Putting / Chipping Version 2.0

The technique no longer follows the intent - use the big muscles for consistent accuracy. That one did not work for me, mainly because of misalignment errors introduced by it - as revealed by the theory of the "Isosceles Triangle" and corrected by the "Separation of Church and State".

The putting is MECHANICAL and the procedure now should be:

• While keeping the ball in front (perpendicular to the putting path) and looking at the hole ahead, do several practice putts to get the feel for the length of the putt and to feel the RHYTHM needed. Remember to think the ball rolling there to the target spot.
• Come back to the set-up spot with both feet together. Lay down the club with the "LEFT" hand square to the target (Ronald's tip).
• Read the putt, decide on the target spot on the green or the hole. Commit to the target by aligning the shoulders to the target line and opening the two feet.
  
• Bring the putter back with the SHOULDERS - "without" thinking about the target spot - execute the same rhythm felt and ...
  
• Without missing a beat, let the ARMS come back pendulum style to and through the ball - but the SHOULDERS MUST CONSCIOUSLY STAY where it was at the finish of the takeaway.

This technique makes my putt go straight to the aimed target spot. Here is how it works. My putts before always goes to the right of the target line. Using the theory of the Isosceles Triangle, what must be causing this is my lower body opens up before my upper body gets to the ball. Remember? When the lower body is ahead than the upper body, the hands cannot reach the point where they are equal at the points of impact. In order to correct my fault, I have to make a conscious effort to keep my upper body (the arms) hit earlier than my lower body - thus creating a straight putt (or a pull when compared to my previous technique).

This is the same technique for chipping.

Wind and Unwind

How big of a back swing will I do? How do I know when enough is enough?

One thing, as far as the back swing for old farts, there is no "enough" back swing. Go as much as you can. But what should you achieve for? I would say that when the right hand brings the club up, it should try to bring the club aligned with the plane. The shoulders should then wind up as much as possible - the club along the plane and the shoulders wrapping around the spine. The down swing should just feel like unwinding the shoulders. This should be automatic with no conscious steering - one way or the other.

How do we execute this wind and unwind technique? Well, one you have set up, where the club is left flat on the ground, the arms falling down straight to the grip, almost forming an "L", the right hand in control and dot on the muscle of the right hand is felt - then it is just a matter of looking at the plane and winding the shoulders parallel to it. This motion will bring the club along the plane automatically. Wind of the shoulders continues up to the desirec tautness.

The next is up to you. By the way, this is an extreme implementation of Hogan's plane.

How important is the L angle?

If it leads to shanks, it is priceless! I have this bad habit of straightening my arms in relation to the club shaft that when I forget, the resulting shanks will put me down miserably. Even if I know the correction, the feeling of insecurity pervades for a long time. I should explain this section better and with more detail.