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6
First of all, I will ask
you an important question and your answer will determine how I will teach
you. Is your goal to become a good
putter or to become an exceptional putter? Think carefully before you answer
because the path we take will not be the same.
Without really understanding the
true measure of the question and without realizing the impact of my answer, I
replied:
I enjoy a challenge;
therefore I choose to become an exceptional putter.
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9
For the majority of golfers putting
is composed of two elements: 50% physics and 50% observation. For an exceptional
putter it’s composed rather of three elements: 25% physics of the movement, 25%
subjective observation and 50% esoteric matter. This morning we will begin with
the physics of the movement.
His definition of the three necessary
elements to carry out a putt left me a little perplexed: subjective observation
was one thing but 50% esoteric matter?
What does
esoteric mean uncle?
We’re not there
yet. I will explain in time
Page 25
Once
I arrived at the house, even before opening a beer I was drawn to the
dictionary. I consulted my old
Webster and turned to page 478 finding the word esoteric: adj.
a) designed for or
understood by only a chosen few, b)
beyond the understanding or knowledge of most people. Wow! My jaw dropped, I was very
intrigued…
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19
the
rotation axis of your shoulders and the position of your left hand on the
putter( if right handed) are the keys to the square-back-and-square-through path
of the putter’s head.
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23
You must also understand
the work of your left side. Your
right side seems to be taking over on the forward stroke. When you dance with your girlfriend who
leads?
I do.
Would you say she’s a better dancer than
you are?
Absolutely, she makes me look
good.
You’ve said it
all. When putting you are the left
side and your girlfriend is the right side. Your left side and that includes your
left hand, must remain in motion and active all the way, otherwise you will
develop something I call a 'punch stroke'.
What you want is a ‘penetrating stroke’. The fact that your entire left side is
in front of the ball before execution results in a continuous motion that goes
through the ball producing a wonderful true roll. You do not want your right hand to take
control at impact. The continued
movement of your left side will keep the right hand out of mischief. The right hand wants to go the target
and like I said before, that’s fine, but it needs help from all the other
parts.
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19
A reliable and
repetitive stroke cannot be controlled by the arms or/ and the hands. When a
stroke originates from the hands, you are playing Russian
roulette.
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29
You must realize that a putt is never
straight.
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93
because very few golfers realize
this. A lot of golfers
unconsciously experiment it. Professionals exploit it at different levels of
comprehension and attain variable degrees of success, with the help of different
methods. Champions try to exploit
it at its maximum.
