"Practice" is observation, selection, adjustment, etc.-the flexible "researcher" approach. "Playing" is concentration, discipline, supervision, execution, etc.-the inflexible "performer" approach. Neglect neither." Homer Kelley
Don't forget this as we dive in. With the ball middle of stance and the forearms in plane, the eyes are next. Get a mirror of some type, it could be a make-up mirror or you could get a small 4 by 4 piece cut from your local glass company. Practice each night setting up to the mirror with the eyes over the the sweet spot of the putter or just to the inside.
Practice bending more from the hips than from the shoulders by standing down the line from a mirror. Practice this daily while keeping the forearms in plane.
Do the above 60 times each day for 30 days.
All that is left is the selected hinging and plane angle.
Hue when selecting your hinge action remember the following. Horizontal is closing with no lay back, angled is closing with lay back, and vertical is laying back only. It would seem at first that vertical hinging would be best, and if you like it best stay with it.
When selecting a plane angle remember the flatter the angle the smaller the arc (meaning more towards a circle it will become).
I personally chose the plane angle of the left shoulder (which goes through the thorasic vertebrate) so that I could move my shoulders only. For me this is the simplest stroke. There is nothing wrong with using the clubshaft or elbow as a plane angle either. It is all a choice isn't it. Just make sure it fits the geometry of the circle.
Remember, 60 times each day for 30 days at home looking, looking, looking.
I personally chose the plane angle of the left shoulder (which goes through the thorasic vertebrate) so that I could move my shoulders only. For me this is the simplest stroke. There is nothing wrong with using the clubshaft or elbow as a plane angle either. It is all a choice isn't it. Just make sure it fits the geometry of the circle.
vj: I am a little confused here. Does this mean in your preferred set up you like the putter shaft left forearm and arm on a straight line ? Thanks
What other training aids do you use when teaching putting? I recently bought a grip with a laser at a car boot sale which I use to track the baseline. I have found this quite useful. I am thinking about getting a laser device to train better accuracy in putter face alignment .
I think any aid which helps you trace a straight line is good for your path. You must select a hinge though. Moving the shoulders only will create an angled hinge motion without any added hinge. You can use vertical or horizontal. Any will do but the "deviations must be nil."
I use the proaim glasses, a straight line laser, the putting arc, two balls with a one axis (they looked glued together), electrical tape, two tees set very close to the edges of the putter. I use a lot of stuff to monitor the head and face.
By the left shoulder plane angle I mean a plane angle running from the sweet spot through the left shoulder (or thorasic vertebrate). The forearms are in plane with the shaft and neither are in plane with the left shoulder plane. THey are below it.
I lock them in with my wedges and let it fly through the on-plane rotation of the shoulders.
vj: Thanks for all your help. In my last two rounds of golf I had 27 and 28 putts that is a big drop from my average 36 and this is down to taking your advice in this thread. I had a lot of comments that my putting has improved from playing partners . I was practicing on the putting green on Sunday and a complete stranger commented on my roll and said I looked like a pro. The lasers are due to turn up this week and I will now get the Proaim glasses and look into the other training aids you mentioned. What do you think of the whippy shafted putter as a training aid ?Swash sells one called the Rhythmiser. Also what do you think of the Cameron cube? I am really getting it to this and want to go from a good putter to a great putter.
My feeling on ball position is simple. Get it as close to the middle of the stance as possible. Dead middle is best, but a couple of inches in front is ok too. DO NOT HIT UP ON A PUTT. Putts are hit just as shots on a miniture scale. Of the countless video I have at the moment of impact the better the putter the lower they hit on the ball. Bad putters usually have two things, a lie angle which is too upright and at impact they hit very high on the ball.
vj: When you say you like to see the ball in the middle of the stance . Is this the middle of the ball or the back of the ball (the point of contact ) that you like to see in the middle of the stance?
You knew I was going to ask you about this.
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