Planes and Arcs
 

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.

Retired from "Rocking"
 

My distance control and putting stats has improved immensely by going from Paw to Push with a 30-40 degree open stance, extensor action and VH using "ball roll feel". It has also made the clubhead move along an elliptical rather than circular arc. Combined with the hinge action it significantly reduces ball position being an issue. I am surprised how this setup virtually eliminates the manipulation I thought it'd require. I feel as if I am bowling the ball to the hole and adopting something quite similar to what Jack has been doing all these years.

Your thoughts?

I don't agree that any hinge action should change the clubhead orbit. Hinge action controls the clubface alignment during the stroke not the circular orbit of the clubhead.

Remember you that in putting you are not changing the stroke radius during a putting stroke with accumulator no.2, the left wrist is flat, LEVEL and vertical. Since the whole of the primary lever assembly (left arm and clubshaft) which is unchanging in length by zero acc no.2 and this lever assembly it moves around in a circle around your left shoulder it will also create a purely circular motion of the clubhead.

(Not to side track Metallion or Mathew- I want to comment on this)

On Plane is always the answer !
I have always been a very good putter until I started to listen to what the clubhead is suppose to do. Is it straight back,? I would spend hours on the green and living room, watching that stupid little putter head (remember when they were small??- I still use those-:)). moving back and forth in every imaginable way.
Then it struck me? Why am I monitoring the clubhead? Is this stroke any different? I put the brains back into the Hands and monitor them as they trace the Plane Line. And guess what? It goes straight back and arcs depending on the length of the stroke.

Remember the picture of Lynn with the shaft on the straight edge of the bench and the clubhead traveled in an arc- on plane?

Trace the Plane Line with the Hands not the clubhead.