Putting, just like the rest of the game is played from side-on. We, as humans, must utilize tilted planes (neither vertical nor horizontal) in this game. Take for instance the "feels" of the hinges. Those "feels" are based on the arm hanging at an angle, neither vertical or horizontal. Or taking into consideration the shoulder turns, they are based on planes (horizontal and tilted) in which the right shoulder can turn.
Most all of the 24 components have a relationship to tilted planes. Understanding this will lead all of us to an understanding that just because we are putting doesn't change things. The arms are not vertical to the ground, we still stand to the side of the ball, and impact and separation exist EVEN on the putting green.
Take a square piece of cardboard and cut it into a circle. The plane is square or rectangle so that it can fit different slopes, however, to see the relationship between plane and arc use the circle. With a light overhead we can all see that as the plane angle changes, the projection of the plane on the ground or the ARC changes as well. The closer to vertical we get the larger the circle (arc/ellipse) is and the closer to horizontal the smaller the circle (or arc/ellipse) gets. Meaning that held perfectly horizontal the plane will project a circle. Held perfectly vertical the plane will project a straight line.
From this we can see that when we putt the putterhead will travel in an arc unless (1) you are using a shoulder stroke and the thoracic region of the spine -- between the top of the neck and the top of the low back -- is horizontal to the ground; (2) you have the area of rotation directly over the ball; or (3) you are really compensating the movement of the club.
Give me your input. Give me your questions. I have received a ton of emails questioning how the putterhead should move. "On Plane" is always my answer and I hope this sheds light into what that means.
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