PuttingPosture

[Wolfman]

We all know the importance of rocking the shoulders in the putting stroke, but.....

How important is your posture, i know as long as the arms hang down under the shoulders etc

I have tried changing my posture slightly to a more upright style ( im 6ft tall ) and less rounded back

Still with the arms hanging under shoulders

It feels more precise although it also feels you are looking from a higher position down at the ball

So any comments, what is the best way in your opinion, crouched, or upright ( more like Tiger )

 

[One Planer]

I can honestly say I've never given any thought to my posture.

When I set up I make sure my eyes are over the ball and my elbows are tucked in.

I let the rest take care of its self and don't over-think it.

 

[jdchelsea]

Not all that long ago I came on here with putting woes. Bobmac said to post a video of my swing so he could take a look. When I viewed myself on video it seemed to me, and bob, that I was very crouched over so I made an effort to stand more upright and my putting over the last few months has improved quite a bit. How much of a difference my stance has made is debatable but it certainly feels more comfortable now which I suppose is half the battle with putting.

It's a very individual stroke in my opinion have a google at nicklaus putting and you'll see what I mean.

 

[Wolfman]

Not all that long ago I came on here with putting woes. Bobmac said to post a video of my swing so he could take a look. When I viewed myself on video it seemed to me, and bob, that I was very crouched over so I made an effort to stand more upright and my putting over the last few months has improved quite a bit. How much of a difference my stance has made is debatable but it certainly feels more comfortable now which I suppose is half the battle with putting.

It's a very individual stroke in my opinion have a google at nicklaus putting and you'll see what I mean.

Thanks for the reply

I have tinkered with my putting, happy with ball / eye line stroke but still struggled !

Changed my back posture as mentioned and the shoulder rock is far more controllered instead of my hunched feel

Can i ask how tall are you ?

I think your height makes a difference to putting posture

 

[One Planer]

I think your height makes a difference to putting posture

I'm not sure it does.

Take a look at his:

Tall guys:

Average:

Short:

Not a great deal of difference.... Apart from Simon Dyson

 

[Wolfman]

Actually those pictures are good examples as the top picture looks like his hands are not under his shoulders as he is bent over too far ?

This was exactly my old posture, since trying it more upright and using a 35" putter instead of my 34" it feels better ?

I have read that your hands should be under the shoulder line for the best shoulder rock motion / stable stroke ?

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I would argue that unlike pretty much every other shot in golf, there is less technique in putting, it's more about feel. All you have to do is have the clubhead moving along the chosen line at the correct pace for a couple of inches either side of the ball.
Find a stance that is comfortable for you then work on length and line :thup:

 

[duncan mackie]

I would argue that unlike pretty much every other shot in golf, there is less technique in putting, it's more about feel. All you have to do is have the clubhead moving along the chosen line at the correct pace for a couple of inches either side of the ball.

sounds like technique to me...

feel follows technique and, bluntly, is massively overrated within the putting environment.

most (amateurs) can't (don't) set up with the putter face square to the target, are out of control the minute the take away starts, and are better off playing black jack in a casino odds wise than any expectation that the putter will come back to the ball square and on line to the target.......

most claim that they misread the putt rather than a technique failure.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

duncan

which do you think is overrated, feel or technique?

 

[duncan mackie]

duncan

which do you think is overrated, feel or technique?

feel

it only becomes relevant once technique is mastered

whilst a +2 or better golfer might spend 4 hours a day for a few weeks hitting putts with his right hand to assist the development of 'feel' this will be after a year of 4 hours a day on more fundamental technique

put another way the mechanic will win every time - until he meets a mechanic with feel!

edit

I actually think that the development of putting grips that feel crap but contribute to the mechanical process contribute to this argument.

 

[Region3]

I'd say both are important.

Feel for distance and technique for the line.

 

[duncan mackie]

I'd say both are important.

Feel for distance and technique for the line.

please think about this statement - you can consistently deliver distance X in a non feedback situation so where does feel really come into it? clue - machines can be programed to do it!

 

[Region3]

please think about this statement - you can consistently deliver distance X in a non feedback situation so where does feel really come into it? clue - machines can be programed to do it!

So do you determine how far your backswing should be based on the distance of the putt before you hit it?

I personally just look at the distance then hit it without thinking about anything. I would class that more as feel than technique.

Could be why there are plenty of better putters than me?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Feel is inherent. You throw a ball or stone and know instinctively how far you have to chuck it. Its the same with chipping and putting. I think if you get a technique that is sound in terms of alignment and the blade is square at impact then the feel will come automatically

 

[duncan mackie]

Feel is inherent. You throw a ball or stone and know instinctively how far you have to chuck it. Its the same with chipping and putting. I think if you get a technique that is sound in terms of alignment and the blade is square at impact then the feel will come automatically

in this context I would tend to agree; so there's not a lot of work that can be done on it!

I have no issue with the concept of unconscious competence, as illustrated by Dr Bob in the left handed lob of a ball to a fellow player, and currently putt in his prescribed manner too = focus on a precise target, back to ball and hit it - let the subconscious do the work

However, the way I set out to achieve this is technique - and video shows just how flawed I can make this (and others honest). Putter open to target, taken back inside and closed through impact to correct (as an example). Resolving this can be worked on to significant benefit. Feel, in the context of the subconscious, cannot by definition be worked on. The more you do of anything the more your subconscious has to process with, but that's another matter too and beyond this simple discussion.

Improve the technique that the conscious works with and you are adding to the tool set that your subconscious capabilities will use too.