Float loading when putting OK?
 

Freezing cold, golf limited to putting practice on the living room carpet (nice straight lines). In order to enhance my pitiful knowledge of TGM I began experimenting with loading actions during the putting stroke. Discovered that with float loading (10-19-B) I got a very distinct pop to the stroke and the ball began rolling immediately (a high speed camera would probably disagree, but there was a noticeable difference in how the ball rolled compared to my normal stroke). Since the right wrist becomes involved in the stroke it kind of flies in the face of conventional wisdom with regard to "stiff" wrists and only using "big" muscles.

Just curious if anyone else have experimented with this kind of action and what opinions you might have?

Kumabjorn,

VJ Trolio and Yoda strongly advise against using hands for putting in the Alignment Golf DVDs. That being said, I enjoy Float Loading for some basic motion and acquired motion strokes. There is no reason you couldn't experiment. It will be interesting to see if it holds up for you out on the course when under the gun.

Kevin

orr does not like it

Basically I use PA#4 for the stroke and when I'm in the forward stroke mode I bend RW to make sure I have FLW and at impact the RW releases to give that nice pop (I have to admit that it is a bit addictive).

A big key in your findings is the fact that you are putting on carpet.
Float loading is very hard to control pace on fast greens.


Sorting Through the Instructor's Textbook.

B-Ray

I think it can lead to pushing under pressure.

Let us know how you get on when you take it on to the course

the float
 

I tried it and hated it. It felt sloppy to me and very much unstructured.

On the other hand, I'll never discount the motion. Here's a good reason:

John Inman, NCAA Champ and PGA Tour Buick Southern Open Champ, was on a medical leave from the Tour. He needed a caddy for a Hooters event, as he was trying to get prepared to get back to the grind. I was working for his brother-in-law at the time, so I volunteered. I had played plenty of golf with John and his brother Joe, so he was comfortable with me.

Saying that John was a little short off the tee is an understatement. And, that didn't matter in the least. This was the best putting exhibition that I've ever witnessed. We started on #10 where he three putted from 12 feet above the hole. Including the three putt, he had 10 putts on that side in route to a 64, for the day.

It was that day that had me trying to float load the putter for almost a year. I was terrible with it. But, when it comes to putting, whatever gets it in the hole in the fewest strokes is O.K. with me.

I think, for a long time, John had the fewest number of putts on the back side at the Masters: 10. :shock: I don't know if that still stands, but I'm sure no one's done much better.

Embarrassed to admit it, but I suspect my carpet has a higher Stimp than our greens:sad2: But I can certainly see your point, actually that is the thing that has me worried about the stroke. Unfortunately the pop is intoxicating.

YodasLuke

Are you saying that Inman used float loading in his putting stroke?

The likes of Palmer, Nicklaus and Player all had distinct hand action, but in those days they putted on much slower greens (around 7?) and that is sort of average here in Sweden (just ask Amen Corner). What was the speed at Augusta when Inman played?

Yes, he did. But, once his left wrist became Flat, it remained that way through Impact.

John played twice at Augusta, once as the NCAA Champ (old rules) then once as a PGA Tour Champ. I'm sure the greens were extremely fast.

I'm very conscious of maintaining my flat left wrist. I think the float loading may actually help doing that, with the bend in the right wrist during the forward stroke I feel very confident that I will have that left wrist flatter than a pre-augmented porn star. Probably boosts the mental approach.