Tweet
In Dave Pelz’s book (page 352)[1], he describes the problem and solutions to putting down hill to the hole. The problem is: “how to take speed out of putts.” He gives two solutions: (1) hitting ball with toe of club, and (2) gripping down on the club shaft.
A solution is given here based holding the club with forward arm and swinging it just like a pendulum. Pelz states (p 50) the pendulum stroke as: (“…the simplest, easiest, most repeatable, most reliable, and therefore best way to putt—And that’s why is the method I recommend most often to my students.“)
A pendulum: (1) swings in a vertically plane, (2) with a small angle of defection from vertical, and (3) with a fixed period of oscillation. Try this demonstration of pendulum motion with your forward arm.
1) Lean forward and let your arms hang down loosely in front of you. Your forward shoulder muscles should be perfectly relaxed.
2) Now, with your rear hand, take a hold of your forward wrist and move it back (say 10 inches).
3) Release the forward arm so that it can swing back to forward.
Your arm should oscillate freely several times before the damped motion ceases.
Long Putter Used as Pendulum
Normally, the long putter top is held against the chest with hand of the forward arm, while the hand of rear arm holds the lower grip. The arm putter is (1) held by the forward hand on the lower grip, (2) held tucked under the forward arm and nestled in the arm pit, (3) initially moved straight back from its vertical position by the rear hand that is gripping the shaft above the forward hand, and (4) allowed to swing forward, along with the forward arm, with near true pendulum motion when rear hand releases its hold.
Standard Putter Used as Pendulum
Normally, the standard putter is held with two hands and the address to the ball is made with the ball on a line that’s approximately midway between the feet. When the putter is used as a pendulum, it’s held with the forward arm with the forefinger extended down the shaft. By pressing back with the finger, the top of the club will press firmly against the inside of the arm. The arm and club will then swing as a unit. Test out the pendulum action starting by standing erect and holding the club by your side. With the arm allowed to swing freely, bend forward from the waist until the club head rests on the ground. The ball should be placed on the ground ahead of the club face. The procedure continues with step (3) using the long putter as pendulum.
Putting Green Practice
For pendulum putter practice on the putting green, start by imagining a clock face position with its center at the hole and the 12-6 o’clock direction in the straight downhill direction.. for downhill, start practice with initial ball position at 12 o’clock by pacing off 2 steps (about 5 ft) from the hole Use initial ball speeds such that it passes the hole (if allowed) by an optimum 17 inches. Practice this routine also from the 1, 2, 10, and 11 o’clock positions.
[1] Dave Pelz, Dave Pelz’s Putting Bible, Doubleday, 2000
A solution is given here based holding the club with forward arm and swinging it just like a pendulum. Pelz states (p 50) the pendulum stroke as: (“…the simplest, easiest, most repeatable, most reliable, and therefore best way to putt—And that’s why is the method I recommend most often to my students.“)
A pendulum: (1) swings in a vertically plane, (2) with a small angle of defection from vertical, and (3) with a fixed period of oscillation. Try this demonstration of pendulum motion with your forward arm.
1) Lean forward and let your arms hang down loosely in front of you. Your forward shoulder muscles should be perfectly relaxed.
2) Now, with your rear hand, take a hold of your forward wrist and move it back (say 10 inches).
3) Release the forward arm so that it can swing back to forward.
Your arm should oscillate freely several times before the damped motion ceases.
Long Putter Used as Pendulum
Normally, the long putter top is held against the chest with hand of the forward arm, while the hand of rear arm holds the lower grip. The arm putter is (1) held by the forward hand on the lower grip, (2) held tucked under the forward arm and nestled in the arm pit, (3) initially moved straight back from its vertical position by the rear hand that is gripping the shaft above the forward hand, and (4) allowed to swing forward, along with the forward arm, with near true pendulum motion when rear hand releases its hold.
Standard Putter Used as Pendulum
Normally, the standard putter is held with two hands and the address to the ball is made with the ball on a line that’s approximately midway between the feet. When the putter is used as a pendulum, it’s held with the forward arm with the forefinger extended down the shaft. By pressing back with the finger, the top of the club will press firmly against the inside of the arm. The arm and club will then swing as a unit. Test out the pendulum action starting by standing erect and holding the club by your side. With the arm allowed to swing freely, bend forward from the waist until the club head rests on the ground. The ball should be placed on the ground ahead of the club face. The procedure continues with step (3) using the long putter as pendulum.
Putting Green Practice
For pendulum putter practice on the putting green, start by imagining a clock face position with its center at the hole and the 12-6 o’clock direction in the straight downhill direction.. for downhill, start practice with initial ball position at 12 o’clock by pacing off 2 steps (about 5 ft) from the hole Use initial ball speeds such that it passes the hole (if allowed) by an optimum 17 inches. Practice this routine also from the 1, 2, 10, and 11 o’clock positions.
[1] Dave Pelz, Dave Pelz’s Putting Bible, Doubleday, 2000