Ted, told me you were gonna post some pics of your putting stroke here soon.
Here's some questions for you on the pics I see.
Is your putting stroke based on Stage One of the Basic Motion Curriculum (12-5-1)??? Because it sure looks like it is.
How Long is your putter???
Why do you position the ball so far forward for this stroke??? It appears to be off you left toe.
Now that Ted's taught me this "right arm piston" stroke, here are some observation I've made and Yoda and Yodasluke correct me if I'm wrong here.
I found distance control to be very easy with this stroke because I always had a destination for the stroke to go to which was follow through or both arms straight. The pace was determined by the rate at which I unfolded my right elbow.
I also felt like the putter head moved on bigger arc (more curve or rotation of the face) here then a shoulder stroke, and if you look at the archives I asked VJ about this and I believe he agreed that it does but his putting arc is still a "close" fit or at least gives the player the right idea (my interpretation may not be exactly what he said).
I like the fact that this stroke matched up with my other strokes and made me feel like a true golfing machine all day because I was only making a smaller motion.
However I do like the shoulder stroke to, and find the temptation to switch back and forth as I am a teacher and enjoy teaching and playing with both . I use a 32" heel shafted putter for my "right arm piston" 12-5-1 stroke and a face balanced mallet 35" for my "shoulder stroke", currently my playing stroke.
I look forward to hearing replies and comments to this post from all.
Sorting Through the Instructor's Textbook.
B-Ray
__________________
I have the best job in the world, I get to teach golf for a living!!!
Catch ya on the lesson tee.
Is your putting stroke based on Stage One of the Basic Motion Curriculum (12-5-1)??? Because it sure looks like it is.
How Long is your putter???
Why do you position the ball so far forward for this stroke??? It appears to be off you left toe.
Thanks for your comments, Brandon. Coming from a PGA Professional and a rapidly advancing student of TGM, they mean a lot.
As I said in my post, my Putting Stroke is indeed pure 12-5-1 (Hitting Variation). My Putter is 32 inches long. I locate the Ball just prior to the Low Point of the Stroke -- just inside the Left Shoulder -- so I can take it ever-so-slightly on the Downstroke.
People, including tour pros, will putt almost any way now, with any kind of putter, and with any stance or grip that will get the job done... within the rules.
Mr. Yoda's TGM stroke looks very CLASSIC, compared to many people today! I even see some similarities to Mr. Crenshaw's stroke.
If word gets out, Mr. Yoda may have his book filled with PUTTING LESSONS!
I'm guessing it's all right forearm?...this would coincide with VJ's advice too- i.e. for right forearm only strokes, place ball at Low Point (or was it "just behind Low Point?").
Last edited by birdie_man : 04-15-2006 at 04:54 PM.
My Putting Stroke is an On Plane Right Forearm Takeaway with a Right Forearm-Driven Downstroke. I use Angled Hinge Action (10-10-C) with Zero (Left) Wrist Action (10-18-G / Angled Hinging Only throughout the Stroke, i.e., no additional Turning, Rolling or Cocking) .
My Putting Stroke is an On Plane Right Forearm Takeaway with a Right Forearm-Driven Downstroke. I use Angled Hinge Action (10-10-C) with Zero (Left) Wrist Action (10-18-G / Angled Hinging Only throughout the Stroke, i.e., no additional Turning, Rolling or Cocking) .
Mr. Mickelson also sports a very similar Stroke. And he uses a shorter Putter, too!
As I've written in the past, the Putting Stroke is a Golf Stroke.
Treat it as one!
Would you say Phil uses a more 'rocking shoulders' (Paw) type stroke, rather than one which is powered by the right arm like you are doing here? Would this place Phil's Low Point (and ball) further back since the left shoulder is no longer the stroke center?
Would you say Phil uses a more 'rocking shoulders' (Paw) type stroke, rather than one which is powered by the right arm like you are doing here? Would this place Phil's Low Point (and ball) further back since the left shoulder is no longer the stroke center?
NOTE: This post will be in 'Right-Hand' terms despite the fact that Phil Putts Left Handed.
I really haven't studied Phil Mickelson's Putting Stroke, other than the set of his Flying Wedges (extended Left Arm and bent Right). From memory, he probably has more Right Shoulder motion than I do 'through the Ball,' but that could be because he has not made a Follow-Through adjustment that pre-positions the Right Shoulder in its Impact and Follow-Through Location. That Shoulder Motion does not make it a Paw Minor Basic Stroke (frozen Right Elbow). He simply has to move his Right Shoulder in order to enable the Right Arm to extend into the Follow-Through.
On the other hand, he may well be using the Stroke you describe. I'll pay more attention the next time I see him Putt. Probably won't be too long from now!
Yoda, 
Hybrid Mode
