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Question 440

Top golfer's experience with Scott's short game and putting techniques.
John is an excellent golfer who was having a problem with his short game and putting. He ordered Scott's short game and putting videos. I checked with John about a month into his program and asked for an update. Below are his comments along with Scott's.
Don
From John:
Don-- Thanks for checking back. I have promised myself that I would give it one month. So far the chipping and pitching is becoming more comfortable, although I go through practice spurts of as much as 6 or 7 balls in a row that I skull and feel awkwardly rigid on. Then I do 10-15 balls that smoothly work. One thing I have noticed is that the technique produces a lot of roll. Since I often miss on the short side, it becomes a bit of a problem getting it to stop. It almost feels that I am hitting a hook shot chip-- like top-spin lobs in tennis. A related question is the comment that I am supposed to not move anything except the arms. I think I need to release the body toward the hole, especially on pitches.

The idea is to preset the body at impact so you can remain stable through the hit, there is always motion. Never! I repeat never, try to be rigid and not move. The over abundance of roll has to do with the balance of the club through impact, you must balance the club so the face is square to the target at a point in line with your left toe and vertical if you release on a pitch. Your face must be closed at the toe and left of vertical on the release by as much as 10 to 15*. Also the balance of the club can be opened for glancing blows for greater spin. The motion just remains the same you don't need to manipulate your hands like before.

On putting, I admit to trouble placing the putter 2, 4, or more inches behind the ball and then stroking forward with no backswing. I tend to not have enough power with the stroke and often leave it short. Are there times that you recommend actually putting that way on the course.

You need to place the putter far enough behind the ball so you can make a smooth reaching motion or caress. I do use it on the course all the time up to six feet. Any thing over that distance I need a small, short backstroke to give me room to go forward.

It does seem to detect quickly if your shoulders are set up left (I miss that way often). Finally, I have some trouble figuring out the backswing on the putts, and have tried just pulling the right elbow toward the back along my ribs, which produces an inside takeaway.

Allow the right shoulder to move the club away, and let it go where it wants to.

Having said all that, I intend to stick it out. I shot 64 the other day with 3 bogeys and 4 eagles, but that was not really much to do with the chipping and pitching, in which I was 1 for 5 getting it up and down.

Great score!!!!!

Made lots of long putts using the O'Meara claw grip.

His grip locks the joint angles in place so the propreoceptors don't cause a flinch.

Then I promptly went out and wrestled calves and tore up the ligaments in my right wrist, so I am out for 4-6 weeks. But I still am trying to use the method since it does not hurt to chip and putt.

Good luck on your recovery.

Scott
The S.A.G.E.