Excerpt below take from www.patobriengolf.com
Having just watched The U.S. Open, I want to share some observations on the putting stroke. I hear announcers constantly talk about the stroke and what should happen. They reference keeping the putter low, releasing the putter and acceleration, to name a few things. Frankly, I have heard enough and I feel compelled to offer a little common sense on the stroke. If you follow the advice about keeping the putter low, you may develop the yips or already have them. Here is why:
You simply must understand the design of the golf club, or in this case the putter. It is essentially a weight on a stick, and the shaft goes into the head at an angle, usually around 70 degrees. What that means is that it is supposed to travel on an arc, and it should be allowed to come out of the ground. The head of the putter will travel up on the backswing, and come down into the ball before eventually going back up.
If you keep the putter low on the backswing, you are putting downward pressure on the club. The bottom of the arc moves inches behind the ball. At this point, you have two choices; you can let it swing and hit the ground behind the ball, or you can accelerate the putter with the right hand and arm to try and get the bottom back to the ball. The finish will be severely high.
If you continue to rely on your right side to bail you out, a motor pattern gets established between your brain and the firing of the right hand. It may take years, but eventually the right hand is ready to go before the stroke happens. It knows that it will be pressed into service momentarily. A twitch develops. All because the putter has been kept too low and the bottom of the swing has moved behind the ball. Add in tension and anxiety, and the putter is kept even lower going back. A vicious cycle has occured.
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To learn more about Pat O'Brien's putting techniques - purchase Pat O'Brien On Putting DVD and click DVD - Retail cost - $20.00 USD.
