PPE

[OldCuss]

PPE

Like many, the pandemic is sometimes worrisome to the point of distraction that I find it difficult to sleep. Which I regret given I do some of my best work in said state. Thus I was relegated last evening to lesser pursuits in hopes of a better one, but some of importance, nonetheless. Like putting. Therefore I submit a post on putting that was facilitated by prior pandemic thoughts that obviously necessitates it be titled PPE: Putting Process Elaboration.

Instead of counting sheep or past triple bogeys or even the number of times Raquel Welch would have turned me down had I been within shouting distance of her, I counted the steps I take in putting, outcome notwithstanding its reality (i.e., the possibility of being a PINO, putter in name only).

I was surprised, even at this level of abstraction. But the good news is that the process is rather fast unless I am making a video for a particular ball marker, in which a latter step in the process would always be an Ensure to ensure sustained giddy-up.

And just think - which in my case requires prior approval from my primary physician three times a year, but he is quick to assert that such is not guaranteed to occur even with much effort - articles, tips, lessons, and arguments have ensued and will continue to ensue over aspects of each step in the process. Some make a living speaking and teaching to and some have lost a living by listening to those speaking and teaching about aspects related to such below, thus with caution my sheep, triple circles, and no, absolutely nots, respectively, for thoughts of an array of aspects:

● Establishing (Establishing I)

 1. Mark

 2. Clean ball

● Estimating

 3. Determine distance

 4. View mark from ball to hole, hole to ball

 5. Estimate percent break

 6. Estimate speed

 7. Determine target at cup

● Aligning Ball (Establishing II)

 8. Align ball

 9. Remove mark

● Griping and Posturing

10. Left hand low

11. Putter at 33"

12. Left instep 90° with front of ball

13. Feet positioned where putter barely misses feet on back and through stroke (square to target)

14. Head over ball

15. Knees bent

16. Left shoulder and elbow toward target at cup and front of ball

● Aligning Putter (Establishing III)

17. Fix two spots: behind ball, in front of ball to target at cup

18. Align putter

● Practice Putting

19. Settling in

20. Breathing and rhythm

21. Practice putts (50%, 100%), SBST

● Putting

22. Repeat 17-20

23. Putt, SBST

● Post Putting

24. Listen for putter-head sound

25. Count to 2 before looking up

26. If miss, notice right or left

● Post post putting

27. a) Cool off by drinking something cold

OR

     b) Throw putter in the lake and cool off by drinking something cold

28. If 27b, explain to wife that my putter was stolen, thus a need for a new putter

29. If 28, duck

A simple thing putting, they (i.e., the non-golfing unwashed) say. No wonder the yips among older golfers. So much to remember! I need a nap.

Old Cuss

[LeoLeo99]

You need a beverage.

[Shilgy]

Could be a few in already!?

[farmer]

Nope, a little herb at work.

[MattM97]

Man this is way too many steps. You're missing putts before you even step up to the ball with all this going on in your head.

[James the Hogan Fan]

Though it may sound complicated when written out this way, if he has this down to an instinctive, repeatable routine its actually a pretty good one. I don't think you want to be reading off a checklist every time you hit a putt, but if such a checklist becomes habitual, you're in a good place.

[JunkerJorge]

Read it Roll itHole it

[Shilgy]

So there’s an “I” missing in the thread title?

[OldCuss]

James The Hogan Fan, intinctive and repeatable are indeed the important things to take away. Once settled on and practiced, yes instinctual but my repeatedable suffers due to the commitment of an amateur with several interests outside of golf, yet the process and feel results in better outcomes than not having developed and practiced such.

It's not used in a checklist manner (although in terms of grip, stance, and stroke, explicitly going through such from time to time to better facilitate consistency is observed on the practice green) importantly as you have advised, given prior learning and regular - an eye of the beholder thing - practice. What I have learned is that when I get a little lazy I drop my left elbow and as a result the ball has a tendency to go left, all things equal given my SBST stroke, which actually has a very, very small arc. I won't bore you with other insights, given they more or less differ in degree, even if not in kind, from others that break down their golfing techniques. But I will add that a trained eye in such matters would possibly spot something I am not doing or doing poorly and attention to such could potentially add or subtract from the process, something else to practice so it becomes second nature.

The brain is a pretty efficiently-oriented organ that often masks the complexity of seemingly simple tasks that we intuitively manifest, and upon analysis of such one can be surprised just how much is taking place behind the scenes without explicit attention to such. Once overheard a conversation among art teachers in a resturant in which they were complaining that what they teach could not be assessed in their students. The conversation then moved on to bemoaning their students' work. Maybe they have since discovered that some of the criteria for assessment could be found in their complaints that could benefit them and their students. But I digress, as I am apt to do.

Must admire the pros. People watching every move, their perceived standing with their peers, intense competition where small differences can have large consequences positive and negative, and the need for focus, all operating on every shot and they maintain plus handicaps. Very, very impressive indeed!

I also like what Junker Jorge stated ("read it, roll it, hole it") as a process and for motivational self-talk (for positive attitude), but I am sure he also has quite a few in-category steps he instinctually follows, too.

Old Cuss

[farmer]

Reminds me of conversations back in the '60s. "Did you know your finger BENDS? Far out, man."

[OldCuss]

Greetings, Farmer. I recall a story about a pro golfer, but apologize for not remembering the name, as I am a bit forgetful these days - but am blessed for knowing when supper is served. He was having a bit of a problem with chipping, at least for his level of competition. Not bad, mind you, actually would be great for me, but a bit off given the strokes gained and loss measure. He sought help and it was discovered a small change was needed; it was a small something he was not doing, but doing it was important. Basically it was about when he turned, if you will, bent, his shoulders. Not a big bend yet important when. A small thing that made all the difference, but till he learned such he was frequently finding himself far out of the lead in tournaments.

Old Cuss