VJ/Geoff/anyone else in the know...

[birdie_man]

I've been reading a lot in here the past few days...but a lot of it is new to me and will surely take some time to sort out (one piece at a time) on the putting green and actually integrate into my game. i.e. the whole concept of hitting down and also ingraining an actual arc-stroke...and then the setup that goes along with those things. Then there's walking my eyes down the line (and doing it the right way)...etc!

I find it hard to focus on execution right now with all these new things going on. So that got me thinking...from what I've read, you've talked a lot about technique but I'm wondering about execution now.

Do you have any things that you think are essential in actually hitting a putt? As in, the moment of truth- after you've planned and setup to the ball- when you actually take your stroke. i.e. keep your head still, accelerate vs. even tempo...etc. etc. I know it's best to keep it to a minimum really...but is there anything that you guys feel should be kept in mind/monitored?

[hue]

Do you have any things that you think are essential in actually hitting a putt? As in, the moment of truth- after you've planned and setup to the ball- when you actually take your stroke. i.e. keep your head still, accelerate vs. even tempo...etc. etc. I know it's best to keep it to a minimum really...but is there anything that you guys feel should be kept in mind/monitored?

IMO Train your new set up train your stroke. Get it down to habit level and when playing on the course just do it. You don't want to be thinking about your stroke while playing that is for the training phase. For a better understanding go to www.clearkeygolf.com

[vj]

READ THE SPEED OF THE PUTT/ THIS WILL GIVE YOU THE LINE.

COMMIT TO THAT LINE AND SPEED

MAKE THE BEST STROKE POSSIBLE


CONTEMPLATION AND LACK OF COMMITMENT KILL THE CHANCE OF MAKING THE PUTT.

ALSO READ: 3-0, 3-B AND THEN DECIDE ON 3-C OR 3-D.

[tongzilla]

READ THE SPEED OF THE PUTT/ THIS WILL GIVE YOU THE LINE.

COMMIT TO THAT LINE AND SPEED

MAKE THE BEST STROKE POSSIBLE



CONTEMPLATION AND LACK OF COMMITMENT KILL THE CHANCE OF MAKING THE PUTT.

ALSO READ: 3-0, 3-B AND THEN DECIDE ON 3-C OR 3-D.

I love that vj.
I've always heard how important the speed of a putt is. But not to the extent that you should read the speed first and adjust the line according to the speed.

Can give a more technical answer as to why this works better than reading the line first, then adjusting the speed?

Thanks!

[Burner]

The ball breaks less the quicker it travels and more as it slows down.

Assessing the amount of break to be allowed for is, therefore, dependant on the speed of the putt.

[Geoff]

My thought is always a "disappearing act" -- I think early in the routine about the break, target, speed, etc, but then shift to "do it" mode for sighting the target, aiming the putter, setting up, checking the aim, sensing the distance, and pulling the trigger. As the routine progresses, my conscious participation in the putt steadily evaporates. At the end, I start the putter back. Thereafter, the instincts give me the backstroke, gravity gives me the downstroke, biomechanics give me the form of the striaght stroke, and a habit gives me the finish. So I have nothing to do but either watch silently as the stroke happens, or mess it up somehow. I like to just watch the scene near my feet as the putter swings beneath my neck.

Cheers!

Geoff Mangum
The PuttingZone
http://puttingzone.com

[300Drive]

My thought is always a "disappearing act" -- I think early in the routine about the break, target, speed, etc, but then shift to "do it" mode for sighting the target, aiming the putter, setting up, checking the aim, sensing the distance, and pulling the trigger. As the routine progresses, my conscious participation in the putt steadily evaporates. At the end, I start the putter back. Thereafter, the instincts give me the backstroke, gravity gives me the downstroke, biomechanics give me the form of the striaght stroke, and a habit gives me the finish. So I have nothing to do but either watch silently as the stroke happens, or mess it up somehow. I like to just watch the scene near my feet as the putter swings beneath my neck.

Cheers!

Geoff Mangum
The PuttingZone
http://puttingzone.com

Geoff-

Straight back, straight through, or.....arc???

[elliskit]

Read the following topic and others on this site:
http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=744

Also, read all you can at Geoff's site:
http://puttingzone.com

The correct stroke is on plane, tracing a straight plane line (on the ground). As the putter moves on the inclined plane, it makes an arc when you look straight down from the top.

[300Drive]

Read the following topic and others on this site:
[url]http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=744

Also, read all you can at Geoff's site:
http://puttingzone.com<br /> <br /> ... from the top.

I dont think ALL agree with ....it makes an arc!

[elliskit]

I agree that there is much debate on this subject, but:
If there is no manual manipulation of the clubface, the only plane that produces no arc is vertical. That is not a very natural "feel" for me to try to swing on a vertical plane. I have MUCH left to learn, but I can testify that after about a year of trying straight back - straight through with negative results, my distance control has dramatically improved with merely swinging the putter on an angled plane, tracing a straight plane line with no manual clubface manipulation. This motion makes an arc when you look straight down at the putter head from above. It "feels" very natural to me. Like Geoff says, pull the putter back far enough so that when you let it fall by gravity, it produces the right impact speed. You do not have to think at all during the stroke.