Fundamentals of Putting

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• Main Menu
• Overview
• The Mechanics of Putting
• Diagnostics and Observation
• Putter Fitting
• The Grip
• Ball Position
• Setup and Alignment
• Lock and Rock
• Swing Plane
• Rhythm
• Eye Movement
• Pre-Shot Routine
• Pre-Shot Routine Template
• Green Reading
• Wind Effects on the Green
• Practice Drills
• Rhythm Drills
• Distance Control Drills
• Eye Movement Drills
• Speed Control Drills
• Pressure Putting Drills
• Before You Play
• Linking the FOP with the Mechanics
• ASSESSMENT

Swing Plane

As discussed before, the putting stroke is a single -plane swing, with the plane inclined at about 10 degrees from vertical. It should be explained to the student that this is a plane established by basic physiology and geometry.

If the pivot point of the swing is between the shoulder blades, and a one-piece move is made, the putter head and the pivot point define the plane of the swing. The hands, arms and putter shaft are all moving in parallel planes to the pivot and putter head plane. As a result, the putter head will follow an arc rising and falling from ground level. In addition, because the putter head is moving along an inclined plane, the putter face will open and close relative to the target line. However, because the putter head, hands, arms, wrists, etc ., are all moving in parallel planes and as a single unit, there is no rotation of the wrists or club face in these parallel planes. This is important to convey to the student so that he/she does not consciously try to open and close the face during the swing but rather just swings the head in the plane and lets the opening and closing happen naturally.

One way to demonstrate this phenomenon is to stand as if you were addressing a putt and hang your arm vertically down so the palm is facing due left (along an imaginary target line). Now move your arm up in a vertical plane away from the target. Note that your palm will continue to point down at the target line throughout this arm movement. The hand has not rotated relative to the arm because the plane in which it is moving is vertical, the palm will always point at a line on the ground which is pointing at the target.

Unfortunately, we do not swing the putter head in a vertical plane, which would require that the putter head and eyes be in this plane and that the axis of rotation also be directly above the putter head. Such an approach would be very difficult and would require movements that would only introduce additional complications and sources of error.

Now have the student take the correct posture and move the arm so that it is hanging down but inclined at about 10 degrees short of vertical, with the palm facing the target line. When the arm is moved backward along this 10-degree inclined plane away from the target, the palm will start to point to the right of the target line on the ground, but the wrist has not rotated relative to the arm.

Now have the student grip a putter and take the same stance. The student should imagine a clear, flat piece of rigid plastic tilted at about 10 degrees, with his/her head and shoulders penetrating through a hole in the plastic sheet. The plane of the sheet passes through the student’s spine at a point between the shoulder blades. The putter head is touching the plastic sheet, with the putter face perpendicular to the plane of the sheet .

Now as a single unit – arms, hands, wrists and shoulders locked as if one piece -- the student should rock his/her shoulders back and forth all parallel to the inclined plane. The student will then understand by simply imagining the putter head staying on plane during the stroke that there is no wrist rotation relative to the plane needed to deliver the putter face to the correct orientation at impact. Rather, the face of the putter opens and closes relative to the horizontal plane (the ground) as it moves through the arc pivoting around the spine between the shoulder blades.

Knowing that all one needs to do is stay in this plane and not break or rotate the wrists will resolve numerous problems with the putting stroke. It is a very natural stroke and a simple one - piece movement.

Once the swing plane has been perfected (or at least improved to a point where it is acceptable), then one needs to align the plane such that the putter head path and face angle are oriented correctly at the target at impact.

Adjustments to this can be made by realigning the plane left or right of the target.

The in-plane swing (or as close to it as the student can get in one lesson) is a prerequisite to teaching the next fundamental: Rhythm.