Circular Grip

[lagster]

Have any of you tried a circular grip, or some kind of grip(the actual grip that is part of the club) that easily allows one to get the LEFT THUMB AFT when positioning their hands on the club.

If the pressure points are lined up along the sweet spot plane of the club... it should be of some advantage mechanically, even with putting. I think this would be especially true if using a PUSH TYPE STROKE, then the #1 Pressure Point has something to push against.

With conventional putter grips, the left thumb, if placed aft, would be resting on part of the edge of the flat top, that is a characteristic of most putter grips.

[Yoda]

Have any of you tried a circular grip, or some kind of grip(the actual grip that is part of the club) that easily allows one to get the LEFT THUMB AFT when positioning their hands on the club.

If the pressure points are lined up along the sweet spot plane of the club... it should be of some advantage mechanically, even with putting. I think this would be especially true if using a PUSH TYPE STROKE, then the #1 Pressure Point has something to push against.

With conventional putter grips, the left thumb, if placed aft, would be resting on part of the edge of the flat top, that is a characteristic of most putter grips.

Sure! In addition to the circular grip -- Homer Kelley was no fan of the reminder-grips -- note the:

-- Parallel Plane Line, Stance Line and Target Line;

-- Ball Location (just behind Low Point, i.e., opposite the Left Shoulder);

-- Appropriate Knee and Waist Bend;

-- Centered and Stationary Head.

-- Aft Left Thumb;

-- Zero #3 Accumulator (Clubshaft an 'extruded' extension of the Left Arm) with the Club secured in the palm and under the thumb pad;

-- Reverse Overlap Grip;

-- Straight Left Arm and the Flat Left Wrist (the Left Arm Flying Wedge);

-- On Plane Right Forearm and Level Right Wrist (the Right Forearm Flying Wedge);

-- On Plane Hand Pressure Points;

-- On Plane Backstroke and Downstroke with Left Shoulder Center of the Clubhead Arc;

-- Angled Hinge Action and its Rhythm (In Line Left Arm and Club throughout the Stroke);

-- Complete Follow-Through to Both Arms Straight.

You cannot see the Extensor Action, but it is there. I do not use the Push Basic Stroke (instead, I use Punch Basic and my Right Forearm Fans), but I do Push the Tracing Club through Impact with an active Right Arm and Elbow.

In sum, the Stroke is pure 12-5-1 (Basic Motion / Stage One) using the Hitter's Variation (active #1 Accumulator and Angled Hinging).





Face On View



Down The Line View

[bray]

Yoda,

Awesome Pics!!!!

Ted, told me you were gonna post some pics of your putting stroke here soon.

Here's some questions for you on the pics I see.

Is your putting stroke based on Stage One of the Basic Motion Curriculum (12-5-1)??? Because it sure looks like it is.

How Long is your putter???

Why do you position the ball so far forward for this stroke??? It appears to be off you left toe.

Now that Ted's taught me this "right arm piston" stroke, here are some observation I've made and Yoda and Yodasluke correct me if I'm wrong here.

I found distance control to be very easy with this stroke because I always had a destination for the stroke to go to which was follow through or both arms straight. The pace was determined by the rate at which I unfolded my right elbow.

I also felt like the putter head moved on bigger arc (more curve or rotation of the face) here then a shoulder stroke, and if you look at the archives I asked VJ about this and I believe he agreed that it does but his putting arc is still a "close" fit or at least gives the player the right idea (my interpretation may not be exactly what he said).

I like the fact that this stroke matched up with my other strokes and made me feel like a true golfing machine all day because I was only making a smaller motion.

However I do like the shoulder stroke to, and find the temptation to switch back and forth as I am a teacher and enjoy teaching and playing with both . I use a 32" heel shafted putter for my "right arm piston" 12-5-1 stroke and a face balanced mallet 35" for my "shoulder stroke", currently my playing stroke.

I look forward to hearing replies and comments to this post from all.

Sorting Through the Instructor's Textbook.

B-Ray

[Yoda]

Yoda,

Is your putting stroke based on Stage One of the Basic Motion Curriculum (12-5-1)??? Because it sure looks like it is.

How Long is your putter???

Why do you position the ball so far forward for this stroke??? It appears to be off you left toe.

Thanks for your comments, Brandon. Coming from a PGA Professional and a rapidly advancing student of TGM, they mean a lot.

As I said in my post, my Putting Stroke is indeed pure 12-5-1 (Hitting Variation). My Putter is 32 inches long. I locate the Ball just prior to the Low Point of the Stroke -- just inside the Left Shoulder -- so I can take it ever-so-slightly on the Downstroke.

[lagster]

People, including tour pros, will putt almost any way now, with any kind of putter, and with any stance or grip that will get the job done... within the rules.

Mr. Yoda's TGM stroke looks very CLASSIC, compared to many people today! I even see some similarities to Mr. Crenshaw's stroke.

If word gets out, Mr. Yoda may have his book filled with PUTTING LESSONS!

[birdie_man]

Lynn,

What do you use to take the club back?

I'm guessing it's all right forearm?...this would coincide with VJ's advice too- i.e. for right forearm only strokes, place ball at Low Point (or was it "just behind Low Point?").

[Yoda]

Mr. Yoda's TGM stroke looks very CLASSIC, compared to many people today! I even see some similarities to Mr. Crenshaw's stroke.

Mr. Mickelson also sports a very similar Stroke. And he uses a shorter Putter, too!

As I've written in the past, the Putting Stroke is a Golf Stroke.

Treat it as one!

[Weightshift]

Sure! In addition to the circular grip -- Homer Kelley was no fan of the reminder-grips -- note the:
[snip]

Interesting to see how someone else putts

In "Face On View 2" it's obvious that you have not rocked your shoulders, the motion being purely with the arms. So when does the rocking forward of the shoulders begin?

[powerdraw]

can one chip from a similar ball position? i tend to putt and chip at a similar just before low point ball position. is this a bad thing? i get many a strange look chipping from this forward position vs the classic 'right duck foot'

[tongzilla]

Interesting to see how someone else putts

In "Face On View 2" it's obvious that you have not rocked your shoulders, the motion being purely with the arms. So when does the rocking forward of the shoulders begin?

Yoda is not actively trying to move his Shoulders. Instead, the Right Shoulder acts as a Launching Pad or backstop for the Right Arm to Push off (with a fanning motion). Any movement of the Shoulders here is Motion (effect) rather than Action (cause).