[O.B.Left]

Styles, I have a long flowing stroke as well. I didnt want to get into mechanics cause there are options but I personally love Homers idea from 12-5-0

12-5-0 BASIC MOTION REQUIREMENTS. " Use a slow , smooth motion up-and-back, down -and-out and up-and-in the dame distance in both directions and as continuously as possible.

Make no adjustment during the Storke , for - or because -Impact, NEVER EVER. That is "Hacking at the Ball" and produces only "Hackers."


I can see how the people who "pop" their putts a little can get a nice roll and good positive contact but for me anyways I prefer to do as Homer prescribed above and be "smooth and heavy" . Its especially helpful with distance control and a super effective method on fast greens. Over acceleration begets deceleration, throwaway even on such a short stroke. Sustain the lag with smooth flowing acceleration. Feel the lag in your hands, sustain it, with a picture of the hole in your mind.

The trick is keep it even paced back and through and have a definite TOP and FINISH, the Three Stations ........Address , Top , Finish. Im better able to sustain the lag pressure longer in this way, over acceleration can stalk the lag and drag in a menacing way whilst putting too. Its maybe even more menacing when putting!!!!!!

The actual length of the stroke is maybe something that is grooved during a PRACTICE stroke and then translated into a FEEL, as you just dont want to be too hyper conscious of how long the stroke is when you're actually PLAYING the shot. That would cause you to lose the picture as your attention turns to an alignment or mechanic. Some people might disagree with this but some people have never really stopped practicing. See Practice vs Playing in 3-B. Play with or by FEEL!

We all have our unique methods when it comes to putting. I read a book that had me pacing off the putts , calculating it in feet and then varying the length of my stroke accordingly. It worked for a while but Id never go back to that method again. I was putting from 60 yards out in Scotland last week, to do all that calculating would have had the course ranger on my tail, no doubt. I dont think it would have worked either. " Putt to the picture" worked wonders over there. Even when putting from places Id never considered previously.

I use a similar "picture" method for chipping , pitching, any sort of weight critical shot. It works for line on longer shots as well.

Tiger takes a picture on every shot in the bag. Driver too. It really works. Nicklaus called it "going to the movies".

As for blocked putts , it sounds like type one Steering from 3-F-7-A. There have been some successful "Straight back , Straight through" putters but it is Steering. OK for putting maybe but death for longer shots unless you need a soft lob shot.

If you are more of an "Arc" putter , it sounds like you are leaving the face square to the hole on the through stroke. Vertical Hinging. To employ a Plane methodology when putting (straight back, straight through is not plane compliant in a clubshaft manner though the clubhead can be said to travel a straight line or plane as it covers the plane line) means the club head travels up and in , in and out etc . And most importantly for you , the clubface closes in accordance with the desired Hinge Action. Angled most likely, or commonly. Thats your fix for blocked putts................first understand the geometry of the inclined plane and then execute a Hinge Action.

Styles , you got into Vertical Hinging on your full shots a while back didnt you? Now you're doing it with your putter. It could all be founded in a popular misconception about the geometry of impact. If so, get into, believe in 2-C-0 and Hinge Action........ To my mind much of the book is extrapolated from 2-C-0. Like Homer worked backwards from Impact. You'll notice that Steering has a reverse relationship to 2-C-0 and "Inside out Impact" etc.

Even Homer was a victim of Steering, the "seems as if it should work", false logic of golfs impact geometry. He noticed he complied perfectly to the correct geometry when striking dandelions in his yard..........the presence of the ball does strange things to our heads and so I try to ignore it as much as I can. I personally take the putter back as soon as my eyes return from the hole ...........no pause. Its something that Brad Faxon and other do. It sure smoothes out the stroke. Its harder to Steer something you're not paying much attention too.

I like to rapidly lob balls underhanded to holes of various lengths on the practice green. I stand in the middle of the practice green and wheel around , lobbing balls in different directions like Clint Eastwood in a speghetti western gun fight. Then I do the same with one arm on the putter, then I go to my normal two armed stroke. It wouldnt be much of an athletic achievement to lob or bowl the balls close to their respective holes without much thought..........I try to bring that line of thinking into my putting stroke, to learn from that drill.

Its automatic and very intuitive. "Natural" if you will. We are "wired" to do incredible things like this so why over ride it all with ponderous introspection and critiquing.

I havent read Brad Faxons book on putting but I have a feeling he does something along these lines. Im afraid to read it actually , 'cause I dont want to change anything or become too conscious of what Im doing. I saw Davis Love doing the rapid fire, various holes drill on the practice green after the third round of the Memorial Tournament last year.

I learned much of this from a friend of mine who is crazy good with his old Ping Anser. Damn him, he's good with that thing. Im always threatening to break it in two on him. Bend it over my knee or jump on its head.