Putting Posture Question

[gel mibson]

i'm 5"11 with a 34" toe-hang blade putter (fitted with an arcing stroke).  i have very wide shoulders. my natural, "loose", posture rounds my shoulders inward (picture 1) and is most comfortable.  i've also tried putting with "good posture" where i keep my shoulders back (like i'm position to do a lat pulldown) and my arms are basically stuck to my rib cage (picture 2).  this way is a little uncomfortable due to my wide upper body though i do think it provides the most stability when rocking the shoulders.  i've been going back and forth between the two, tho i'm not sure which one i should commit to.  any advice?

also, what muscle starts the backswing? is it the trail shoulder pulling up or the lead shoulder pushing down or a combination of both?

Edited September 14, 2021 by gel mibson

[iacas]

Who says picture 2 is "good" posture?

Also, I think the shoulders don't do a lot of work in the putting stroke. It's more about the elbows.

[gel mibson]

21 hours ago, iacas said:

Who says picture 2 is "good" posture?

Also, I think the shoulders don't do a lot of work in the putting stroke. It's more about the elbows.

Yea it’s not a good picture lol. It’s supposed to signify that my shoulders are back, which causes your elbows to naturally hang next to your rib cage. 

[iacas]

1 hour ago, gel mibson said:

Yea it’s not a good picture lol. It’s supposed to signify that my shoulders are back, which causes your elbows to naturally hang next to your rib cage. 

That's not my point: who says "having your shoulders back" is good putting posture?

[ChetlovesMer]

39 minutes ago, iacas said:

That's not my point: who says "having your shoulders back" is good putting posture?

I don't think he's saying having your shoulders back is good putting posture. I think he's saying having your shoulders back is good posture, just in life. Kind of like wearing one of those posture improving devices that pulls your shoulders back and prevents rounded shoulders. 

I think his question could have been worded better by just asking "What does good putting posture look like?" 

[gel mibson]

14 minutes ago, ChetlovesMer said:

I don't think he's saying having your shoulders back is good putting posture. I think he's saying having your shoulders back is good posture, just in life. Kind of like wearing one of those posture improving devices that pulls your shoulders back and prevents rounded shoulders. 

I think his question could have been worded better by just asking "What does good putting posture look like?" 

Yes thank you for the assist. Good posture as in the proper line your spine makes with your shoulders back as well as your neck properly aligned. 

[mdl]

I'd say that in general history shows there's not a single best putting posture/mechanics. Though of course there are wrong things.

[gel mibson]

23 hours ago, iacas said:

Who says picture 2 is "good" posture?

Also, I think the shoulders don't do a lot of work in the putting stroke. It's more about the elbows.

Sorry I’m confused. How do your elbows bear the load when it’s just a joint, not a muscle? Some muscle group has to be engaged to initiate the backswing. 
 

Care to elaborate? I’m a new golfer so the probability i will misinterpret your succinct reply is pretty high. I understand your elbow position plays an important role (bowing out vs tucking them in) and I’ve tinkered with a combination of both yet still ending up with mixed results.

15 minutes ago, mdl said:

I'd say that in general history shows there's not a single best putting posture/mechanics. Though of course there are wrong things.

From all my research and analysis that’s what I’ve concluded too. Seems like putting has several different philosophies compared to a regular golf swing. I’ve tried several methods and am a bit frustrated that one hasn’t felt consistent or “right” for me yet.

[iacas]

29 minutes ago, gel mibson said:

Sorry I’m confused. How do your elbows bear the load when it’s just a joint, not a muscle? Some muscle group has to be engaged to initiate the backswing. 

• Shoulders not retracted or "back" at all.
• Elbows bent slightly at your sides.
• Move your arm so your elbow orbits around your body, back and through.
• The sternum doesn't move much at all.

[billchao]

46 minutes ago, gel mibson said:

Yes thank you for the assist. Good posture as in the proper line your spine makes with your shoulders back as well as your neck properly aligned. 

You’re bent over with a club in your hands. Why would good upright posture apply to golf?

[Vinsk]

2 hours ago, mdl said:

I'd say that in general history shows there's not a single best putting posture/mechanics. Though of course there are wrong things.

[Never3putt]

Nothing wrong with that, in my book!  😄 

[billchao]

2 hours ago, Vinsk said:

I still don’t know how she putt like that. It hurts my back just thinking about it.

[gel mibson]

• Shoulders not retracted or "back" at all.
• Elbows bent slightly at your sides.
• Move your arm so your elbow orbits around your body, back and through.
• The sternum doesn't move much at all.

 

- thank you iacas, exactly what i was looking for. 

Edited September 17, 2021 by gel mibson

[gel mibson]

On 9/15/2021 at 4:55 PM, billchao said:

You’re bent over with a club in your hands. Why would good upright posture apply to golf?

never mentioned being upright at all, so you tell me? good body posture is keeping your neck/shoulders/back aligned straight which is achieved by pushing your neck back with chin tucked in and retracting your shoulder blades (aka not rounding them forward). the butt of your putter will be much closer to your body vs if you round your shoulders. 

[saevel25]

51 minutes ago, gel mibson said:

good body posture is keeping your neck/shoulders/back aligned straight which is achieved by pushing your neck back with chin tucked in and retracting your shoulder blades (aka not rounding them forward).

Umm... Not really.. 

Rounding the upper back is good posture in both the golf swing and putting. You do not want to be retracting your shoulder blades either in the golf swing or putting. 

 

 

 

[billchao]

7 hours ago, gel mibson said:

never mentioned being upright at all, so you tell me? good body posture is keeping your neck/shoulders/back aligned straight which is achieved by pushing your neck back with chin tucked in and retracting your shoulder blades (aka not rounding them forward).

You misunderstood. Why would good posture in daily life apply to putting?

7 hours ago, gel mibson said:

the butt of your putter will be much closer to your body vs if you round your shoulders. 

Without even getting into whether you want the butt of the club closer to you or not, you can protract and retract your shoulders while leaving the handle in basically the same position.

[gel mibson]

10 hours ago, saevel25 said:

Umm... Not really.. 

Rounding the upper back is good posture in both the golf swing and putting. You do not want to be retracting your shoulder blades either in the golf swing or putting. 

just a little disclaimer: i'm really new to golf, but i've done a lot of homework researching techniques and theories (reason why i created this thread).  some say, you should pinch your shoulders back so your elbows are tucked in your rib cage while others say to naturally let your arms hang.  i just haven't been able to clearly find something that works for me yet