The Shoulders and Putting

[DarkPrince]

How does one isolate the shoulders when working on the putting stroke?  I've been working on my putting for a few months over the off season, and I'm struggling to make sure that I'm using my shoulders and not just my arms (actually this is my concern throughout my whole swing).  I can't quite figure out how to make sure that I'm not using my forearms/wrists, and that I'm really using the upper body.  I've been working with one of the Z-factors, but catch myself just using my arms from time to time without realizing it. Has my stroke/contact improved? Considerably, but sometimes I think my wrists still creep in and send the ball in some other direction.

[johnthejoiner]

What i try and work on is pressing my upper arms into my rib cage, it stops my arms taking over my swing

[Sean Dainty]

What I try and do is to keep my elbows wide so that you are forced to use your shoulders more. Another thing to ensure is that your forearms are horizontally aligned - meaning that if you were looking directly down the line behind you, you wouldn't be able to see the front forearm.

Hope that helps.

[dsc123]

Originally Posted by Sean Dainty

What I try and do is to keep my elbows wide so that you are forced to use your shoulders more.

I do the same; keep the elbows flared out.  I exaggerate it in practice to ingrain the feel of the shoulder turn.  On the course i still keep the elbows out, but not as much.  its a bit awkward.

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

Originally Posted by dsc123

I do the same; keep the elbows flared out.  I exaggerate it in practice to ingrain the feel of the shoulder turn.  On the course i still keep the elbows out, but not as much.  its a bit awkward.

+1 for me.  Keeping the elbows flared out puts the motion in the shoulders.  What's left is making sure you take the hands out, which I do by using a very weak left-hand grip, and a very strong right-hand grip (reverse for left-handers).  The wrists really don't want to get involved when you're gripping the club this way.

-Andrew

[sean_miller]

Since I move to a right hand dominant (almost one handed) stroke this sort of stuff isn't in the equation. Pick my line and whap!

[lumpuckeroo]

Originally Posted by DarkPrince

How does one isolate the shoulders when working on the putting stroke?  I've been working on my putting for a few months over the off season, and I'm struggling to make sure that I'm using my shoulders and not just my arms (actually this is my concern throughout my whole swing).  I can't quite figure out how to make sure that I'm not using my forearms/wrists, and that I'm really using the upper body.  I've been working with one of the Z-factors, but catch myself just using my arms from time to time without realizing it. Has my stroke/contact improved? Considerably, but sometimes I think my wrists still creep in and send the ball in some other direction.

I putt left hand low, then my only thought is to push they left shoulder back.  Also, with the left hand low you can't break down the left wrist which doesn't let the right hand wrist break down either.  If you can't make a swing with the wrist the only thing left is to turn with the shoulders, you might consider changing to that grip or drill with that grip, good luck.

[TheGoIfer]

Read Stan Utley's book on putting.  It's awesome.

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Putting-Revolutionary-Feel-Based-Improving/dp/159240202X

[saevel25]

My set up is simple,

My grip is my normal grip i use for all shots, i like it for putting. My alignment is parallel to my target line, so railroad tracks. So i set up square the whole way. I take a pretty athletic stance, though my knees are not as flexed as they are in my normal swing. I like having them a bit straighter. My eyes are just on the inside of the ball, not over top of it. Now my hands at set up are just ahead of the ball. I maintain that position through the stroke. This forces me to use my shoulders only. I gotten pretty good at quieting my arm muscles to were there just used to maintain a consistant stroke.

I think i am an arc back arc to impact than straighter down the down type of putter, maybe a slight arc past the ball. All i know is that i got it fined tune down for it to be consistant.

[Mark5]

I suggest getting a feel for the extremes. Since your not sure if your using your hands......Putt using ONLY the wrists/hands.  What does it feel like?

Instead of hitting the sweet spot, hit the toe, if your using your wrists, you will know.  (Wrist putting used to be considered the way to handle a slow green. Arnold Palmer is probably the most famous for it.)

All that matters when putting is to hole the ball. Some of golfing's greats had techniques that are considered bizarre.....but the ball goes in the hole.  Putting is the one part of golf you can do at home. I enjoy rug putting and enjoy messing around. Brush stroke....yip stroke...right handed...left handed...arms tight... arms loose... pendulum... wrist only....bent over...knees locked....

Google "Golf Pong".....