of course, I have very similar problems with Jack's, but keep in mind that Jack is a needle in the haystack. I never said the style couldn't or wouldn't work. I merely stated that it would be difficult to teach to the masses.
I am very fortunate to get to spend a good deal of time with David Toms who he is not to shabby with the flat stick. "weight centered, eyes over the ball and target line, path like a closing door."
Last night I was listening to a phone conversation between a Youthful Yoda and Homer Kelly. Yoda questioned Homer at length about putting, and Homer insisted that there was no reason to change set up or swing when putting. This follows Bobby Jones and Bobby Locke, who each said the same thing. And who were possibly the two greatest putters who ever lived. Locke set up to putt exactly the same way he set up to hit a full shot, which was with an extremely, yea, a legendary closed stance.
Watch the end of Ben Doyle's Video (now available on DVD!) where he putts with extreme open and closed stances. Yoda knows.
Last night I was listening to a phone conversation between a Youthful Yoda and Homer Kelly. Yoda questioned Homer at length about putting, and Homer insisted that there was no reason to change set up or swing when putting. Yoda knows.
Homer Kelley Putted with an extended Left Arm and a Flat Left Wrist (Impact Fix Address Position). He saw "no reason to return to the Adjusted Address Position" (Bent Left Wrist).
He then located the Ball in his Stance so as to achieve an 'Above Center' Impact and thus a 'true Roll' (Overspin) immediately upon separation. [Note: This is NOT 'hitting up' on the Ball!] That location will be precisely at Low Point with a Reverse Loft Putter and just behind Low Point for a No-Loft or Loft Putter. How much behind Low Point? Far enough back to insure a Negative Loft ('Overspin') Impact -- and therefore not Zero Loft (No Spin or Skid) or Loft (Backspin or Lift) -- but not so far as to cause the Ball to be driven into the ground.
As usual, Homer emphasized that this was his procedure and that you may choose a different one. In which case, no matter how you choose to Impact the Ball -- Roll, Skid or Lift -- the really important thing is to do it the same way every time. Otherwise, your distance control will suffer...
does the length of the putter matter? i have always choked down too the shaft with mine, being 35"...can i cut it off by a few? does it affect the putter? will it affect my stroke? can one get a putter 'reshafted'? thanks fellas, interesting thread!
Homer Kelley Putted with an extended Left Arm and a Flat Left Wrist (Impact Fix Address Position). He saw "no reason to return to the Adjusted Address Position" (Bent Left Wrist).
He then located the Ball in his Stance so as to achieve an 'Above Center' Impact and thus a 'true Roll' (Overspin) immediately upon separation. [Note: This is NOT 'hitting up' on the Ball!] That location will be precisely at Low Point with a Reverse Loft Putter and just behind Low Point for a No-Loft or Loft Putter. How much behind Low Point? Far enough back to insure a Negative Loft ('Overspin') Impact -- and therefore not Zero Loft (No Spin or Skid) or Loft (Backspin or Lift) -- but not so far as to cause the Ball to be driven into the ground.
As usual, Homer emphasized that this was his procedure and that you may choose a different one. In which case, no matter how you choose to Impact the Ball -- Roll, Skid or Lift -- the really important thing is to do it the same way every time. Otherwise, your distance control will suffer...
And you along with it!
As you've said, the only way to give the ball overspin is to make sure that Impact Point occurs above the equater of the Ball. And the only way to achieve this is to have negative loft of the Clubface at Impact (regardless of the loft of the actual putter).
However, there are (at least) two ways that the Clubhead can go into Impact with negative loft -- either travelling upwards (after Low Point) or downwards (before Low Point). Which do you think is optimal?
Another useful point to note is that the Clubhead will be travelling outwards before Low Point and inwards after Low Point, even though you can hardly see this given the steep plane used with the putter. Visually and psychologically, this may be a good reason to place the back of the Ball precisely at Low Point.
Hybrid Mode
