Lower Body

[cometgolfer]

One area of putting that I think I need to improve upon is maintaining a perfectly still lower body when putting. Although TV may not provide an exact picture of what the professionals do it sure seems like they have absolutely NO movement from the waist down when they putt. As hard as I try I seem to get some movement in my knees and legs regardless of whether I'm using a shoulder stroke or a right arm hitting motion.

Any thoughts on how to best maintain that motionless lower body when putting? VJ - am I correct in stating that the pro's truly keep their lower bodies perfectly still when they putt?

CG

[bgolfing]

WHat works for me is to make sure my ankles are locked which helps keep my knees, hips and ultimately my head still.

[dkerby]

Bobby Locke, one of the best putters of all times, had a pivot
of the left hip through impact. David Lee of Gravity Golf, teaches a counterfall and pivot for putting. Lee Trevino and
Jack Nicklaus seem to be big fans of David Lee putter teachings.
Maybe you do not have to have a still lower body through impact?

[Daryl]

More motion = more problems. No matter the putting stroke, arm only or shoulder only, the less motion the better the motion. Keep your posture. Centered, balanced, stationary.

[Yoda]

Bobby Locke, one of the best putters of all times, had a pivot
of the left hip through impact. David Lee of Gravity Golf, teaches a counterfall and pivot for putting. Lee Trevino and
Jack Nicklaus seem to be big fans of David Lee putter teachings.
Maybe you do not have to have a still lower body through impact?

Hi Donn...Good to hear from you from down Orlando way!

As Daryl has suggested, Homer Kelley advocated a philosophy of 'move something only if you have to. Otherwise, don't'.

But regarding the Pivot, he also said that as soon as it became useful (to Thrust the Left Arm), then by all means, use it. If only to teach the Body that it can move (and how it should move) upon the command of the Hands.

The Swinger uses the rotation of the Pivot as a Transfer of the Body's Momentum into the Left Arm and Club. In very short Shots -- Putts -- that Momentum Transfer is not necessary and the pull-Through of the Left Arm (Pull Minor Basic Stroke / 10-3-D) is sufficient to get the job done, i.e., to provide the circular Motion of the Stroke and its Centrifugal Thrust. However, as the Putts get longer (or the Greens get slower), the Left Arm Pull may need a little help from the rotational Pulling Power of the Pivot. In which case, Homer would have been the first to advise, "Use it."

And so would Bobby Jones (who did it his entire life).

[dkerby]

Lynn, Thanks for presenting the correct Homer Kelley procedures for determining body movement in the swing/putting. Your insight is the best in the Golfing World.

Donn

[bgolfing]

"And so would Bobby Jones (who did it his entire life)."

Jones was playing on vastly different putting surfaces than today. SOme fairways are faster than the greens he putted on.

[metallion]

I use a Push Basic putting stroke with an open stance and Vertical Hinging. I used the Paw strike (rocking) before, and experiences that Paw required more body movement than Push Basic. With PB I feel I hardly need to employ any body movement at all - unless the putts are very long.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Yoda

"And so would Bobby Jones (who did it his entire life)."

Jones was playing on vastly different putting surfaces than today. Some fairways are faster than the greens he putted on.

Thought I covered that:

"However, as the Putts get longer (or the Greens get slower)..."

[vj]

Arm only stroke, go ahead and lock the ankles, hips, or whatever to keep the lower body steady. Shoulder only stroke, allow some flexibility. Mr. Kelley did not want us golfers to lose the radius of the circle. He didn't want us to be moving low point around. That is where his genious on the putting green comes out. He is advocating a very simple stroke.

Imagine a radius (either from the left shoulder for the arm only or from the spine for the shoulder only) and your job is to keep that radius constant. Don't move the head or sway the body. Don't rotate the hips or roll the feet. Just keep it simple and TRACE THE BASE LINE, KNOW THE HINGE ACTION YOU ARE USING, and KNOW YOUR GRIP.

After you get good on the greens. It is time to get great! Now get precise with things. Go back over your stroke components and create precision.