secured by the fingertips. This is at first uncomfortable, but stay with it: That feeling will go away after you make many Left-Arm Only practice strokes over many days with the Clubshaft buttressing the palm of the hand. Don't use a Ball; just swing the Club back and through continuously nailing down the Feel.

With both Hands together, feel the connections of the #2 Pressure Point (last three fingers of the left hand) and #3 Pressure Point (meaty part of the right forefinger) directly behind the Clubshaft. Put the Right Forearm On Plane and Trace the Line while keeping the Left Wrist Flat and executing your Hinge Action.

KER-PLOP!

So does that mean it doesn't matter? Both versions would be compataible with TGM? Sorry for the dumb question, I'm been under the "pelz method" for the past few years. I've been using his putting track but I'm going to try putting with a 2x4 from now on. Didn't know if a center shafted or heel shafted putter would make any difference? Thanks

You Feel The Sweetspot
 

Yes, Curtis, both versions are just fine. As is the most extreme case: the Shaft joining the Clubhead at the toe. And the reason is that, no matter where the Shaft joins the Clubhead, you feel and swing the Sweetspot.

Thanks Yoda, May the force be with you.........always.

Yoda's putting set-up
 

Any way to get a couple pictures of your putting set-up Yoda or VJ? Facts tell, stories sell and a picture is worth a thousand words!

Putting Photo Op
 

I'll see if I can get some photos up in the next few days.

shafted putters
 

Hi Curtis,
the physics of putting would indicate that you are less likely to lose an off center hit (as in there may be a larger sweet spot) with a center shafted putter. Yoda may disagree with this, but a lot of people feel this way. THAT being said, I use a Ping putter that I bought when they first came out back in the dark ages, and it is heel shafted. I have never changed putters in all these years, as it works for me. Chuck Hogan would tell you that the most important characteristic of a putter is not where the shaft is, but whether the putter fits your eyes. In other words, when you are lined up correctly does the putter LOOK lined up correctly, or do you think it is lined up left or right. One of the tests I put people through when they wish to purchase a putter is the same thing that Chuck Hogan does. Take your putter on a 6 foot putt, and standing next to it, as you would when addressing the ball, aim the putter at the target 6 feet away. Then step behind it and see if it's really pointed where you think it is. If it isn't, then you need a different putter. If it is, then you have found one that fits your eye. If you find one like that, then learn to putt with it.

If anyone is interested in how I practice and how I teach people to putt (at the risk of sounding arrogant, which is NOT my intention), I will be happy to post the method. Over the last 15 years of keeping stats, I have averaged 27.4 putts per round of golf. If not, cool :rolleyes: :D :p ;)

Obi WunPutt

27.4
 

What I wouldn't do to average 27.4!!!!!!!!! [-o<

Let's hear it Fred!!

Comet

I really think that's true.

Almost every putter I've had that I haven't liked has not LOOKED right to me.

It just bothers you....you can't have that disturbance over a putt...it plays with your mind.

Putting technique
 

OK, first, this is going to be brief this AM because I am playing Menifee Lakes with BallTurf this morning, and that HAS to take precedence :D

The first thing you need to do is find a putter that LOOKS right when you are standing over the ball. There is no substitute for believing you are lined up correctly. If the putter doesn't fit your eye, then you will subconsciously make corrections in your putting stroke and miss the putts.

FWIW I NEVER worry about my putting stroke looking "correct" I worry about whether or not the ball starts on line at the proper speed.

Here are the keys. First, if you are right handed, about 25% of all the nerve endings in your body above the waist are in that fleshy pad next to the life line in your right hand. The only thing that makes sense therefore is to putt with your lifeline on the putter. Claw and cross hand, and all of that, are for people who have had their brains played with too much =;

The feel for distance is the most important aspect of long putting. If you really pay attention most three putts come from hitting the ball the wrong distance on your first putt than anything else. Don't get so hung up on the line of a long putt that you forget to hit it close to the hole. Therefore, practice 30-40 foot putts and try to make them finish within 3 feet of the hole. Leaving yourself 6-8 footers all day long is no way to get to heaven.

The key to great putting is acceleration through the ball. ONLY that will keep the ball on line. You miss short putts because you decelerate the putter, either by looking up, or by simply quitting on it while trying to guide it into the hole. WISHING The ball into the hole is not the same as WILLING it into the hole.

Your backswing should be no more than half your follow-through on ANY putt you hit, I don't care if it is from 3 inches or 50 feet. You MUST accelerate your putter through the ball, ON the line you want the putt to start on.

Here is how you learn to do this.

Start 2 feet from the hole. Place your putter directly behind the ball. Do NOT take a backswing. PUSH the ball into the hole with the putter. This will require a piston like motion with the right arm (Nicklaus used this motion). There are NO wrists involved in this stroke, nor are you rocking with your shoulders. Think of a steam locomotive and the drive wheels and how the pistons move back and forth. That is the motion you want. I don't care if you stand open, closed, or square, whether you play the ball forward, back or center, you MUST be comfortable over the ball. Take a stance that feels GOOD to you. Do this exercise 20 times, then move back to 3 feet and do it 20 more times. This will get your hands and brain used to accelerating through the ball. Then hit 10-20 three foot putts.
Remember ANY putt under 6' in length you never see go in the hole, you only HEAR it, because you are watching the place where the ball WAS, not where it's going. ;)

So, having done this drill with a putter that fits you, what do you practice next? I never practice putts other than 3' and 30+' long. Why? because the pros (and you can putt as well as they do) make about 99% of their 3 footers. However, they only make slightly more that 52% of 6 footers and less than 25 % of 10 footers. WHY PRACTICE MISSING? :rolleyes:

Most of putting is believing the ball is going in the hole,and the rest is keeping your head still and accelerating through the putt. I am GENUINELY surprised when any putt I hit doesn't fall. But I am NOT UPSET by it. Even a 3' putt is subject to a certain level of luck. If you hit enough 6' putts some of them will fall. If you hit enough 30' putts, a couple will go in, but the point is to be present in the process, not the result.

The other drill that I use is the following. I will putt to a tee stuck in the green rather than a hole. This sharpens your focus and makes you concentrate more. I will place a tee in the ground where there is some undulation to the green, and get back 30 feet or so and try to 2 putt from there. When you are standing over a 3 footer and trying to hit the tee instead of that HUGE hole, it really helps sharpen your focus. Then, when you are faced with a tricky short putt to save par, and there is a tendency to get out of focus, I "see" a tee next to the hole on the line that I want to putt and putt to the tee. It may be in the center of the front edge of the cup for a straight putt, or 5 inches outside left, or whatever, but I visualize a tee there and putt to it. Your accuracy will improve and you will have less tendency to start short putts off line.

I am re-learning how to apply the same philosophy to the rest of my game......

I will try, when my girlfriend gets out here, to take a video of what I am talking about and post it for everyone.

Anyway, hope this helps. Remember, as Yogi Berra said about hitting a baseball, and it applies to putting "(90% of this is 80% mental)

Play well,


Obi WunPutt

One of the most over 'looked' parts of puttting - staying down and not looking to see where the putt goes. Something everyone can benefit from!

Fred's 10 min Verbal lesson 30 minute practicing
 

I played the last day of the year playing golf with a new Friend, (Fred Brattian) we had a great time at Menifee Lakes, golf course location Southern California and we beat the rain if you can imagine that.

I want to give Fred some kudos for his putting technique. I met Fred at Temecula Creek Inn and he gave me a 10 minute lesson in his pro shop when it was slow. I took it to the putting area and worked on it for about 30 minutes. Today I was able to take it to the course and see it in action. First I like to say that my confident level was very high on my short game. Why? Because, I knew I could get it up and down. Some thought what I learned form Fred.:cool:

1. Taking the Putter head to the hole. (Before every putt, I set the putter down next to the ball, pushed my putter head to the hole. Practice routine.)
2. Getting the ball to the hole. (Mental thought)
3. Speed ( very important ) My misses were because of bad reads. Came out two putting.
4. Making everything I see. ( This was accomplish because all the practicing I did on the three foot putts)
5. The ball can only go one place, in the hole.

These are my own putting thought that I got out of his putting technique. I would like to say you should try it. You’ll be amazed how fast your confidence will get in practicing those three foot putts then getting the speed down on the 30+ putts. When practicing making putts you instantly forget about missing putts Opps did I day say that word Xxxx. Forget that word! Make them All! and your putting will Improve.:D :D

P.S I saved Par more then once with my flat stick even thirty foot down hill par saver!

Enjoy
Ball Turf

Guys,guys,guys..........

Since when did not seeing the ball go in the hole from 6 feet become so imperative or essential. I have heard of great putters not seeing the ball go in the hole but I have never SEEN a great putter not see the ball go in the hole from the distance you are speaking of.

For some, I would suggest all, not seeing the ball go in the hole can cause a type of "phobia" and promote steering of the putter head. Your eyes enjoy seeing and while the center of the stroke (left shoulder or spine depending on the stroke involved) cannot move, the eyes have freedom. Freedom to see the plane line, freedom to trace the plane line along with #3 pressure point.

Don't get off the imperatives: Flat left wrist (or equivalent), Lag pressure point (distance control) and a straight plane line. Spend your time working on your hinge, your plane and distance control. Spend your time working on alignment, ball positioning at or near lowpoint, and set-up. Don't go chasing your tail when it is not based on geometry.

Happy New Year

Like every other concept in the game of putting, there is a need for people to hold images in their head. The idea of "hearing" rather than "seeing" won't actually keep most people from seeing the ball go in the hole. What it WILL do and what it is INTENDED to do is to get people to stop moving their heads during the putting stroke. Your mechanics can be otherwise perfect, and if you move your head during the putting stroke, you WILL MISS THE PUTT. That was the point to what I was saying. Moving your head causes you to decelerate, the same as having your head moving in a full swing is something that Mr. Kelley did not want to see. Deceleration causes the putt to wander off line, causes people to jab at the ball, etc. Whether you see the ball go in the hole with a 6 foot putt or simply hear it, the fact is, if you look to see if you made it before the stroke is complete, including a follow through down the line, you will see a missed putt. In that sense it IS an imperative. :)

ObiWunPutt

Thank you for clarifying the difference between truly "hearing" it go in the hole and "kinda" hearing it go in the hole. As players and instructors we have an obligation to all golfers to keep our language very easy to understand and implement.

communication
 

Hi VJ,
I spent about 8 years training people to be instructors, which, as you know, is not the same as being an instructor :p . Your point about clarity is absolutely right on. One of the things that I always try to emphasize is that, as the instructor, the burden of communication is on YOU. One of the great difficulties with the written word when trying to communicate a concept that is "image and feel" is that you are not standing there looking at the person when you say something, so you don't always know whether what you just said is what was heard. [-o<

Take care, and I hope we can smack the spheroid together sometime,

Obi WunPutt

Power and Accuracy In Putting
 

My Putting Stroke is Right Arm Powered, and that use of the #1 Power Accumulator makes the Stroke a 'Hit.' However, it is a very smooth Acceleration, not a 'pop.'

Despite the Right Arm Power (and Right Forearm and #3 Pressure Point Plane Line Tracing), I also have a strong sense of 'Left Hand' control during the Stroke. But this Left Hand Feel is strictly the execution of the Angled Hinge Action (Clubface Alignment per 1-L #4) and not Clubhead Power.

I've done some photos and will put them up later today in The Golfing Machine -- Basic Forum.

Fitting the Putter to your eyes
 

Fred,

If I constantly aim my Cameron Bullseye (minimal offset) to the left, what type of putter should I be looking for? One with more offset or one without any (or slight onset)?? Thanks,

The quickest way to change your aim is to change the Head! Try different head types first.