The daily article yesterday threw out the concept of using your playing grip for your putting grip. The article did not say this was dogma, but rather said we “advocate” the grip. Webster’s dictionary defines the verb advocate, as to speak or write in support of. The point is this is another good grip alternative to try if you are searching for good information to try in the quest to improve your putting. This was not written and given as a, “you have to do it or you are wrong,” but as another alternative that does fit the requirements of a square and balanced grip to deliver the putter to the ball square to the aiming line.
One questioner asked, “What does ‘the hands mirroring the clubface’ mean?” An answer given said that when the back of the left hand (for right handed golfer) and the clubface are square to the target/aiming line, then they are mirroring each other. This is correct. I also will add that I prefer to include the bottom right hand palm as the mirroring hand as we hold things in our palm to throw or hit. Since we are holding the putter to hit the ball and the right palm is facing forward as the club face is, I like to focus on that as the mirror for the clubface. My other main reason is that for putting, as well as hitting all the clubs, whatever the right (bottom) hand palm does, the clubface does exactly the same. This to me is a powerful visual connection that is mirroring at its best.
David’s comment below, with his description of his open setup, forward ball position and stroke are all good points and very acceptable to developing a quality and successful putting stroke. David does not elaborate on his grip, but since he says his setup and swing method duplicates the pitching motion of the right hand, his right hand has to be square, facing the target line, to be pitching down the line. I am a strong believer in and putt from an open setup. Ken and Jack also putt from at least 30 degrees open as David recommends. I really like his reference to the open stance helping see the line and work with the hands more efficiently and effectively. But for some, a little more or less open than 30 degrees may work better. Another big issue to putting from an open stance is that putting has no swing through impact with the body standing up to the T-finish, square to the target. Putting with an open stance allows not only seeing the line better, but also swinging the arms, especially the right (lower arm), down the line and releasing the putter since there is no T – Finish. So, here’s DAVID…
David says:
“On the issue of good putting: I practice what I believe is the best method. I have shown it to many people and it has helped them a lot (from beginners to low handicappers.)
“This involves standing about 30 degrees open to the putting line, playing the ball off the toe of the front foot. The putter is drawn back no more than a foot from the ball and accelerated through the ball with an upward motion through the ball and down the target line. This method duplicates the pitching motion of the right hand (which just happens to have the putter in it) making the distance the ball goes automatic! It lets the natural brain-hand-eye coordination work as nature intended.
“I promise you if you use this method you won’t leave putts short and will probably never three putt again providing you read them correctly!”
My last point on David’s comment is that each and every one of us can take what he recommends to a tee, which is correct. What is more correct is for each of us to take it as our starting point and do some testing of trial and error, finding what is the best degree of open that matches our eyesight and hand coordination. We should also test ball position as I feel his off the toe of the front foot suggestion is again good, especially hitting the ball with an ‘UPWARD MOTION,” may be the farthest forward it should be played. For some, playing it farther back may prove to be a better position for vision in seeing the line and making a solid on line “upward motion” square impact. My point is, David’s recommendations are good but don’t be afraid to test slight adjustments or modifications as we all do not see the same and a slight adjustment may bring even better results.
The next comment or suggestion came from Nolan, who first gives a little background on his putting grip. He concludes by asking me what I thought about the “Two Thumbs Grip.” He also provided a link to an article so we could all check it out.
Nolan says:
“This is one of the first articles that actually doesn’t make me feel like a freak. Since starting PPGS six months ago I have used the same grip for all my shots, especially PUTTING. Even before starting PPGS I tried loads of different swings but they were just not comfortable. My playing partners all used to laugh about it. NO I HAVE PROOF THAT I WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG.
Don, have you heard of the two thumb grip? I saw it when I went down to my local store last week. Have a look at this link:
http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/Golf/videotips/searchresults/Putting2/Two-Thumb-Putting-Grip/
The Surge says:
I like it, the two thumb grip. Both hands/palms are perpendicular to the ground meeting the standard of square to the aiming line. It is quite different, but I think will surely give one the feeling of both hands working as one unit and will provide a solid and square impact once one can work with it and develop the touch and feel.
I will say and stress here that many points of the PPGS setup and swing are open to testing slight variations of what is recommended for improved performance as I mentioned in reference to testing David’s 30 degree open setup and ball position.
When something in the setup and swing are dogma I will positively make reference and point out that point as being absolute and should be followed closely.
Most everything else in the PPGS is open to testing and finding the optimum setup and swing positions for each of us individually. I wrote the PPGS MISSION STATEMENT last week and will do so again as I believe it says it all as regards this subject of fitting the instruction to you. The PPGS Mission is “to help all golfers build the best setup and swing they are physically and mentally able to do for their ABILITIES and LIABILITIES to maximize the laws of physics and physiology.”
The PPGS works because it is 100 percent based on physics and physiology as the human body is designed to conform to the laws. The PPGS works for 95 percent plus of all golfers who embrace it with an “open mind” and “try it” as the blogs show. For those who feel something else works better for them that is great and stay with it. For those who like the PPGS, I am here to stay. And I will continue bringing you quality golf instruction on the body friendly PPGS.
The Surge!
Tell me what you're thinking... and what part of the golf swing, or this great game... you'd like to know more about. If you want your pic to show with your comment, go get a 
Don we appreciate your dedication to the game. You are a key element in moving the game forward for everyone to enjoy this great game to the best of their ability. http://www.aboutjuniorgolf.com
Don,
I read your first 10 basic principles and rules of golf. I went to the driving range and hit a lot of balls while adhering to those rules plus using the peakperformance golf swing. I have had a couple medical problems and could not play much golf or practice. However, I have hit the ball more solidly and scored better in those 4 or 5 rounds that I ever have and I am a 72 year young man slightly overweight for a 5′10″ guy. Your system works.
Thanks for the tips.
Oscar Jowers
Overland Park, Ks.
Hi Don
Having subscribed to your online DVD’s a few months ago I am now getting pretty comfortable with PPGS. I am seeing a big improvement in the consistency of my swing and in particular my tee-shots which had been a problem for me. Plus, having retired a couple of years ago and playing a lot more golf my back appreciates your simplfied swing.
I nearly always try to hit the ball straight down the target line but at times a fade or draw can help get you on to the green. I only try and move the flight ball with mid to short irons and a fade I can do by opening up the stance and the club face, then hit PPGS. A draw I cannot do – can you help.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
John
(9 H’cap)
Hi Don, I have a question about equipment. I’ m looking to buy a 56 degree wedge but I’m not sure if I should get it with 10 or 14 degrees of bounce, any thoughts on this?
Thanks
Tony Rung
SURGE:
I have a somewhat different approach to putting — perhaps because I a strrongly LEFT eye dominant.
I use a slughtly closed stance to view the line better, with about 60% of my weight on the forward “Left) foot . My grip is somewhat differetn also — my hands are square to the putter face (100% necessary, I believe) — but noth index fingers resta along the shaft, with both thumbs on top of the shaft, right thumb lower than left thumb.
Also, my stroke has some wrist/finger action — I find it vitally neccessary for distance control. If I try a more modern “big musles only, no fingers and wrists” stroke – -I lose ALL feel for distance. But as soon as I introduce about 5% to 10% finger and wrist action distance control is near perfect, albeit I may be subjec to more tiny “push or pull” errors.
Typically I have 5 or 6 one putt greens — and twcie this year I have have rounds with 10 one putt greens — So apparently it works for me!
On the subject of PPGS variations and experiments — I find that I get mor solid ball stiking if I play the ball aobut 1/2 to 1 ball more forward in my stance that what you reccomend. I would suggest that those who are having trouble with THIN hits try this.
GOOD LUCK and Good GOLFING to ALL
Amos
Don,
Could you please address the recently repopularized “forward press” of the putter through impact promoted by the great Dave Stockton and re-adopted of late by Mikelson? How does this concept relate to your recommendation to hit up on the ball during the forward stroke with the putter?
Thanks for all you’ve done for my game…I have been using PPGS since Friday and have hit so many great shots…I’m finally on my way to where I was as a teenager only this time I have a fundamentally solid swing!
Jeff Keener
To John Darling,
When you want to hit a draw do the opposite you do to hit a fade. That is for the fade you said you open your stance and the club face. For the draw to hook you close the stance and close the club face until it is square to your target and then make the PPGS.
Don
To Tony Rung,
You are getting real technical on me with this question on bounce angle on your wedge.
For those who may not know what bounce is, it is the angle on the bottom of a wedge where the back of the sole is higher than the front or leading edge. The bounce angle is what gets the wedge to well bounce, skip or slice through the sand in a trap shot or to bounce off the turf off the fairway so it does not dig in too deep. Bounce is what Gene Sarazen put on his wedge back in he thirties when he won a British open because he had a wedge that did not dig into the sand. Some list of best inventions for golf listed Mr Sarazen’s putting bounce on his sand wedge as one of the greatest golf innovations of the 20th century.
The more bounce the more the club will stay shallow and not dig into the sand. More bounce is needed if the sand you play out of is a very fine texture and deep. If the sand is course and or the bunkers are lacking sand and more hard pan, then less bounce is what you need.
So, first you need to choose the bounce based on your playing conditions. 1o degrees is quite a lot and 14 is about the max I know of. If you are buying just one sand wedge, you may want to consider a bounce in the 6 to 8 degree range. If you are like a lot of Tour players (it is easy as they get their wedges free) you may want to get 2 wedges. Then I would say 6 and 10 degrees or 8 and 14 degrees.
I personally just bought 2 new 56 degree sand wedges to go with my 8 degree bounce 58 degree sand wedge. One 56 wedge is 9 degrees bounce and the other is 14 for when I play in Florida where many courses have that sugar sand which is as fine grained as sweet and low sugar and you need a lot of bounce to avoid digging a ditch.
I play here in SC where the fairways tend to be extra hard and the sand in most places is fairly course with the 56 loft 9 degree bounce. I also have the 58 loft 8 degree sand wedge and a 60 degree 1950 Wilson Staff sand wedge with around 14 degree bounce. I do not use a gap wedge (that is another story) and use my PW for the gap distances just chocking down, swinging shorter and hitting tweener shots.
So, in conclusion I would recommend speaking with your pro or club fitter for their thoughts and recommendations on the right bounce for your area. Also, they may have some demos you can try to see which one give you the feel, flight and bounce in the sand and off the turf you like.
The Surge!
To Amos Terrell,
Thanks for passing on all your adjustments you made for putting and ball striking doing just as I said in this article about testing to find the positions that work best for your sight and swing.
You said it all, that is told me the reason you tend to look differently and have a slightly more forward ball position than is the recommended PPGS positions.
It is because you are left eye dominant and I assume because you did not say anything that you play right handed. If a right eye dominant right handed player looks where you look they likely would hit chunks, AKA Jack Nicklaus, who is left eye dominant, and his head turned to the right.
So, Good work in figuring out from the basics what adjustment in setup and swing make you a better an d more consistent ball strike and putter.
The Surge!
To Jeff Keener,
The forward press that Mickelson is now back to using helps the up swing into impact for putting because the hands are leading and ahead of the head coming into impact. With the forward hand leading and pulling up, the forward wrist stays firmer and accelerating. This reduces and virtually eliminates the wrist breaking down, de- accelerating and closing the club face.
The Surge!
g’day surge
started using your system about 4 or 5 months ago. have gone from 26 h’cap to 23 h’cap.have shot 3 rounds best ever.thanks to your system i am enjoying golf again. keep up the good work.
glenn
Hi Surge
My granddaughter (12) has been having trouble with her clubs getting too far behind on the back swing. Sunday morning instead of a wall to stop the club going to the burial ground I stood up a trampoline ( this had the same effect but no damage to my wall), in the afternoon she played a 4BBB stableford (hit some of the best shots I have ever seen her hit, A 4 for 5 on one hole) with her father and they scored 47 points to win 2nd division. Thanks, proof that it does work.
Don,
As a 53 year old student of the game for 3 years with limited abilities due to some neck and back surgeries I wanted to share a couple ideas I have arrived at thanks to your help in the advancement of my game.
1. I have spent a good deal of time at the driving range practicing the PPS and am seeing some very good results. I hit 75 balls on a flat, level controlled surface (golf mat) and it all feels good. As you go out and play you really have to think about the position of the ball and terrain as it relates to your set up, target line and swing. There is very little consistency for each shot and I am just now realizing how critically important it is to take your time, analyze the situation and adjust my set up accordingly.
2. My earliest mental memory when I first started was to swing hard for distance, this resulted in army golf. So now I find myself trying to take the driving range attitude which is slow and controlled out onto the course. It is probably the hardest obstacle for me to overcome especially as I progress through the first 3-4 holes. I get lazy and start to revert back to old habits. Golf is definitely a game of mental discipline unless you are a natural.
Thanks for all your energy in promoting this sport.
Randy
Don: I just resumed playing about 18 months ago after many years. I am 72 years old and improving with the advice you are giving. I am having a problem with “golfers’ elbow” however and wonder if you have a fix for that. I think I must be trying to overpower my shots causing stress in the elbow. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Jerry
John Daly brought out a video many years ago;in which he suggested practicing putting(and pitching)using only one hand ,Tiger uses the same drill.
It really is remarkable, I find I can lag 40ft putts to 2ft with 2hands after doing the 1handed drill.I think the lower wrist breaks slightly I suspect like Amos but I never leave it short now or 3 putt.Try it you will be amazed .JM
Don,
I started playing golf, for the first time in June of this year. I am 55 years young and very athletic for my age. I am 6′5″ tall and 253 lb’s and very competitive in everything I do. After a friend lent me a set of club’s, I hacked around for a month or so, until I did some research on golf, swings, etc. I purchased your PPGS DVD’s in August because it made total sense. After going to the range, sometimes 3 times a day, I have learned your swing without any “extra baggage”. I can now hit any green on a par 3 coarse. I cannot believe how accurate I can hit a golf ball. I can honestly say, that through your DVD’s, you have personaly taught me how to play golf. I have freinds that are scratch golfer’s, some that have been playing for over 30 years. I now feel respectable playing with them. I am glad I purchased your program and would recommend it to anyone.
Regards,
Greg
Mt. Sinai, New York
PS: I purchased a new set of Taylor Made clubs with custom shafts and grips in Sept. What a difference the right clubs make.
Greetings PPS afficionados,
Really good suggestions on putting. I’ve found a simple technique to position the ball in the same place . !. Position putter for determined allignment.
2. Position your right foot and leg so that the putter shaft is exactly in middle of shoe and
shin.
3.Place left foot so it just touches the right foot.
4.Ball is now positioned slightly to the right of left foot. Move right foot to position that is
comfortable for you. This will allow for consistent positioning (repeatability) in putting.
Thanks to Don and other members for improvement tips. Hope this proves helpful.
Regards,
Ray
To Ray Gawiak
Thank you. I’ve practice your steps and they work for me!
SURGE CAN’T TELL YOU HOW PLEASE I AM TO DISCOVER PPGS AT 81 YEARS OLD I HAVE TRIED THEM ALL (WILL NOT BORE YOU WITH ALL THE BIG NAME PROGRAMS THEY ALL WORK FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES) YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON ON E MAIL THAT DID NOT TELL ME I WOULD HIT THE BALL 320 YARDS OR MENTION THAT YOUR ARTHRITIC CLEANING WOMAN TOOK TWO LESSONS AND IS NOT HITTING HER 7 IRON 150 YARDS.
THIS PUTTING IN LAUGHABLE AIM THE NAME RELAX AND THINK ‘TIC-TOCK’ SWING THE PUTTER IF YOU ARE STILL IN DOUBT ABOUT THE AIM YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
WHEN WARREN MENTIONED THAT ALLYOU NEED IS YOUR PPGS AND ERNEST JONES HE WAS ON THE RIGHT TRACK. I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT JONES NEVER GOT MY BOOK BACK AFTER I LOANED IT MANY YEARS AGO (GLAD I DON’T HAVE ALL THE BOOKS I HAVE LOST OVER THE YEARS WHEN HITLER BURNED THE BOOKS HE SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED MANY OF THE GOLF BOOKS)
I WAS FRUSTRATED WITH PPGS ONLY TWO WEEKS INTO THE PROGRAM AND WAS VERY UPSET TO LOSE LOTS OF DISTANCE ON EVERY THING I WAS DOING THE ‘ROBOT’ SWING WITH LOTS OF TENTION ATTEMPTING TO BE VERY PRECISE THEN I REREAD ERNEST JONES AND THINGS STARTED TO MAKE SENSE AGAIN. NOW CAN HARDLE WAIT TO PLAY.
I AM 81 AND WAS A SINGLE DIDGET FOR MANY YEARS THEN STARTED TO TINKER AND THINGS GOT WORSE CAN’T MAKE A 90 DEGREE SHOULDER TURN AND WAS DELIGHED TO HAVE SOMEONE EXPLAIN HOW TO PLAY WITH OUT BEING AS LIMBER AS A TEENAGER.
I AM ‘LIFE MEMBER’ AT MY CLUB AND PLAY LOTS OF GOLF (AND DON’T NEED OTHERS—JUST ENJOY PLAYING TWO OR THREE BALLS AND HAVING DIFFERENT CHALLENGES)
WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU IN ACTION
THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING SO VERY HONEST AND I ENJOY THE INTEGRITY OF YOUR PROGRAM.
SURGE YOUR PROGRAM DID NOT SPACE MY REMARKS AS I SUBMITTED THEM
I ATTEMPT TO WRITE IN A MANNER THAT IS SIMILIAR TO A CONVERSATION.
I ENJOY YOUR STYLE VERY HONEST
Don
I have had a bad back all summer and decided to give your method a try. At first the results were mixed, primarily because I wasn’t using all the parts of the swing as you teach them. I have since read your book again and read comments from others and am getting close to using the method correctly and I have hit the best shots of the last few years and am sorry the golf season is almost over here in the North. I certainly will practice the method over the winter as I am now convinced that ppgs really works. It is enjoyable to hit the ball where I want it to go.
Nelson
Surge
If left eye is dominate, is there any change in set up for normal swings or putting?
Don, I have been trying to implement the 3/4 limited turn swing, I have a tendence to pull the ball left when swining this way. I feel like my hips are getting ahead causing a turn and fire effect.
any thoughts
Don.
I’ve watched, like most of your subscribers, to all of the video’s on PPGS and have come to the conclusion that the people I’ve paid X amount of dollars to for lessons have been a total, and I mean TOTAL!, waste of time – not even with whatever good intention there was to be had. Over the past few weeks after using and practicing with the simple, easy and MOST effective lesso you’ve given me, I can now play this game called golf. We’ll play it much better than I have been over the past ’so many years’. Isn’t it great to NOW swing safely through the ball and watch it go sailing down the fairway and staying on the fairway – not as usual in the effing forest/bushes.
Every comment I’ve read pays tribute to the way you make golf much more easier and fun to play. And I am just another of those who appreciate what you have done for us. Thanks so much. Oh by-the-way, I now out drive my friend who is on a 10 handicap and I’m on an 18 by about 20 more yards – it feels great to do that.
Thank you very much
Kahu