A personal observation.
 

Nothing TGM here( of course I may have overlooked, not out of the fog) but I found my putting improved greatly when I addressed the ball relaxed, stared at the sucker, ala J.N., and the putter started to move back w/o any deliberate intent to start the back swing. Just happens!
A study of about 40 Touring Pros some time ago revealed some interesting results. The intent of the study was to determine who did and did not need glasses, why those needing refused to do so and the actual time each participant needed to actually converge both eyes on the ball and focus.
Results were interesting.
The senior participents actually needed less time to coverge and focus their eyes=4-6 seconds.
I find this standing over the ball relaxed, as w/ putting above, usually gives me the same results when hitting a shot, an almost automatic start of the backstroke.

Interesting information!!!

A poster (puttingarc) on another site pointed out that TGM does mention that putting can be on the SQUARED SHOULDER PLANE 10-6-C, and that the LEFT SHOULDER is the reference point used for putting. pg.154

Practicing putting as if "shooting a basketball" can yield some very good results.

Step up, look, fire - it is amazing how well the mind can do when you don't get in its way.

putting tempo
 

In visiting Grand Cypress Golf Academy with their Model Golf System, they found that in a study from the 18 of the top 20 putters from the late 90's indicated that the length of the stroke in time was all the same for all distances and roughly the same (within 1/1000 of a second) as their full swing tempo. They also found that they accelerate through the ball 1.5 times are far (distance) as they took it back.

My question is do you believe that you need to keep G.O.L.F. Rhythm in putting?

Putting Is Hinge Action Is Rhythm
 

The most important thing to do in Putting is to execute a definite Hinge Action (6-B-3-0). And Hinge Action -- the Clubshaft remaining In Line with the Left Arm while the Left Wrist remains vertical (perpendicular) to one of the Three Basic Planes (Horizontal, Angled or Vertical) -- is Rhythm.

Bottom Line:

Putting is Hinge Action.

Hinge Action is Rhythm.

Putting and Rhythm are one.

Those left to right breakers
 

I'm a right hander. For 40 years I was an average or worse putter. Finally settling on good hinge action and being able to relax over the putts, I was much improved.
I also found that opening my stance a little on the dreaded left to right breakers, allowed me to get the ball rolling on the intended line, thus making more of these putts.
I think Chi Chi originated the method of contacting the ball near the toe for slick down hillers and nearer the heel for right to left breakers. All also helped me.

I use a similar setup as Ben Crenshaw, I've found that the slightly open stance really allows my 'eyes' to be on plane - if I try to setup square, I tend to angle my eye line out to the right.

Its amazing the sound and how the ball rolls when you putt with your right arm for practice.
As soon as you hit it with your right hand, you are done. Now try it again and keep your forearm moving and right hand bent.....WOW

Re: Putting Is Hinge Action Is Rhythm
 

Dear Jedi Master,

Can you tell me which hinge action a Hitter as yourself would use when putting? :?:

Heres a picture I drew a while back.....



You emulate the motion of the hinge by keeping the left wrist vertical to one of the three planes. Ie ... horizontal hinge action - if you put the back of the left hand against a door - the back of the left hand is always vertical to the ground - it is vertical in relation to the horizontal plane.

In the same way the back of that left hand is vertical in relation to the plane for angled and vertical hinge action.....you just hang the door different.... like in the pictures :)

I would of never got this without Yodas Hinge Primer :).....