I see both
 

I see both, and as a result will make friendly wagers with anyone on the putting green. ;)

One of my best friends says he cannot see the curved path of the ball when he's putting. He understands the elementary fundamentals of slope and gravity, and he takes them into consideration in assessment of the putt. But, he cannot see the curved shape when putting. His lowest 4 day total in an event is 15 under par, so what does he know (straight liner)?

Anyone that can putt it into a hole smaller than the Grand Canyon understands that line is first and distance is second. By getting the initial direction first (straight line for Clubface and Plane Line tracing), then seeing the distance needed (Power Regulation on the curved line), putts can be made. This separation of duties is a must.

If you've done your homework (practice), then you should be able to trace a straight line with a Hinge Action. If you're playing, you should be able to visualize the ball going into the hole.

The practicer or technician, doesn't like the swirling wind that wreaks havoc on his trusted Venturi Effect, when hitting a shot into the air. The slopes on the green are out of his control, as would be the swirling wind. He doesn't like to see something knocking his ball off line.

The player or artist in putting sees the slopes on the green as if he could judge the swirling wind affecting a full shot. He permits gravity to have its way with his ball. Technicians don't like the forfeit of control.

I think that there is a blend of technical prowess and art that makes a great putter. IMHO, it's also why two of the greatest technicians in the game were driven to the brink of insanity when putting: Moe Norman and Ben Hogan.

I see both... but I 'feel' the curved path when I'm visualizing the putt rolling into the hole.

Nice image - indeed, good putting is like dancing with gravity.

Unfortunatley for all you folks that want it straight..by definiton there is a thing called "curvilinear"...I agree it's not a straight line between two points...but a curved line between to points...Thank God... He made things all different sizes and shapes...otherwise there'd only be one way.....We'd all look the same and Teddy I'd Feel awful sorry if you had to look like me!!!

You see at one point in the history of Man the earth Looked Flat...Why was this....because the horizon appeared "flat, level, and straight"


But some dudes fugured out that the earth was round,uneven,and not very straight"

So is the Golf Swing/Putting Stroke a Straight Line or a Circle ...Ted?......

Yes...I love that answer!!!

I disagree vehemently on two points, Ted.
Firstly, I think speed comes first. If you break down why putts miss, the first port of call should be whether the capture speed was good or at least close. From there you can determine, whether you have hit the lines chosen and whether you've got a stroke(as in ability to hit on the line you want stroke, whether that be straight line, curved, curvilinear, arcing, or dare I suggest simply a knowledge and ability to putt straight), or whether you can aim straight or not. Then you go to work on whatever weakness needs to be addressed.

Secondly, I think it is a MASSIVE leap to suggest that two of the greatest plane line tracers AND artists to play the game suddenly became bereft of those talents once they stepped on the green.

Regards,
D

one thing on the putting plate at a time
 

I'm not talking about addressing one's weakness. I'm talking about what a person's thinking about when making the stroke. You can have one of two things on the plate, line or speed. Clubface and Plane Line can be established at Address, then they take the backseat. Those that are not thinking about speed (power regulation) when they make the stroke are not as good as they could be.

It's not a massive leap by any stretch of the imagination. I recall one of the legends making a statement that putting shouldn't be part of golf. And, I guess you missed the footage of the other looking like he was putting through a pool of his own vomit in the later part of his career. I've got the video if you'd like to watch...

I agree that one should not think about line control when over the ball.
Whether one should be thinking about speed is up for debate.

"I think that there is a blend of technical prowess and art that makes a great putter. IMHO, it's also why two of the greatest technicians in the game were driven to the brink of insanity when putting: Moe Norman and Ben Hogan."

Norman and Hogan both had this blend.
Norman did not care about putting.
Hogan undervalued it.
Are you saying that Hogan wasn't an artist on the golf course?
And that neither golfer had that blend?
Is it possible that putting demands different technical attributes than the rest of golf?
I would love to one day see your video.
How about a TGM analysis of why Hogan couldn't putt, and/or his artistic deficiencies?

Putting
 

Players known as good putters...

Bobby Locke
Ben Crenshaw
Dave Stockton
Billy Casper
Brad Faxon
Morris Hatalsky
Jack Nicklaus
Nancy Lopez
Alan Doyle
Loren Roberts

What do these putters have in common? They ALL have different styles.

I heard Dave Stockton say the other day that he thought Michelle Wie had a good stroke... "but it looks like she is TRYING TO MAKE THEM." He said something like, "just make a good putt, and let the ball get in the way of the hole." "Don't try to make it." Maybe this in TGMese is similar to STEERING, which is related to QUITTING.

Ben Crenshaw says:

"Try to stop the ball as close to the hole as possible." (rather than thinking about getting it in)

I'm getting tired of Moe Norman being compared with the likes of Hogan etc. when talking about success in golf. These two aren't even in the same universe wrt golfing success and that's not meant to slag Moe in any way, that's just the facts.

Great to read I'm not the only one that feels ball logo alignment (to the hole) is crap. As if we need to introduce another alignment in to the equation!

Putting doesn't have to be part of golf-we're trying to put the ball into the hole with every shot that can reach it.

On the mental side: I read the Rotella book on putting and short game about always thinking that you will make the chip or putt vs leave it short or way past. I subscribe to the theory that the brain responds best to DOs rather than DONTs.

The reason IMO that Tiger and Jack are two of the best ever was their GUTS, the ability to WILL a putt into the hole.

CW

New Zealander Bob Charles is often forgotten when it comes to lists of putting genius.
I have never seen anyone roll them in from everywhere for so long.
10-3-H Paw (Elbows Bent). A Stroke that has stood the test of time. 50 years or so.