EA & Putting

[okie]

I am attempting to sort through a bit of personal fog. It concerns the use of extensor action in the putting stroke.

#1 - how does ea work when you use bent arms i.e. shoulder stroke? It seems that the left arm should be straight.

#2 - with a push basic stroke can you attempt to straighten the right arm against the checkrein of the left arm while deliberately bending it at the elbow at the same time?

[Yoda]

#1 - how does ea work when you use bent arms i.e. shoulder stroke? It seems that the left arm should be straight.

#2 - with a push basic stroke can you attempt to straighten the right arm against the checkrein of the left arm while deliberately bending it at the elbow at the same time?

In the early editions of The Golfing Machine, Homer Kelley wrote that "Extensor Action gives an indispensable control to slow strokes -- short or long -- but especially with the short." Beginning with the 4th edition, he modified that sentence to read simply, "Extensor Action gives an indispensable control to all strokes."

Still, the emphasis on the short strokes in the first three editions makes clear Homer's feelings on the subject: The Putting Stroke is a Golf Stroke, and it benefits from Extensor Action at least as much as the long strokes (and perhaps even more).

Now to your questions:

Concerning #1, the Left Arm, frozen at the Bent Elbow, continues to function as the Checkrein of the Right Arm.

Concerning #2, the bending Right Elbow of the Push Major Basic Stroke continues to exert its Extensor Action on the Left Arm. However, unlike the Pitch and Punch Major Basic Strokes, it does not Fan, i.e., the Hands remain between the Elbow and the Ball.

[okie]

Thanks Yoda. Extensor action has made a significant difference in my ball striking (to be young again!)


So...I provide the structure for the bent left arm (equivalent of the flat left wrist) with left arm effort? I imagine this is one of the reasons why Homer Kelley favored a more conventional address position for putting i.e. straight left arm

For some reasom my wires are getting crossed with employing EA with a push basic stroke...I am trying to straighten my right arm against the checkrein of the left while at the same time I am bending the right elbow

[Yoda]

For some reasom my wires are getting crossed with employing EA with a push basic stroke...I am trying to straighten my right arm against the checkrein of the left while at the same time I am bending the right elbow

Okie,

You have my Alignment Golf video. Go to Disk 2 (Drills) and V.J.'s Extensor Action Drill. Rig up the string as he has done -- loop a string around your left shoulder and use it to simulate your left arm -- and then do your Putting Stroke with it.

Keep the string taut -- Extensor Action! -- and, voila!

You've got it!

[okie]

Sorry Yoda. I am not magnifying my split hair well enough! How does one attempt to straighten the right arm (extensor action) while bending the elbow (push basic)? I swing and do not use #1Acc, except on the greens. I understand (I am pretty sure) how the left arm checkrein causes the right arm to bend as it moves closer to the right shoulder. With push basic it is just the right elbow bending and unbending (while it attempts to remain straight? )

[Yoda]

Sorry Yoda. I am not magnifying my split hair well enough! How does one attempt to straighten the right arm (extensor action) while bending the elbow (push basic)? I swing and do not use #1Acc, except on the greens. I understand (I am pretty sure) how the left arm checkrein causes the right arm to bend as it moves closer to the right shoulder. With push basic it is just the right elbow bending and unbending (while it attempts to remain straight? )

Please, Okie. We could spend 10,000 words here, or . . .

You could just do the drill as I've instructed.

Let's choose Door #2:

Use your Right Arm to keep the 'Left Arm' string straight, and you'll get it instantly!