Breaking the Average Barrier - Part 4

As I continue to compare average performances on the putting greens with an exceptional ones, rarely do I hear comments about the quality of the putting stroke. More often I hear comments about the ability to see or predict the path of the putt, "I could really see the line today." Or a comment like, “ I had a good feel for the greens today.” You can call this aspect of putting a number of things. Read, visualization, decision making, and many more are accurate descriptions of the pre-putt process. Being an old guy, I prefer the term visualization, as that is the phrase that my mentors used to describe the process. So for the sake of this discussion let's use that term.

As I was taught, visualization is a two part process. First part, the ability to “see or picture” the path the ball will travel as I calibrate the texture of the grass and the influence of the slopes. The second part is the ability to “feel” how much effort will be required to match what I see. Think of this combination, as a complete rehearsal of the upcoming event in your head. 

The secret of visualization is the ability to match what you see to how it will feel. 

As every player and every putt form a unique combination, there is no possible “one size fits all” solution to this problem. The following are some thought provokers on how to build your visualization strategy.

As you process the requirements of the putt, how do apply the conclusions to your choice of direction? 

    For example do you see the direction of the putt in a linear manner, or straight line to a point left or right of the hole? Or do you see the putt as a curved path from start to finish. Or do you see it as a combination of both. 

How do you create speed with the putter? 
Do you regulate the effort based on the strike,  or the length of the stroke, or do you change the rhythm of your stroke to increase or decrease the tempo. (BTW the latter is a very successful technique that has been coached out of many strategies)

How do you process the distance the ball must travel?
Do you do it numerically? Where the effort is calibrated to a number. Much like I would with a full swing club.

Do you process it visually? Do I putt to a mental picture. Or do I look at the hole when I putt. 

How do you transfer the process of defining distance to a feel?
Mentally - A subconscious effort?
Physically - Practice strokes?

These are some of many questions I ask in my sessions online or face to face. Each answer produces the next question. It is interesting how these understandings lead to answers of mechanical problems much like a discussion of mechanical issues help visualization skills. The key point is they are not separate. Feel or mechanics have to match visualization or decision process. 

Online Program Updates.

I have been fortunate to have had a number of inquiries recently pertaining to my live instruction and online lessons. I would like to publicly express my gratitude for the opportunity to work with players and instructors from all over the world. 

The following describes the two online programs I offer.

The fee for an online lesson is $250.00. It consists of 4 parts.

1. We find the appropriate distance from the ball and and the proper ball position that helps you aim and perceive the target accurately. 
2. Based on the length of your arms as they relate to your height, we find the posture that keeps you in a balanced position over the ball. These first two are tied closely together and the discussion is interchangeable. 
3. Once the set up is decided, we build the stroke mechanics that best suit the requirements of the ball position. This is where I differ from the industry. I build each stroke to match ball position, where most adjust ball position to the movement. 
4. Finally, we look at the putter and question whether it compliments or interferes with the first 3 decisions.

I consider strategic decisions and speed control issues a different lesson, as we can’t really have that discussion without an understanding of the first.  Same fees apply.  

Obviously, this takes some time. The fee covers the time required, with no additional charges. We work at your pace. 

The second is the unlimited program. There is a onetime fee of $1000.00. It is a comprehensive look at my system and how we make the 4 decisions and how those decisions apply to strategic decisions. This program puts me on a retainer. I use FaceTime, video and text to walk you through the system. It includes a course 490 page course guide to use a reference.  The guide is updated occasionally and all updates are included. Should we have the opportunity to meet face to face, as a participant of the unlimited program there is no charge. It also includes all Zoom open forum meetings, we plan to start after the first of the year. 

You can reach me through the contact page, I normally respond quickly and will include all contact information in the reply.

Golf Improvement Podcast

Click the image to listen to the interview.

Recently, I was listening to a broadcast where a putting instructor was describing the reason his client made a recent putter change. I was having a challenging time following the reasoning. With my online work, the first thing I usually do is build a model of the player, this allows me to adjust on the model rather than having to ask the player to experiment. If I make this adjustment to the model how would that influence the stroke? So, I built a model to help me think it through.

Please understand that I offer this as an example of how I analyze a putting stroke and it in no way is intended to contradict or criticize someone else’s take on the situation. 

This is the model of the player. The purple line is a reference to balance over the feet from heel to toe. The angle of red line and black line helps me understand how far the player is from the ball. The black line happens to be under the eyes in this case, which is not always true. Each model will differ. The grey arrow helps me understand the plane of motion, defined by the source and sequence of motion. There are three basic source categories and successful examples of each. Core/Shoulder rotation, Shoulder Joints and Arm swing, or hands swing, and body reacts. The coach defined the stroke as a core/shoulder source. 

The problem as he described it was an excessive rotation of the putter head, which created an open face at impact and a push miss. So, if you ask, “Why would this model have more rotation than would be required to keep the putter in a consistent position relative to the path?”; the answer would be found in an examination of the shoulder blades relative to the ball or the purple arrow. Anytime the grey arrow is above the red distance angle, and the shoulders activate the motion, we see more rotation than is required, assuming no other manipulation of the putter. You might comment that the shoulder joints could move on a vertical rocking motion, but in that case the head would move forward on the back swing and away from the target on the forward swing. He doesn't move his head. Given this player’s level of success the argument could be made that the putter is doing exactly what it is supposed to do. Tiger Woods has done very well with more rotation than required. The argument for this player could be made that the problem is not as much the extra rotation in the backswing, as it is the lack of release, or forward swing rotation. So why does he block?

For most if not all, of the best strokes we have analyzed, we see a common theme, the base of the neck over the tips of the toes as shown below. The reason this is important is quite simple. 

When the player is tilted too far toward the ball, 

like the model, they get stuck and can’t finish the stroke.  

Now the discussion becomes, does the player push because of too much rotation, or does the push come because he can’t finish the stroke when he leans into the ball?

My solution if I was ever asked would be to keep the putter you have, stop leaning into the tips of your toes and let the putter swing. Your rotation through the ball might be the best part of your putting stroke.