Until about two years ago I was always a very good putter. Good feel, distance control, green-reading, nerves, everything solid.
Out of nowhere, my hands have turned into two jumpy, jittery, quivering masses. Right before impact my hands flinch to such a degree that my playing partners can actually see them shaking.
I tried many different grips, I tried the long putter. Some of the adjustments worked for awhile, but nothing 'fixed' it. On the practice green, I could still roll in 8 out of 10 six footers even using the toe of my putter if I wanted. Once on the course however, the affliction would return.
During a recent round, out of sheer desperation, I employed my partner's bullseye putter from the left hand side(I'm a lefty that swings from the right). I have not yipped since. Alignments still give me some problems, and I am not yet as automatic as I once was, but not quivering over a putt is such a relief. In a recent money game, I had 3 putts to win or lose a hole. Made 1, missed 2, but no nerves on any.
What I am looking for is some discussion from anyone who has had similar woes, and perhaps an explaination for why putting from the other side has cured my shakiness. I really have no idea why, not even any suggestions or guesses. Was just curious what everyone thought.
As in full strokes, putting from the left side, your computer does not know any better. What I mean is this....for those of us who had/have compensations in our stroke, our computer has trained us to manipulate the clubface OR aim further right/left OR, etc, etc, etc.
When you line up putting lefty, your 'computer' is telling you, "I have no memory or incubation from this side of the ball," thus, there is no faulty programming in the mind.
Yoda mentioned this once in the Martee Video (you may not know what this is), however, Martee used to address the ball too far to the right (although he didn't really know it). When Yoda asked him to address the ball lefty, he was lined up dead square since his 'computer' didn't know of any compensations he should be making from that side.
So does this mean I can expect to gradually/eventually regress to where I was before I swapped sides? PLEASE say it ain't so. I would trade any other swing flaws for a pair of steady hands and a bundle of calm nerves.
I play righty although I am left handed. I have tried putting lefty with some success. My stroke is not as sound left but 'I feel like I see the line better from that side. I keep putting righty since I cannot fathom building a new stroke from the left side. One of these days I may try again if I do not start sinking more putts from the right side.
I would trade any other swing flaws for a pair of steady hands and a bundle of calm nerves.
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