Dave Stockton's Secret?

[deronsizemore]

In the January 2010 issue of Golf Magazine, there's an article from a sports writer that took a lesson from Dave Stockton and Dave asked him what he thought should take the putter back to which the sports writer answered, "the right hand?"

He mentioned that Stockton gave him the "secret" as to what takes the putter back and swore him to secrecy.

Anyone know what this so called secret is?

[O.B. Right]

Unfortunately I don't know the secret but what a dumb thing to put in an article. "Secret Tips from Dave Stockton (that I can't tell you)" . ..wow . .let me run right out and buy that one!

[deronsizemore]

Yeah that's kind of what I thought too. I think there is some good information in the actual tips section though. This was just the article before the tips section in the magazine. The writer was talking about how much his putting improved from just one lesson with Dave Stockton but he wouldn't give away Dave's "secret." It then goes into the tips section where it shows how Dave recommends setting up to the the ball, holding the putter, etc, but it never does reveal the "secret" of what part of the body he believes should start the putting stroke.

[keb]

i have his book "Dave Stockton's Putt to Win." He states that after setup you then make a forward press - your hands move forward an inch or two laterally to the left toward the target - and almost simultaneously begin the backstroke."

[Vance87]

Well I guess it wouldn't be much of a secret if someone knew and told.

Keb, Mickelson does that, and I picked up on it awhile back and tried it a little. It basically delofts the putter a whole bunch but I found it distracting. I dunno.

[iammpspeer]

I was wondering the same thing after reading that article. There can only be a few choices to this answer imo.

Keb- He doesn't mention a "secret" or emphasize anything in his book that would blow your mind in regards to this thread would it?

[woodzie264]

i have his book "Dave Stockton's Putt to Win." He states that after setup you then make a forward press - your hands move forward an inch or two laterally to the left toward the target - and almost simultaneously begin the backstroke."

huh

; i do that already...i guess i need to focus on the basics since "the secret" hasn't brough my average below 1.7!

[keb]

Stockton does have heading for section on backstroke: "Backstroke - It Begins With A Forward Press" Stockton goes onto write that he also begins his backstroke with the application of slight pressure with the left overlapping index finger. Not sure what that does. Stockton doesn't label anything as a secret, but he does emphasize the forward press.

I

I was wondering the same thing after reading that article. There can only be a few choices to this answer imo.

[Nickynoodles]

Yea i have been doing the forward press for awhile now. I am a very good putter. I would have to say that putting is the best part of my game. If i was to state what part of my body starts my putting stroke i would say my left shoulder.. After i press and go to my backswing the first part of my body that flexes is my left shoulder, and then left bicep. If it wasnt for my un human like ability to drain 10+ footers on the regular my index would be a 10+

[jamo]

That Golf Magazine issue had a lot of contradicting putting tips, but the Stockton piece was lacking any tips, it just said what he did to "fix" Mickelson. I put that in quotes because he basically just told Mickelson to do everything he did 10 years ago when he could putt, sort of.

Correct me if i'm wrong but why couldn't Mickelson just video tape himself putting, i mean he works with Pelz?

[colin007]

dave stockton is the "golf whisperer"...

[DocWu1948]

My reading of that article was the author saying the secret was knowing what part of the body moves first to start a Stockton approved putting stroke. I recall they quoted Stockton saying something about the finger keying the stroke. So I am guessing that a successful stroke starts with the right index finger with steady hands at the bottom of a solid triangle.

Happy New Year.




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