Just a little putting fix, that I discovered today, that I thought might be of interest to others.

I used to have a lot of trouble starting the back swing when I putt. I could not get the right feel for the takeaway. The result was that I would freeze over the putt until I could get the right feel in my hands for the takeaway.

Today I found the answer to this putting paralysis. It was simply a case of not grounding the club. Just keeping the weight of the club entirely off the ground gave me the right feel in the hands for an easy relaxed back swing. How easy is that?

Great fix, Jack

Funny thing is, it’s only ever a problem when I’m under pressure. Any other time, it isn’t a problem. Figure that out.

Jack
What you have discovered is a method to control the club and ensure a smooth takeaway, without a pickup and snatch takeaway. I would be surprised if it turned out to be a cure for what ails you in a game situation.

It sure does Razaar. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother to mention it. Before, I was totally focused on trying to start the backswing. Now I am totally focused on the target line.

Been there and done that. The cure for me was using the fingers to hold the club and keep the putter face square, while other body parts moved the putter and the hands. I worked out that involving the hands as a source of motive power as well as control caused a conflict. Training another part of the body to be the motive power for the stroke solved my problem of hands overload.

Supporting the weight of the golf club in the hands on all shots gives the player control of the club and makes it easier to employ larger muscles to power the stroke/ shot. But the brain needs to know and be trained to operate those other muscles. That is why visualisation works. It gets the muscles prepared and ready to go.

But the brain needs to know and be trained to operate those other muscles. That is why visualisation works. It gets the muscles prepared and ready to go.

That’s why I find looking at the hole (or target line) so effective when putting.

It sure does Razaar. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother to mention it. Before, I was totally focused on trying to start the backswing. Now I am totally focused on the target line.

Control is doing the shortest possible stroke to make the shot.

Jack Golfer

I am enjoying your input to this forum very much, including those previous posts of yours on Brownman’s thread. Keep it going and thanks again!! Alan

Must be the season for compliments. Thanks Chinaalan, glad to hear that someone is reading my posts.

But the brain needs to know and be trained to operate those other muscles. That is why visualisation works. It gets the muscles prepared and ready to go.

That’s why I find looking at the hole (or target line) so effective when putting.

Control is doing the shortest possible stroke to make the shot.

Is that your version of visualisation, Jack ? Good putting requires COG to COG contact with putter face and ball. Can you do that consistently looking at the target during the stroke in competition?

Good point Razaar, it’s OK on medium to short putts because I use a very short backswing. Long putts I sometimes prefer to look at the ball.

I often practice putting with eyes closed

looking at the ball makes people freeze a bit

On shorter putts i like to grip the club quite high, so it feels like more weight in the club naturally filtering the yips…works pretty good

On shorter putts i like to grip the club quite high, so it feels like more weight in the club naturally filtering the yips…works pretty good

More tigerish than a wounded TIGER

But do you still ground the putter?

No slightly off the ground