Some golfers like a long lazy putting stroke. Others, a short tap in. Some prefer an in-to-in stroke with an exaggerated arc (good luck to them) while still others prefer as straight-back-straight-through a stroke as possible (given the inevitable rotation of the two linked arms about the human spine).
The advantage of a straight-back-straight-through stroke is that it is as simple as connecting a pool ball with a cue, and lets the ball run true and straight. Regardless of preferences, the point being missed is where should the shoulder, elbow and wrist joints, especially of the trail arm be to facilitate whatever stroke is desired? They can make or break the actual stroke. No-one has ever considered this aspect of the putting stroke.
PGA Tour star Jimmy Walker.
Watching Jimmy Walker putt this morning, realized that perhaps very few of even the leading golf professionals truly use any science in their games. Walker stood on the practice green making so many putts from just this position that even a casual observer was overheard commenting, “what is he trying to achieve by making so many short putts from the same place, is he trying to memorize the movement?”
Anatomically, his trail shoulder is protracted and forward of his trail toes at and past impact, so that he has an “over-the-top-of-the-ball” movement of his putter. The result? He will always have to make a precise manipulation across the ball to get the direction he needs. It is easy enough to make repetitive manipulations while using the “security blanket” of the stick as a guideline. What happens out on the golf course, especially under pressure? The manipulation might be too little or too much.
How can he rely on making the same amount of across-the-line-ness every time? A small pre-swing adjustment of his trunk would position Walker in a much more reliable starting position with no need to worry about trying to make any change in the stroke itself.
Kiran Kanwar,
- Developer of The Minimalist Golf Swing System -100% scientific, simple and specific
- BS (physics, math); MS (sports science, nutrition); PhD (biomechanics – student)
- Class A Member: the LPGA, The PGA (GB&I), The NGA of India, The PGA of India
