Steve Stricker Putting Analysis
 

Howdy guys,

What components do you see in Steve Stricker's putting stroke? From what I see, I have:

Square-Square stance/plane line combination
Left shoulder plane angle (#3 zero'd out)
Possible uncocked left wrist (instead of level wrist)
Dual-vertical hinge action

*The reason I think an uncocked left wrist is because the heel of his putter seems to be raised a bit off the ground. He seems to have a shoulder stroke but it would seem that his more forward ball position would conflict with this, what gives?

Lynn, VJ, Geoff, anyone else like to add, or correct what I have so far? And why do his components work so well together?

Merry Christmas :salut:

Interesting analysis laangels.

Fully uncocked left wrist at address. What a great way to insure a flat left wrist that CAN'T break down. I need to find some pics.

Nice post! :salut:

Kevin

Putter Introduction
 

:golf: Putter is a special club, using in the hole area (green).



The ball is marked with hole area (green), you can use your putter putt it into the hole. In other words, putter is the ultimate performance ball hole club.



Playing golf with driver punch the ball out of a count of 250 meters is a hole, with your putter putt is only 3 cm from the hole is also a hole, the ball in the 18-hole par, the putt par is almost half of the gross. Professional golf world with such a popular old Scottish proverb: "Driver is show, putter is dough". Thus, the use of the good or bad putter has a great influence on overall performance, so use the putter to improve the technical level, to minimize the number of putting is the shortcut of improving the performance.



There are many kinds of putting type, the most common are T-type, L-type, sickle-type and goose neck-type and so on. T-bar is easy to determine the direction because of the shaft and the head of the middle phase; L-type putter and irons are similar to each otehr on the shape, they are easy to master, but the face open or closed prone to error; sickle-type putter head is more weight, it is easy to roll the ball. In addition to these categories, there are a lot of specially processed putter, but no matter what the shape, structure, par putt, as long as length, weight is suit for your body, putting methods suited to playing habits, using them can be handy, otherwise, there is no use even it is a expensive club.



The use of putting is different with other clubs, there are great differences among hitting approaches and actions and the use of other clubs, as individual as the person ,therefore, "putting no fixed" type of argument, that the use of putt rod do not have to all the same. Grip, stop bits, with each stroke can opt for a different approach.

Steve Stricker's Putting Grip Pressure
 

Steve Stricker squeezes the Club unmercifully. On a Grip Pressure scale 1-10, he's an 11.

A real 'white-knuckler'.

Jerry Kelly first put me on to this.

Up close and personal at The Sony, it was 'oh so obvious'.

:golfcart2:

uncocked
 

I have a personal affection for uncocked wrists in putting. They don't call me the praying mantis for nothing. :)\\:D/

Me2

But I'd like to do some more Acccumulator #3 Zeroing.

Any one knows of a customizable putter / OEM putter head where the shaft lands in the COG?

Does Stricker use the same grip pressure when chipping?

The Level Left Wrist in Chipping
 

Don't know, mb, and it will be the WGC at Doral before I see the guys again. I'll ask.

Stay tuned!

One thing's for sure: Steve's left wrist does not Cock (perpendicular motion). Instead, it remains Level (straight line along the top of the left forearm to the first knuckle of the index finger).

Here's a photo -- click to enlarge, then click again to get really up close and personal -- I took (at the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazletine) of BG's top-of-Stroke chip/short pitch shot. Both players have the same action, and it is no coincidence that both are among the best short game players in the game today.

:golfcart2:

From the Tomb to the Womb
 

Bambam,

With no response these past two days to what I view as a very important post -- particularly given Steve Stricker's win today and consequent move to #2 in the World Ranking -- I sense this thread is about to disappear into our archives. Please make sure my BG photos get a permanent place in our Gallery. Thanks.

For those golfers interested in scoring, they are among the most important ever posted on this site.

:salut:

I never thought of the fact that making a great post like that and getting no response can be frustrating. Just want to be sure you know we're paying attention. I had saved the text and pics for my own future reference.

Level, cocked, uncocked. Teachers don't let us know we need to monitor that. You and Homer Kelley do.

Thanks YODA! :salut:

Kevin

I was having my morning coffee and thinking about Brian Gays chipping method (with no left wrist cock) while looking at this photo from the sports section.

Nice wedges and a still level left wrist. Absolutely no flippy whippy, rubber wristed hand syndrome despite the fact it looks like a high soft floater.

http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/a...d=126564950 1

I honestly to believe he is monitoring his wedges, maintaining lag pressure, and using some right forearm magic. Steve sets up closer to Brian Gay than anyone I have seen. I would love to find out if Mr. Tiziani has some TGM influence. I have played with Mr. Tiziani's son Mario, and his alignments were very similar as I remember...

Kevin

Steve's Horizontal Hinge Action Pitch
 

And, with Horizontal Hinge Action (Clubface Closing Only / No Layback)! The giveaway is the toe of the Club pointing along the Line at the end of the Follow-Through (Both Arms Straight position).

:golf:

Does he get more spin & better bite when the lay back is eliminated Yoda?

Cut Shot Dynamics
 

Actually, the reverse is true. Vertical Hinging (Layback Only) produces Cut Shots and the spin/bite characteristics you mention.

:golfcart2:

You know I'm only one of the distant TGM/LBG disciples....but with all do respect, Master...it looks to me as if the leading is pointing 45* out to the right, which actually indicates angled hinging. Or is it just the photo that cheats the eye. I know if you're saying he's swinging his chips with horizontal, you're certainly right....but this pic...hmm

http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/a...d=126564950 1

I went to the dome yesterday and with this chipping method in mind tried to figure out how far I go in that manner. A lot further than I thought, was the answer. The strikes were solid and consistent while maintaining a level left wrist throughout, no left wrist cock. Sort of like a super long putting stroke although I didnt use my putting grip.

Which makes me wonder why it works so well? What is the answer guys?

-one or two accumulators only?
-Id been introducing some un required left wrist cock that complicated things. An unnecessary application of a velocity power for such a short stroke?
-the full lever (left arm and club) having been assembled and maintained throughout the entire stroke is super simple for low point management and ensures full lever impact?
-the right arm is on plane?

That level left wrist is something I keep learning and re learning for all strokes, long and short. It alone can fix a lot of ills for me. ( Yoda did tell me my hands were starting to get a little low and I was reverting back into my old address posture, without the on plane right arm etc. )

What is the source of its magic?

The Closing Door
 

Thom,

There may be a camera angle issue for you. Let's look at the question (of Clubface alignment) another way:

Imagine that Steve raised the club just slightly so that the shaft is parallel to the ground. Then, would the toe of the club point straight up (leading edge vertical to the ground, i.e., the horizontal plane). Or, would it be at a slight angle, i.e., vertical to an angled plane? To my eye, the toe would point straight up, and that indicates Horizontal Hinging. You may see it differently.

At the very least, I think we can agree that the Face of the club would not point at the sky (which would indicate Vertical Hinging).

:salut:

YODA,

What do you think of my thoughts as far as Steve Stricker participating in some way in Mr. Kelley's work? Last night on his show, Michael Breed, who I know has a lot of TGM in his background, was talking about some of Steve's alignments. I got out my SmartStick to do some comparisons, and I'll be damned if those alignments didn't get me right on plane with the laser. Michael Breed did everything but say look, LOOK, LOOK!

Swinging is wonderful for a lot of folks, but the Magic Of The Right Forearm is going to be discovered by the masses, and it's going to be HUGE. I'm very happy I'm at LBG and already building on that foundation.

Thanks Lynn!

Kevin

Steve Stricker On His Own Golf Swing
 

I talked with Steve last month at the Kapalua Golf Academy during the Golf Digest photo shoot. I was specifically interested in his concept of the golf swing and what he was doing to achieve it. In a nutshell, here's what he told me:

1. He is very "left-sided". The left hand and side senses and controls from start to finish.

2. He feels 'turn and roll' of the hands combined with lots of body rotation.

3. He has always "loaded late" -- little wristcock on the way back -- and feels he gets additional wristcock on the downswing. In fact, regarding the loading action, he said that he has "always done it incorrectly". :shock: To which I replied, "Uh, no, Steve. The money stats don't lie!"

There was zero mention of TGM, by either him or me.

Full Screen Slideshow


:golfcart2:

Darn. Oh well, I'm wrong again...:laughing9 :salut:

Kevin

Left to his own devices Steve Stricker has found an awesome way to get around the course though and one we can see as conforming to a lot of Homer's alignments. Too bad he thinks his loading is all wrong. Makes me wonder if he spent a lot of time trying to cock his left wrist earlier. Cock his left wrist with his hands or something. Im a late loader and I did, do sometimes, wont do again, as Yoda is my witness, I swear.

I see a Right arm on plane, extensor action, level left wrist, a repeating hinge action etc, etc. Snap Loading or float?

Even his dual vertical , straight back straight through putting would get Homer's nod of approval. While its Steering and a lob shot for longer shots, Homer thought that it was a fine procedure for putting..... interestingly, given that he is the father of the Arc of Approach. Of critical importance to Homer was the ability to replicate the putting Hinge Action, be it vertical or angled or horizontal even. Straight back , straight through with a square to the line face makes Hinge Action , Delivery line compliance easy to see and monitor , I guess, non planar though it is, in a clubshaft or sweetspot plane sense. With straight rails as a guide for the putter head its a sweetspot traveling in a straight line deal. The problem with it to my mind, or for me I should say, is the tendency to watch the clubhead as I putt and introduce corrective wobbles making the plane line three dimensional, "bending the plane line".

It is steering afterall, not something that will help you anywhere else unless you are trying hit a lob shot or cover the Angle of Approach or something totally crazy like that.......no offense to Ted Fort who's kitchen Im rattling around in here.......that man can steer 20' putts and 340 yard drives. But he also knows how to do it in a geometrically correct way .........which for the driver is not "Straight through towards the hole", thats for sure.

Old Dogs . . . Less Tricks
 

Had dinner tonight with Jeff Hull, our own golfgnome http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/index.p...-gseb-pga.html, and Jarrod Clark, head professional at The Golf Club at Cuscowilla. The conversation turned to Steve Stricker, and naturally, to his former teammate relationship with Jeff. I saw them shake hands and get reacquainted last year at Liberty National and our Academy at The Barclays.

And you're right, O.B., Steve the Younger was much longer and looser and wrist-cockier.

I'll let Jeff answer and fill in the details.

:golfcart2:

P.S. Jeff, we've got to seriously update your Professional Contributors bio. As in . . . one Georgia Open Championship; one PGA Section Championship; and one PGA Professional Championship ago. Keep me informed, will ya?

:salut:

of course, why didn't I ever think of that
 

aahhh, raise the club, so that the shaft is parallel to the ground....of course, I see, the exact alignment of the leading edge becomes much easier to see...point taken, lesson learned....thank you, Yoda:salut:

To Sweden With Love
 

Thank YOU for the inspiration, Thom.

You 'way up northeast' guys are the best!

:salut:

Tricks is for kids
 

Yoda, I keep relearning the importance of the Level Left Wrist, the solid attachment to the club. Steves Strickers misgivings about his late loading procedure, despite its obvious effectiveness really hit home for me. As a late loader myself who has always been enamored with the left wrist cock motions of others, I can now say that I've finally stopped chasing it. Its like a lot of other components I think, by actively trying to "do it" you dont, cant. Left alone, surrounded by proper alignments, given a good motion........it just happens.

No more rubber wristed weeks of #2 angle experimentation. The longer lever (left arm and club) has more leverage after all. Steve Stricker is my hero in this regard.

What did Homer imply in 12-3-0 Section 7, pt 27 "Full Lever Assembly prep"?

Im thinking that when you do assemble that full lever it is best not to compromised it with a loose attachment at the handle or it will snap in two.

I'm with you on this, O.B., and try to start my down swing before I feel any wrist cock kicking in.

The wrist cocks, of course, but it neither gets, or needs, any conscious help from me.

I missed this. Thats great news. Fantastic Jeff. Congrats.

Nicely put Burner. I would have taken several pages to state something similar. You Brits are pretty good with the English language, eh?

Hey, I am fluent in Canadian and American too.:laughing9

Canadian! Wow, that is impressive! Next you'll tell me you speak Australian............that's a super tuff one to pick up. Takes almost as many beers as it does to learn Canadian.

Golfguru will attest to my fluency in "Strine", as us international linguists call it - been there, spoken that. And, Beer has never been a problem - my thirst transcends Continental boundaries.

Something about the Commonwealth maybe..........all the Queen's men like a good Ale now and then. Well more "now" than otherwise maybe.

Say hi to Her for me, should you run into HRH down at the pub or somewhere.

PS Im wondering if by capitalizing "Ale" it makes it a legitimate component in my pattern?

Eagles Landing
 

We need to convene this 'Mutual Aid Society' at Cuscowilla. With Alex as the Designated Driver. [And I'm not talking about off the tee! :laughing9 ]

My teaching center will be in full-bore mode come April. How 'bout it, guys? I'm committed the first three weeks, but how 'bout the fourth?

Let's make something happen!

:golf:

Hmmmmm...........sounds good to me!
Alex

Yoda, if you build it.............we will come.