Low Point

[Yoda]

The inclined swing plane with a Vertical Hinge becomes vertical, no? The swing plane is still there or has it become something else?

There are three basic Hinge Actions that control the Clubface Motion through Impact -- Horizontal, Vertical and Angled. Horizontal Hinge Action produces a Close-Only Motion of the Clubface; Vertical produces Lay-back Only Motion; and Angled produces a Simultaneous Close-and-Lay-back Motion. Each of these Hinge Actions is produced by maintaining the Flat Left Wrist perpendicular to the associated Plane of Motion through Impact.

With the Short Shots, all three Hinge Actions can be executed in a Vertical -- not Inclined -- Plane of Motion. In other words, the Clubhead can be made to move in a Vertical Plane -- it covers the Plane Line (Up and Back Motion Only, no In) -- while the Clubface either Closes Only (Horizontal Plane of Motion) or Lays-back Only (Vertical Plane of Motion) or simultaneously Closes and Lays-back (Angled Plane of Motion). Since the Plane of the Clubhead Line of Flight is in a Vertical Plane, only one Hinge is required; namely, the Hinge that controls the Clubface alignment.

However, to respect the Inclined Plane -- to move the Clubhead Up, Back and In -- you need a Dual Hinge arrangement. That is, you need one Hinge to control the Clubface (Vertical Hinge for Layback Only or Horizontal Hinge for Close Only) and a second Hinge to control the Clubhead's Inclined Plane of Motion -- the Clubhead Line of Flight (2-N-0).

This Inclined Plane of Clubhead Motion can also be thought of as Clubshaft Control (1-L-A). So, with the Dual Hinge arrangement, the Primary Hinge would control the Clubface and the Secondary (or Strap) Hinge would control the Clubshaft (and enable it to be lowered onto the Inclined Plane). Hence, we find the Dual Horizontal and Dual Vertical Hinge Actions Variations of 10-10-D/E. There is no Dual Angled Hinge Action because only one Hinge -- the Angled Hinge -- is required to control both the Angled Plane of Clubface Motion and the Angled Plane of the Clubshaft.

Now, to your question...

The Putting Arc® discussed in this thread mandates a Clubhead Inclined Plane of Motion. Otherwise, [i]there would be no In dimension on the Backstroke and no Out Dimension on the Downstroke. Hence, the Clubhead would move in a Straight Line -- not a curved one -- and thus leave the face of the device. There would, of course, still be an Arc (unless the Clubhead was kept deliberately parallel to the ground throughout the Stroke), but it would lack the geometric Inward and Outward Dimensions of the Inclined Plane.

The Hinge Action employed must be Compatible with The Putting Arc's Inclined Plane of Motion. Thus, for other than Angled Hinging, either Dual Horizontal or Dual Vertical Hinging is required. However, if the 'hatch mark' Clubface Guides are observed (in addition to the Clubhead Arc) then the device automatically produces Angled Hinge Action. And this, as we've seen, is a single Hinge arrangement.

A final point: When we discuss Hinge Action, the Inclined Plane of Motion is presumed to exist (unless otherwise specified). Hence, in practice, the terms Horizontal Hinge Action and Vertical Hinge Action are deemed to mean Dual Horizontal and Dual Vertical.

[vj]

Birdie Man,

Left to my own sense of geometry which has been given to me through TGM and Lynn, I would place the ball mid stance for the shoulder stroke and Left shoulder for the arm only stroke. Let me clarify that a need for it to be "exact" depends on the person. However, accomplishing a "sameness" here will alleviate any wild "feelings" as the putter head swings down-out-forward to low point and then back-up-in to follow through.

So rough pattern of ball position can be guided in putting by understanding the geometry of the circle. Know where the center of the circe is and this will give you knowledge as to ball position. The radius of this circle will give you knowledge of proper shaft lean and the visual proof of "pendellum" motion in the putting stroke no matter the if the arcing, straight back and through, or any other possible stroke is used.

[vj]

Why put the ball at low point? What is the reason for doing it? Why does it matter?

All really great questions. So let's get enough information together to allow people to understand where low point is and then you can make the decision.

When the ball is situated perfectly at low point the putterhead is neither moving up or down. It is at its bottom and the center of the putter (in a vertical fashion) will strike the ball equator of the ball. THe shaft here, witout manipulation will be vertical to the ground.

When the ball is situated behind low point the putterhead is moving downwards. Here the upper part of the putterhead (in a vertical fashion) will strike above the equator of the ball. All this holds true without MANIPULATION. Furthermore, the putter shaft will be leaning forward at impact, changing the loft of the putter and the roll characteristics of the ball.

When the ball is situated ahead of low point the putterhead is moving upwards. Here the bottom of the putterface (in a vertical fashion) will strike below the equator of the ball. The putter shaft will be leaning back at impact, changing the loft of the putter and the roll characteristics of the ball.

The changes in shaft lean, and solidness of impact is the reason I CHOOSE not to place the ball TOO FAR from lowpoint. It just opens the door for manipulation. THe importance of low point points to the geometry of the circle and from there anyone can see the true pendellum motion which takes place. Moving the ball around naturally changes the lean of the shaft as it relates to the geometry of the circle.

I hope I have answered the first three questions. Today is October 14 and I would like to extend an offer to any of the forum members. Send me your putting strokes on either VHS, DVD, or mini DV and I will give them a study and send back the changes. There will be no charge to forum members. Unfortunately, I will not except tapes after November 14th.

VJ Trolio
Old Waverly Golf Club
One Magnolia Drive
West Point, MS
39773

[cometgolfer]

VJ,

You may have addressed this in another thread or it may be in my Putting Arc instructions. When locating the ball at low point is the "back" of the ball positioned at the low point or the "center" of the ball (or am I just splitting hairs here)?

I can see where the center of the ball at low point would encourage the "contact before low point" that we seek in full strokes.

BTW - I do like my Putting Arc.

[vj]

Comet,

You are definitely splitting hairs. However, if the back of the ball is sitting at low point the putter head will have a shallower angle of attack than if the center of the ball is sitting at low point. Get back to the "hit" as the puttershaft should be vertical at low point and I think you will discover your ball position.

[tongzilla]

Definitely reference it with the back of the ball. If the back of the ball is at Low Point, then your Angle of Approach would also be your Plane Line for putting (negligible compression, hence Impact = Separation).

[vj]

Also understand by favoring one side of your body or the other (weight) low point can be moved. For instance if you favor the left leg it is possible your spine or left shoulder to move closer to the target. This would mean a change in ball position is necessary.

Alternatively, favoring the right leg would move it back. So get in front of a mirror and take a look.