There is a very slight shoulder movement that occurs in my putting stroke now, I guess I am an arm putter but since the shoulders will move as the right arm folds, just a little , it now moves on a truer vertical plane. I do not feel as though my shoulders do much at all.

Now i know why my ball position is just left of my head (shoulder stroke)

Thanks VJ!

Jim,

That is what i am here for. Remember that ball position and the reason why. That way our grandchildren will never putt with the ball off their front toe while using a shoulder stroke.

Grip Difference
 

VJ, Is the grip different in right arm putting?

My virgin post, in putting
 

VJ,
I love your stuff and have read many of your posts, and I think this is my virgin post about putting. Additionally, if Yoda tells me someone is "the man", I take him at his word. He's very impressed with your knowledge. And, I would agree with your assessments above.
But, I'll convey to you my personal experience. I have always been a great putter. Until I met Yoda, I couldn't hit it in the ocean from the beach. I was terrible with three dimensional impact. So, only recently have I been able to move up the ranks in our Section events, with better ball striking.
I've always been 10-3-H (Paw) with both arms frozen and bent. I've done this as long as I've been playing, and only recently (met Yoda in Feb. '04) have I found out the reason it worked so well.
I think the putting arc is a great tool, especially for the right arm stroke. I, personally, find the arc difficult to use as my plane of inclination seems to be so steep (if not vertical). I have the feeling of covering the line instead of tracing and the feeling of pure vertical hinging, not dual vertical. It's controlled steering. I know one of the tools you use is the laser to trace an inclined plane on the wall, but mine borders on vertical.
Am I smoking weed? Or, can you explain why this method is such an asset to me?

P.S. I'm looking forward to our school at Old Waverly.

V.J.,

Thanks for your original post it helped clear some fog for me.

I like to use an arm only stroke as I am a hitter and using my right arm seems to match up great with the rest of my game. Putting now is a stage one motion to me.

My question for you is.....


Is the "putting arc" a good tool to use for the arm only stroke. Or how should a go about tracing my plane line in an arm only stroke????

Thanks for all your help I look forward to your reply.

Sorting Through the Instructor's Textbook.

B-Ray

The Putting Arc is a good tool for the right arm stroke, notice I said good. The plane angle of the putting arc runs from the sweet spot of the putter THROUGH the right shoulder (thorasic area of the spine) and the plane is called by MR. Kelley the LEFT SHOULDER PLANE with its designation of X in the 3rd Edition.

The push basic stroke will travel on the ELBOW PLANE which is flatter than the LEFT SHOULDER PLANE. This means the the projection of this flatter plane angle on the ground will result in curvature in the arc of approach and arc of seperatiion. The difference in these two planes ranges from 5 to 8 degrees usually. This will not create an enormous diffence, possibly one in which we cannot even feel, however there is a difference.

Bushnell,and Golfjustlikethepros.com both have lasers you can attach to your putter for tracing a straight line. They attach to the shaft and throw a line of laser light to the ground. That is really good. Also you can use the side of a bench or pvc to move the shaft along and it will teach you this feel.

Nicklaus/Arms only stroke?
 

VJ,

Would you say the Jack Nicklaus was an arms only putter. Also since the arms only stoke lends itself to angled hinging, does the putter leave the true arc just after low point and go a bit out to 1st base?

Thanks VJ
 

This needs a STICKY !

It is the raw facts about putting... fantastic information.

Thanks VJ

The Putting Left Shoulder Plane And Zero Shift
 

The Arm Action Only Putting Pattern of the 3rd Edition (12-5-0 / 3rd edition) gives us insights into Homer Kelley's idea of the "orthodox" Putting Pattern. In his own words, it has been "carefully assembled;" there should be no attempt at "personalization" until it has been "thoroughly mastered as written;" and then "only with Authorized Assistance."

And while the Push Basic Stroke most certainly can use the Elbow Plane, that Variation (10-6-A) was not specified.

What gives?

:confused1

The Left Shoulder Plane of the 3rd Edition is established by the Zero #3 Accumulator Angle (Club in the cup of the Left Hand). Later editions referenced the "theoretical" Left Shoulder Plane but recommended that it is "far better" to consider it as Zero #3 Accumulator (7-13).

Finally, the Hinge Action Variation is Vertical Only (10-10-B) and not Dual Vertical (10-10-E). With Vertical Only Hinge Action, the Clubhead Covers the Plane Line, i.e., it remains in the Vertical Plane. This is compatible with the Zero Shift Left Shoulder Plane only because of the 3rd edition's definition of Vertical Hinging: "The Clubshaft is normally 'mounted' at an angle to the Hinge so that the Hands and Clubhead travel on parallel vertical planes." With Dual Vertical, the Clubhead Traces the Plane Line, i.e., it moves Three-Dimensionally Up, Back and In on the Inclined Plane.

With this Pattern, then, the Putting Arc will not work. That's because the Pattern presumes a Vertical Plane of Motion of the Clubhead and the Putting Arc presumes an Inclined Plane of Motion.

Summarizing, this Pattern requires that we use:

1. The Push Major Basic Stroke;

2. The Putt Minor Basic Stroke (motionless Right Shoulder);

3. The Left Shoulder Plane Angle (Zero #3 Accumulator);

4. Zero Shift (to or from the Elbow Plane); and

5. Vertical Only Hinging (with the Hands and Clubhead moving on parallel vertical planes).

How can this be done?

Geometrically, there is only one way:

First, position the Right Forearm parallel to the Plane Line. Then, use Push Basic Stroke -- keeping the Hands between the Right Elbow and the Ball -- to move it precisely along the line that it is positioned. The Right Shoulder will remain motionless; Hinge Action will automatically be Vertical Only; and there will be Zero Shift from the Left Shoulder Plane.

Players wishing to use Angled Hinging and the Elbow Plane need only position the Right Forearm to point at the Plane Line (and not parallel to it). Then, use Push Basic Stroke to Drive the Right Forearm along the line it is positioned, i.e., toward the Plane Line. Ergo...automatic Angled Hinging on the Elbow Plane.

And with this Customized Pattern, the Putting Arc works.

:)