Help w/ stroke; keep butt pointing at midsection

[vj]

That can get a little tricky if you don't know what you are looking for. For instance.......instead of just looking at the handle of the putter, place a rod (driveway reflector etc...) down the hole in the grip. The putter (if center shafted) will have the rod touching your sternum....now just move the shoulders and everything will stay at the sternum.

If you are using an offset putter the grip in will point slightly forward of you sternum. Please don't confuse yourself on this point.

[birdie_man]

vj,

Might this be a difference between a shoulder-only stroke vs. an arm-only stroke?

To me, it seems that with shoulder-only (as you seemed to describe above) the shaft points at the sternum always.....and the Low Point of the stroke is at the sternum....as you stated before with shoulder-only strokes (and to use a middle ball position with this stroke).

With my stroke.....(I use my right forearm for putting)...the shaft doesn't point to my sternum really in the Down Stroke....Low Point is at left shoulder....it resembles any other normal golf sroke in that way.

What do you think?

Arm only vs. shoulder only...?

[vj]

You are exactly correct. With an arm only stroke throw all the sternum stuff out the door. The radius of the circle is now the left shoulder and alignments are kept with it.

Great Insight Pro!!!!

[bgolfing]

"Please don't confuse yourself on this point."

SO are you saying that I should not really worry about where it points? I have just heard a lot of pros and others talk about it.

[bgolfing]

You are exactly correct. With an arm only stroke throw all the sternum stuff out the door. The radius of the circle is now the left shoulder and alignments are kept with it.

Great Insight Pro!!!!

COnfused now about arm only. WHere should it point to?

[birdie_man]

COnfused now about arm only. WHere should it point to?

Arm only is like any other normal golf stroke....Low Point at l. shoulder.

For me, the shaft points at the sternum in the backswing and then not at all in the downswing.

Your hands reach the lowest point of the circle at your left shoulder (l. shoulder is centre of circle).

[EdZ]

Your hands reach the lowest point of the circle at your left shoulder (l. shoulder is centre of circle).

Your hands reach their farthest point away from 'center' at both arms straight, follow through.

The clubHEAD reaches its lowest point 'relative to the ground' at the left shoulder.

[birdie_man]

Your hands reach their farthest point away from 'center' at both arms straight, follow through.

Not sure what you mean Ed....? The radius is constant....length of straight left arm.

The clubHEAD reaches its lowest point 'relative to the ground' at the left shoulder.

Ya that's what I was talkin about.

Stand in front of a mirror- hands are the lowest at l. shoulder.

[birdie_man]

You are exactly correct. With an arm only stroke throw all the sternum stuff out the door. The radius of the circle is now the left shoulder and alignments are kept with it.

Great Insight Pro!!!!

Haha ever cool. Thanks vj.

...

I guess that would explain why I putted so much better when I switched to a right forearm driven stroke....

The stroke was essentially the same in its alignments.....everything.....just used to use my shoulders (and inevitably some right arm in there too).

[vj]

The line that points to the sternum (spine) or left shoulder is easily seen on video.....but I can definitely see where anyone could get confused without the aid of video. So....don't worry about it. Concentrate that energy on the SPL, HINGING, and LAG PRESSURE FOR FEEL.