The Secret Revealed
 

I won the Forum Putting Contest staged by Mike O by sinking 73 consecutive 6 foot putts. Like Hogan, I had a secret. However, since V.J. Trolio doesn't look like he's going to get around to writing a book about my secret, I'm revealing it here. And the secret is . . . . . .

The Address Waggle.

Okay, this isn't really a secret since it appears that someone named Homer Kelley wrote about it several decades ago. But, this little gem has helped me more than anything else with holing putts.

You can read about it in 3-F-5; but, I have learned that taking my rehearsal strokes over the ball is the key to making a good stroke when it counts.

The problem I have with taking rehearsal strokes off to the side of the ball is that I usually don't feel the same and the optics almost never look the same as when I actually get over the ball. However, by getting in stance over the ball, all in-stroke feels and alignments can be rehearsed and monitored through the Address Waggle exactly on the line I've selected. I can easily monitor clubface alignment as it passes through impact and this translates to a confidence that I know where the ball is going.

Would that be the FACE of ROSANNE?:pumpkin:

Thaaaaaaaaaaat's right!!!

Waggling For Precision and Confidence
 

Great post, Bob. Thanks!

Question: Do you use this same 'over the top of the ball' procedure in your full Strokes? If so, do you experience the same 'alignment confidence'?

I only use the Address Waggle for clubface alignment on full shots; and, yes, since I started doing that, my alignment confidence on full shots has increased.

One Man's Journey
 

Bob, not to threadjack here on your Waggle 'secret', but you are now well down the road in your TGM studies. In fact, you were in attendance at my 'comeback school' at the PGA TOUR Academy in St. Augustine, Florida, in April 2004.

I have been amazed -- but not surprised! :) -- by the progress you have since made. Could you tell us about it?

Thanks!

[quote=rwh;47684]I won the Forum Putting Contest staged by Mike O by sinking 73 consecutive 6 foot putts.


73 straight 6 ft. putts!!!!! That is Tiger like.... the concentration necessary is pretty amazing. Who was second? Don't tell me you just edged someone out with 72.

Thanks for that idea. I've been using it successful with basic motion, but hadn't consider using the waggle for putting. :)

Probably the biggest area of improvement has been in the wedge game. I could time my "flip" on full shots, but was horrible at hitting greens inside 100 yards. Understanding of rhythm and the different hinge actions has brought me a reasonable pitching game.

Have you ever accidently hit the ball during the waggle? Do you stand taller in order to avoid a hit?

I'm asking because basically I like the idea, but when I tried it (on the practice green) I topped a few putts, and that scared me stiff.

Not that funny, is it?
 

I did the same thing...once!:( I adjusted the amount of waist bend to make sure it did not happen again.:) That clubhead blurr has become a good friend. A waggle thru the impact point...imagine that! I no longer have it's pointless twitchy predecessor! Given the small margin for error on the greens you gotta get a sense of the straight plane line seeings that it is most likely your target line (I don't see any benefit to divergent plane/target lines on the greens.) This really drives the idea home that every putt is essentially straight.

Do you think the yips is downstroke blackout by another name? Before I selected angled hinging for my hinge action on the greens I would go "brain dead." Everybody was telling me not to think...so I didn't! I some times use horizontal hinging on longer putts...into the grain...on slow bermuda greens! Execution is the bottom line, but I think the clearer the intent the better the chance for successful execution. Agree?

Haven't hit the ball during the "over-the-ball" waggle yet :)

I stay in my posture and raise my hands up 3 - 4". After the Address Waggle, it's just a matter of lowering the hands into position and go.

I don't like standing taller because that seems to pull my eyes away from the line of the putt.

Good point
 

Good point. I tried raising my hands/arms as you do, but an important element of my stroke is to go to both arms straight. I used have the Leo Diegel look going...with bent arms etc. I have a shorter than standard putter, and begin the stroke with an extended left arm. I start at fix...then simply bend and straighten from the elbow while keeping the right wrist bent. You are right in that my eye-line moves inside a bit . I have considered gripping down on the club, but thought that might cause some confusion.