Hit Down or Up on putts ?

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H

hue

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I have just looked at a Harold Swash video " The best Kept Secret in Golf Putting" that a friend gave me to look at. One of his 4 putting beliefs is that the ball should be hit on the up stroke to promote a smooth roll and topspin. He places the ball two inches in front of the sternum to achieve this.

Brian and others: Do you think you should hit up or down on putts? Are Swash's ideas Hogwosh/Hogswash?
 
T

ThomGN

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quote:Originally posted by jim_0068

How much offset does the putter he use have? ;)

It better be A LOT otherwise he'll have one hell of a time controlling his skid
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That might be why he invented the C-grooves;)
 
J

Jim Kobylinski

Super Moderator
quote:Originally posted by ThomGN

quote:Originally posted by jim_0068

How much offset does the putter he use have? ;)

It better be A LOT otherwise he'll have one hell of a time controlling his skid
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That might be why he invented the C-grooves;)
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Yup...the "grooves" is what "picks" the ball out of the depression it is to get the ball rolling faster. It isn't because you "hit up" on the putt.
 
Burner

Burner

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Any of you guys play Pool, Billiards or Snooker?

To play a ball with top-spin, forward roll, the ball is struck above its equator - equivalent to putting on the up swing. The ball begins to roll almost immediately.

To play a ball with back-spin, backward roll, the ball is struck below the equator - equivalent to putting on the downswing. In golf the ball hops, skids and then begins to roll forward as its momentum overcomes inertia and friction - in the other, cue based games, the ball will simply skid until friction "bites" allowing backspin momentum to overcome the balls inertia. In golf the intention is to get the ball to roll forward, yet the mechanics are poor and physical principles are non-optimal. Whereas in the cue based games the mechanics and physics are optimised to achieve the opposite to a forward rolling golf putt and they promote the exact opposite.

To play the ball without intentionally imparting spin you would hit it on its equator - equivalent to a completely flat push through impact with the putter. The ball will skid as it fights friction before the loss of friction and momentum allow it to overcome its inertia and roll forwards.

Putting on the up stroke promotes a forward roll whereas the alternatives mentioned do not. Add C grooves to your putter and the effect is enhanced - as Mr Swash discovered.
 
M

Mathew

Banned
Look at sketch 2C4

To hit with topspin with line of compression is above center, to achieve this the putter blade must be descending not ascending....

Just another conventional golfing myth ...... would you trust someone who can't even understand what they are trying to achieve at impact who considers themselves a putting expert enough to write a book about it and yet just shows 'I couldn't be bothered learning' ?????
 
H

hue

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quote:Originally posted by Mathew

Look at sketch 2C4

To hit with topspin with line of compression is above center, to achieve this the putter blade must be descending not ascending....

Just another conventional golfing myth ...... would you trust someone who can't even understand what they are trying to achieve at impact who considers themselves a putting expert enough to write a book about it and yet just shows 'I couldn't be bothered learning' ?????
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Errr No[8D]. I am sure Swash teaches Padraig Harrington and Reteif Goosen. I think he used to teach Monty . Who else on tour deos he teach?
 
Burner

Burner

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quote:Originally posted by Mathew

Look at sketch 2C4

To hit with topspin with line of compression is above center, to achieve this the putter blade must be descending not ascending....

Just another conventional golfing myth ...... would you trust someone who can't even understand what they are trying to achieve at impact who considers themselves a putting expert enough to write a book about it and yet just shows 'I couldn't be bothered learning' ?????
Click to expand...
Matthew,

How do you work that out?

The diagram clearly shows that the impact point for overspin (topspin) is above the equator with the clubhead travelling parallel to the ground, not down - see the little arrow to the left. To increase the effect of overspin (topspin) the clubhead, like in a topspinning forehand drive in tennis e.g, would travel up and over the ball.
 
J

Jim Kobylinski

Super Moderator
I just read an article from Harold Swash's own mouth and he wants a slightly ascending path but with a delofted clubface to achieve the fastest amount of overspin which is possible
 
A

azgolfer

New
According to Pelz, an upward stroke with a small amount of loft gets the ball up on the grass and rolling with minimum spin. Backspin or topspin make the putt roll less consistently.
 
S

StevieCee

New
After 3 years of putting either A) Back Low with a level hit or B) Back Low with an Upwards hit and getting very average results, I recently tried the forward shaft lean hit down and all I can say is if you haven't tried it please do so.
Advantages

1) The ball travels faster/further
2) There is no 'skip' or 'pop up'
3) The ball holds its line longer
4) Control is increased because you can shorten the backswing due to the increased velocity.

Disadvantages
1) Initally if you use your normal length backswing you'll go past 3 feet past the hole

I don't want to get into any arguments about which of the methods are right, just wanted point out that for me and my regular playing partners it has reduced our putts per round by 3 shots and that my friends is the name of the game.

Cheers
Steve
 
Burner

Burner

New
quote:Originally posted by jim_0068

I just read an article from Harold Swash's own mouth and he wants a slightly ascending path but with a delofted clubface to achieve the fastest amount of overspin which is possible
Click to expand...
Therefore, for confirmation from Mr Kelley, look at sketch 2C4.
 
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