The miniature swing

[Theodan]

At the risk of being master of the obvious, or way out in left field......

I changed my putting. I grip the putter with a F/L/V left wrist, and bent right wrist with the grip coming up the palm fissure. Hands facing each other. Slight forward shaft lean as the hands are set ahead of the putter face. Go back and through the ball using PP#1 and holding the "mini' lag. I'm putting like a banshee.

Any other Hitters make use of PP #1 for their putting? Unless I'm lined up improperly, it's almost difficult to not get the putt on line with a good roll

charlie

[EdZ]

The tell tale sign of a proper stroke - the 'click' of impact. A different sound than most are used to. A great way to start understanding, feeling and hearing the sounds of the 'machine' in action. And yes, the ball rolls, actually dives, into the hole much more often with this approach - proper impact helps ALL shots!

[jim_0068]

i use to putt similarly with this but you have to be careful when you employ the "foward lean" technique with a FLW because you can close the face when you do this.

Beacuse of this i changed my grip and my stroke a little so i had something with less compensations so it'll hold up under pressure better

[Theodan]

Thanks guys for your responses. Yes, the sound tells me everything and all. And the roll is excellent for the muni greens I play. Ya have to have a commanding roll to negate the "idiosynchracies" of the greens.

Point well taken at risking a close. I modified the reverse overlap to include the mini wedges. When I first started fussing with it, I noticed that I could pull it if 1) I didn't hold the lag or 2) PP #3 acted on the shaft. So I hold the lag, neutralize PP #3, drive withh PP #1, and let my solid left wrist be my "bulletproof vest" for staying on line. The feel is "locked" hands going back and through. Since I am driving with my right forearm bone (PP #1), there are no twitchy hand manipulation when the match gets tight..

A couple of notes. I putt much more upright than most people. I can practice my putting for hours without my back nagging me. My putter is more upright than most, too. I also added a degree or 2 to the loft of my putter to account for the forward lean, so there's no "hoppers" off of the face. Maybe these things help the technique work.

It's really cool, because it's fractionally dimensional. My smallest putt stroke mimics my biggest Hitter swing.

Charlie

[Yoda]

And yes, the ball rolls, actually dives, into the hole much more often with this approach ...

That is a wonderful post, Ed. And your Quote above mirrors that of Homer Kelley:

"They'll run into the hole like scared mice!"

Homer stressed two things with Putting:

First, there must be a definite Hinge Action. Clubface alignment through the Ball is the most important thing.

Second, choose how you want the Clubface to contact the Ball (2-C-4), and then do it the same way every time:

• On Center -- No Spin.
  
  Above Center -- Overspin.
  
  Below Center -- Backspin.

Although the Above Center Impact produces the truest roll (and therefore, the most distance for a given Stroke), Homer didn't particularly care which one of the three you used.

"Just do it the same way every time," he advised. That way, "Your distances will be consistent."

And then, as usual, he would always throw in a little wrinkle:

"Of course, if you've got a rough spot in front of you, don't hit the Ball Above Center. The true roll will more likely be pulled off line."



Go figure.

[Matt]

I remember Chuck saying that you still should be hitting down on your putts. That said, is it even physically possible to hit UP and yet still contact the ball above the equator and not "top" it?

Is a downward blow to the top half of the ball what we should strive for, since that will induce topspin?

[EdZ]

Originally Posted by EdZ

And yes, the ball rolls, actually dives, into the hole much more often with this approach ...

That is a wonderful post, Ed. And your Quote above mirrors that of Homer Kelley:

"They'll run into the hole like scared mice!"

Homer stressed two things with Putting:

First, there must be a definite Hinge Action. Clubface alignment through the Ball is the most important thing.

Second, choose how you want the Clubface to contact the Ball (2-C-4), and then do it the same way every time:

• On Center -- No Spin.
  
  Above Center -- Overspin.
  
  Below Center -- Backspin.

Although the Above Center Impact produces the truest roll (and therefore, the most distance for a given Stroke), Homer didn't particularly care which one of the three you used.

"Just do it the same way every time," he advised. That way, "Your distances will be consistent."

And then, as usual, he would always throw in a little wrinkle:

"Of course, if you've got a rough spot in front of you, don't hit the Ball Above Center. The true roll will more likely be pulled off line."



Go figure.

Very interesting on the offline quote. I sometimes use a 'pop' shot with the putter when I'm just off the green in that 'should I putt or not' zone, especially when it is a thin/bad lie. A very hooded putter, ball back, steep approach 'pop' that takes a hop or two and then rolls, rolls, rolls. Can be useful out of some funky lies, but distance control is tough. This is a 'get it anywhere on' type shot that can even be played out of some thick stuff given the right situation.

[lagster]

There definately seem to be putting styles and techniques that roll the ball across the green better than others. Some of these have looked quite odd... Aoki, Hubert Green, Bobby Locke.

I heard that Bobby Locke's ball looked like it was being sucked into the hole. If the ball caught a part of the hole, it was sucked in.

Locke appeared to aim right and use a hooded, horizintal hinge, pop stroke.

[jim_0068]

I remember Chuck saying that you still should be hitting down on your putts. That said, is it even physically possible to hit UP and yet still contact the ball above the equator and not "top" it?

Is a downward blow to the top half of the ball what we should strive for, since that will induce topspin?

The down is so small you shouldn't "try" to hit down. Its like "trying" to hit down with the driver.

You can practice this by putting some quarters behind your ball and stack them so they are about 1/4 of the way up and then pracitce putting without hitting the quarters.

It will force you to hit the center of the ball with a slightly (again SLIGHTLY) downward strike.

jim