Hanging putter and path.

[trickyputt]

I looked up some old threads discussing the idea of grounding vs hovering a putter before the stroke. I was on the point because I am searching for a natural way to stroke a consistent and path through the ball. My tendency is to inside out or outside in. I think this is because of the distance from the ball in my setup. I am trying to incorporate gravity into my setup, as it pulls the head to a certain place, and my hands, arms, etc stop the head from grounding. I can drop 15 footers on the practice felt in my den, but I am sure its a home field advantage. Is this idea ever used? I want to separate this idea from my idea of what hovering might be..a picking up of the club..which bends my arms into a position I find very inconsistent.

[dchoye]

I tend to ground my putter and most of my wedge shots around the green with the exception sand lob type shots, where I will start by gripping when the face is wide open and  hovering off the ground.

Otherwise I like to start by gripping my putter with it grounded, then lifting off the ground . i tend to sometimes bounce my putter for longer putts. I would say that for my short putts particularly the uphill firm ones I dont like the" idea of lifting to feel gravity" and try to avoid the lifting of the putter. I feel more confident making those if I keep the putter head sole low to the ground and forward press and feel I'm "dragging" the putter along my intended line without scuffing the green.

[MS256]

I ground all of my clubs unless I'm in a hazard and the rules won't let me do it. Damn rules and hazards. ;-) Seriously, the look of the putter being completely stationary with the lines on the putter on my target line is pretty important to me. If I hover the putter I can see it moving no matter how still I try to be and just don't like the look of it.

[trickyputt]

I dont like the" idea of lifting to feel gravity" and try to avoid the lifting of the putter.

Yes I dont like that lifting either. This is actually going down as far as it can. Think about me with a putter 1/2" too short. [quote name="MS256" url="/t/77582/hanging-putter-and-path#post_1064638"] If I hover the putter I can see it moving no matter how still I try to be and just don't like the look of it.[/quote] Me too. This is what I am working against, so if my putter is not too long and just hangs, AND is fitted, which is a big part of this, I seem stable. Its kinda hard to explain, but the weight of the head has to just lay there, in the dead bottom center of my swing.

[saevel25]

I ground my putter. I was never a fan of hovering the golf club.

[boogielicious]

I only hover my putter when I am off the green in light rough.  I do it to prevent scraping the ground and losing club head speed.  It may help @trickyputt if you posted a video of your putting in the Member Swings area.  It could be just a simple change to your set up.

[vangator]

Jack is a hoverer. I try to hover when I remember. There are too many thoughts in my head to remember them all.

[trickyputt]

I only hover my putter when I am off the green in light rough.  I do it to prevent scraping the ground and losing club head speed.  It may help @trickyputt if you posted a video of your putting in the Member Swings area.  It could be just a simple change to your set up.

That is an interesting idea. I think I will.

[RH31]

I try to lightly sole or barely hover the putter off the ground right before I stroke it. I'll often very lightly tap the putter on the ground to get that feeling. When I'm putting well, I can feel the weight of the putter head in my hands before I start my stroke. I know that when I have the putter off the ground I can swing the putter smoothly through the stroke. If I sole the putter too heavily, I tend  pick it up to start the stroke and the blade is usually off line at that point.

[trickyputt]

I try to lightly sole or barely hover the putter off the ground right before I stroke it. I'll often very lightly tap the putter on the ground to get that feeling. When I'm putting well, I can feel the weight of the putter head in my hands before I start my stroke. I know that when I have the putter off the ground I can swing the putter smoothly through the stroke. If I sole the putter too heavily, I tend  pick it up to start the stroke and the blade is usually off line at that point.

The transitions of momentum you describe are what I am seeking to control by giving up control. It sounds weird, but its a game of opposites.

[dchoye]

Was practicing my putting and notice that I like to bounce the putter as I'm walking to my ball For certain draw biasis breaking putts I tend to tap the toe of the putter Not sure why.

[dchoye]

been practicing putting mostly and also aware that I like to walk around with the putter like it's a walking cane holding with more of an arched wrist. I notice some guys holding the putter up like they know how to plumb bob might be hanging the putter to feel gravity?

[trickyputt]

What are those white things piled in that hole? Actually measured the felt at 14' so those putts were from 12' not 15 like I was thinking. The dog ate more off the end of the old 9 foot felt than I realized when I joined it with the new one. So no grounding. I am popping and bopping and waggling until it settles into my hands and behind the ball. Everything people say dont do. I did find out my phone camera has slow motion. So vids are in the works. Thats my Scotty on the felt, but I have been gaming a seemore and a metalx 7cs. I will be interested to see how they hang differently etc etc.

[MS256]

What are those white things piled in that hole?

[dchoye]

Was practicing my putting and notice that I like to bounce the putter as I'm walking to my ball For certain draw biasis breaking putts I tend to tap the toe of the putter Not sure why.

Been thinking why I do this. I like to align the putter shaft to my right forearm for longer putts but for shorter putts I tend to "bounce" the putter on the ground so I lose the alignment to the forearm and line up the putter face to the back of my hand and thumb

[MS256]

Been thinking why I do this. I like to align the putter shaft to my right forearm for longer putts but for shorter putts I tend to "bounce" the putter on the ground so I lose the alignment to the forearm and line up the putter face to the back of my hand and thumb

It's interesting how different people use different ways to align a putter. I would probably miss every putt if I thought about aligning my putter to anything on my body.

I simply "see" the line between my ball and an intermediate spot. If no decent spot is available I just have to do my best at visualizing the line.

I do align my toe-line parallel to the putting line and then let my putter rest on the ground with the lines on the putter on the putting line, relax, and pull the trigger.

Hovering the putter or moving it around would be akin to shooting my rifle while standing without a rest. I can do it if I have to but prefer some sort of rest or brace for my best shooting.