Article #37
Featured Teacher: Lord Berry
To meet this week's teacher, or to purchase a copy of MUNIE ~ The Jitterbug Collection, go to www.bobbysteiner.com
Here is how it happens. You pick up the game of golf, and are astonished at how difficult the seemingly simple task of putting is. Soon, however, someone disguised as rescuer says, "You know, if you'd only address the ball with a little more weight on your left leg you would putt much better."
So, you try it and make your very first attempt. "Eureka! I shan't miss again."
Not long later, you have another bad putting day. This time, someone says, "If you would set up with your eyes directly over the ball, you would putt much better."
So, you try it, and you make the first one. "That's it," you think. "Weight on my left foot and eyes directly over the ball."
But then you miss again, upon which you hear, "You know, if you'll just make sure you keep the putter blade low to the ground you'll roll the ball much better."
Let's fast-forward two or three golf seasons so that now you have an entire stew of setup and stroke fundamentals to keep under notice, all of which must be carefully carried out for you to putt well. The funny thing, however, is that you're no better-maybe even worse-than when you started.
I once heard Smiley Bell say, "Just decidin' that you're gonna observe proper putting form ain't gonna help nothin; it's just gonna make you nervous and tight. Good form is only helpful if you don't have to think about it."
Of course, I'll be the first to admit that most great putters set up with their weight left, many with their eyes over the line, and some keep the putter low to the ground, but you can be sure they don't think about these things. Rather, years of reacting to the hole bring about those setup and stroke characteristics as a matter of natural progression.
The bottom line: While struggling golfers everywhere try to technique their way into good results, great putters practice their way into what becomes solid technique.
Which will you do?