Comments on PutterZone.com - Best Putter Reviews: Thoughts on Putting "Fundamentals"

Tiger says he thinks of his putting stroke as if h...

2009-11-29T14:10:14.113-08:00

Tiger says he thinks of his putting stroke as if he's trying to hit a draw / Stricker says straight back & through ... every other pro has a varied viewpoint ( look at Phil ). In reality Stricker isn't really making a perfect pendulum stroke / Tiger isn't coming from the inside as much as he thinks / Phil's putter loft is adjusted to compensate for his forward pre stroke hinge. It's really all about individual PERCEPTION and personal body biomechanics. I could go on and say the practice, practice, practice are the only fundamentals in putting but I would rather leave all of you with this. The stroke you want to develop is one that works best for 'cold' putting ... meaning not the stoke that works after you've warmed it up during a practice session ( and you can't miss ) but the stroke that works when your actually playing & only get one or two attempts before bogey. Knowing the difference will open up a new world to you.

Great point, Sactown. It can be hard to find a hea...

2009-11-19T07:36:58.356-08:00

Great point, Sactown. It can be hard to find a healthy balance between mechanics and execution. When it comes to execution, you don't want to be bogged down by thoughts about mechanics.

That's the thing about what I call "instruction porn" in the magazines, especially when it's contradictory, as noted here. It can become brain clutter.

As long as you can consistently get the face square to the target line at impact, you're in business.

Sometimes I start thinking about my arc, then I say to myself, why? The arc will take care of itself if I perform a sound, natural stroke!

As a newish golfer, I find that I putt best when I...

2009-11-18T17:58:42.336-08:00

As a newish golfer, I find that I putt best when I just feel it. For me it is all about the moment. As soon as the brain goes "wrists, shoulders, arc, sbst," then I miss the putt. I enjoy the afternoon much more when I just make the read and make the putt go. Maybe some mechanics lessons could help here, but my swing has so many mechanical thoughts that it is nice to line it up with the Byron and let it go when it feels right...

This (arc versus straight back) is a never ending ...

2009-11-17T15:44:50.546-08:00

This (arc versus straight back) is a never ending discussion. Check out this link to see a demonstration on the putting stroke using a robot and laser. Video was done as a research project at Campbell University. I think you will find it interesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpoSF6QPW3w

Good advice, I'm buying it! In the latest issue o...

2009-11-17T15:03:12.303-08:00

Good advice, I'm buying it!

In the latest issue of Golf Digest, Steve Stricker says he subscribes to the straight back / straight through stroke as opposed to an arc, showing that there are some high-profile holdouts on that front.

My $.02 on the subject: The biggest faults that I...

2009-11-17T14:26:48.991-08:00

My $.02 on the subject: The biggest faults that I have seen are 1) wrists hinging, flipping, breaking down at impact and 2) the putter head stopping or slowing at or prior to impact. If you watch the majority of good putters (take a look at TW's stroke) there is some commonality, 1) the putter head usually travels on an arc that naturally fits their stance, posture and 2) the wrists stay locked through the entire stroke. Get these two fundamentals dialed in then start to work on your alignment. It helps if your shoulders, at a minimum are parallel to the intended target line, then pick a line, trust it and stroke the putt.