Dave Pelz putting method

[nickwbryant]

Hi all

I have just read Dave Pelz's Putting Bible. Interesting book and well worth a read. I love his methodical and logical way of describing things. One thing however i am really struggling on is his insistance that golfers can perform a true straight back and straight through stroke keeping the face square to the line at all times. He calls this a PIL stroke (pure in line).

Now i wish i could do this stroke as it makes real sense but no matter how i try, keeping the face square and not moving the putter slightly inside are impossible for me to do!

I'd like to give this method a go if i can do it so i am wondering if any of you use straight back and through and if so how you do it?

cheers

nick

[peter3]

Re: Dave Pelz putting method

I suppose you could force yourself to take the club straight back and straight forward if you really wanted to and didn't care how akward it feels?

Personally, I think it is better to use the stroke that comes most natural to you and that you can repeat consistently.

Consistency is actually the point in putting: if you can become consistent with your stroke, you can also teach yourself to hit the ball where and the distance you want it to go.

Once you learnt that you still need to learn to read the greens so you know where you want it to go.

BTW, I open and close the face when I putt.

[LowPost42]

Re: Dave Pelz putting method

For a straight back-straight through stroke, pretend to rock the baby.

When you see kids 'rock the baby', they move their arms only -their shoulders are still.

From a putting position, you can do the same thing. Some people call it turning the shoulders around the spine - but the key is to have flex in the arms, so that you can keep the putterhead low.

I personally putt this way. I have a slightly open stance, and stand quite upright, but I'm a straight back and straight through kind of guy. (And I have yet to read Dave's Putting book. His Short Game book was awesome! I'm re-reading it, and picking up new things).

[nickwbryant]

Re: Dave Pelz putting method

Cheers both of you - i read on some website yesterday that if you stand upright (as i do) its more natural to swing in an arc. Bending over makes it easier to swing straight back and through. trying it on my carpet last night confirmed it. I am undecided what to do as yet - but i desperately need to start making more putts if i am to start scoring lower.

Lowpost - i have got the short game bible - a great book. I thoroughly recommend the putting bible as well. Ignoring the stroke itself, there is tons of good info in there on putting.

nick

[doogkie]

Re: Dave Pelz putting method

i must choke on the green because on my carpet i cant miss a 10 foot cup, greens are about the same speed, i guess just being open out on a golf course is a little different, my putting has really improved with my new putter though

im a more open close guy, i can hit it has hard as i want and it still go straight, its like a miniature golf swing

[shootin4par]

Re: Dave Pelz putting method

in a normal putting stroke the hands roll open then closed, in this one you should feel as the hands roll closed then open. The reason this was is the best is because having the ball of 1/2 inch on the position has no effect, on an open closed stroke it makes a big difference. I use this method and the way I feel about my putting is if I see the right line, my ball will go on it. Only way I should miss a putt is misread or bad speed, this method has taken line out of the equasion.

[nickwbryant]

Re: Dave Pelz putting method

shootin4par - that is what encourages me to use this stroke - the fact that i am always putting on my aimline, regardless of ball position. However i don't want to feel i am manipulating my wrists - do you use a shorter putter for this stroke? in my tests i have found a shorter putter helps with the pendulum

nick