YOUR putting style, hit or swing?
 

What do you feel from the top of your putting stroke, a swing (pull) with the left arm/shoulder, or a hit with the right forearm/shoulder?

I've been experimenting with both, not sure if there is a most effecient/effective way per TGM.

Thanks

Since learning about hitting with motionless shoulders in the "Alignment Golf" putting dvd, I will never go back to a shoulder stroke. The hitting stroke, piston like right elbow with a motionless right shoulder requires so much less maintenance, and takes the yips out of the stroke for me. I have even gone back to a standard grip rather than the claw. I may change tomorrow... :) :salut:

Kevin

Hit
 

Open stance line, cup of right hand, tiny bit of #3, trace a straight plane, #1 accumulator. 10 times better than my old stroke, and, best of all, I make a LOT of short putts which used to be one of my achilles heals. Now I can putt and I got rid of my dreaded pull shot in my golf stroke. I can actually score now, thanks to Lynn, Alignment Golf DVD, this site, TGM and Homer Kelley. Trending 4.9 handicap index, started here last November with a 7.8 index I believe.

Great job Jamie!!! :salut:

Kevin

I 'swing'. My stroke almost feels like I'm backhanding the ball with the back of my left wrist. I tried to trace the plane line and couldn't get it to work with my putting. Ted and I went over the more SBST-ish stroke and I followed some of Yoda's advice where Lee Trevino talks about him having '2 clubfaces' that he works with...the clubface at the end of his club and the top of his left hand. Basically the clubface goes in the same direction as the top of the left hand.

So basically I just backhand the putter and feel like the top of my left hand is facing the target throughout the stroke and it's helped quite a bit.

:golf:



3JACK

HeHe, OPTIONS! Ain't TGM great?!?!?!?!? :salut:

Kevin

I use a piston stroke on fast greens and add vertical hinge to that on slow greens for more pop. My right hand is the power and guidence, my left hand just hitches a ride and keeps me awake and on the road while I'm driving or in this case putting..

BurleyGolf-

Great, sensible, logical, smart, etc.

I also forgot to mention that I use vertical hinge. I went on a TOMI and the 'new stroke' had a slight arc to it, very good. Probably looking to get on a SAM Puttlab in November to see all of the dimensions of the new stroke.





3JACK

It varies. Some days I hit. Other days I just apply extensior action and rock the shoulders. High on the priority list is lag pressure control, monitoring for constant pressure at pp 1, 2, 3 and a setup / timing that produces an angled hinge action that is more vertical than horizontal.

I learned a few years ago that focussing on just getting the ball into the hole is far more important during play than aiming for a technical optimal stroke.

But when I practice putting it's all about target line alignment, lag pressure control and a proper hinge action.

What starts your backswing? Left side, or right? Shoulders or arms? Do you feel right forearm takeaway?

Also, do you consider your stroke a shoulder stroke, using Acc#4?

I used to have a pure shoulder stroke then went to a straight left arm, extensor action and right shoulder stroke, then went to pure hitting ...................now....

Ok this is going to sound a little weird. I dont like a pure shoulder stroke, it gets my knees moving and feels stiff. So, I putt with my arms, Zone 2 and execute a hinge action. Both arms bent, but the elbows bending a touch. I have two methods, shoulders still and shoulders moving. If my shoulders arent moving at all, Im hitting, I guess. If my shoulders are moving, Im swinging, maybe. This last one may be a blended stroke perhaps but I dont feel like the shoulders really power anything, they just sort of follow along but only slightly as my core stays still. Like there was a little play in the shoulder frame.

Zone 2 putting. I love it, for the time being.

Reminds me of that old joke. "First there was John Cougar. Then John Cougar Mellancamp, then John Mellancamp AND now for the first time, we present.... John Mellan Cougarcamp"

On the Road With O.B.
 

Thank you, O.B., for all your wonderful contributions to our site. I am enjoying your journey (almost) as much as you are!

:salut:

Thank you, Lynn

Id never have ended up where I am now without your guidance. Not in a hundred golf lifetimes of self discovery, trial and error and golf magazines. Left to my own devices I'd probably discover Extensor Action around the year 3,269.

I was paired up with a fellow yesterday who I had played with about 5 years ago. At the end of the round he said to me "what the heck have you done? You're so much better than you used to be". I was a three back then so it wasnt like I was terrible but I took it as a compliment and responded with two words "Lynn Blake" and wrote out your website's address for him on his scorecard.

Whatever I have golf wise I owe to you and Homer Kelley.

O.B.

Geez, I love this stuff.
For what it is worth, I have gone to being a hitter in putting. I line up very slightly open with eyes just inside the target line.
Push Elbow with pp#3 or 1 in focus with hands ahead a bit to think of Rolling the ball with my right hand and the top of the blade striking the ball first.
I have a whole new confidence in putting and best of all, I have a formula I can replicate.

Lagging clubhead takeway, float loading, left elbow (I'm putting with my dominant hand) piston with left wrist as bent as I can get it right towards the hole.

I hit. I practice it by just using the right hand and Rolling the ball. I look at the target will putting as well. Pp's 1 and 3, right arm piston and I'm loving it.

Encouraging!
 

I would say that going from a hcp index of 7.8 to 4.9 is a greater achievement than from a 21 to a 15. I used to take comfort in the odd "6" not being a "7 or 8." Now, a "6" sucks and a "5" is just stupid and little comfort. Nice job!:)

Patrick

I now employ the Bat , with some Shoulder Motion, not to be confused with Shoulder Work.

I might not ever change.

Maybe.