Putting - Downswing - Shoulder Tilt

An article by: Bobby Eldridge on 12-17-2007
This article has been read 1085 times.

Putting Downswing

Here we go. We are coming to the end of the putting stroke but the next couple of steps are very important. I am going to repeat myself a few times but I have to because I need to drive home a few points and the last few steps are interrelated.

When you started the putter back, the right shoulder is tilted up and the left shoulder is tilted down. As the putter continued back, the left shoulder continued tilting further down. On a short putt, the left shoulder does not tilt down much.

The Left Shoulder Tilts Up in the Putting Downswing

As the putting stroke begins to swing back towards the golf ball, the left shoulder will begin to tilt back up to the original position and then as the putter makes contact with the golf ball, the left shoulder is going to tilt higher in the air.

At the moment of impact the left shoulder should be exactly where it was at address, because the putter is moving, it is difficult to see this in motion. Shortly after impact the left shoulder tilts back up in the follow through the same way the right shoulder tilted up in the backswing.(#34)

By now you should really start getting the idea that when you stroke the putter correctly the right shoulder tilts up in the backswing and the left shoulder tilts up in the follow through.

Tilt the Shoulders to Build a Consistent Putting Stroke

In the downswing, if the putter swings out to in the left shoulder will turn to the left and it will not tilt up. On the other hand, in the downswing, if the putter swings from inside to out, the left shoulder will tilt up but not on the correct angle.

The left shoulder tilting up is so important for the next step. You are going to see how valuable the shoulder tilting up becomes when I relate it to the clubface during impact and shortly after.

The next time you stand in front of a mirror with a putter in hand, take a look at the shoulders tilting and not turning.