Being a golfer, you've no doubt heard the term "the slot." But, you might not know exactly what it means. The slot is where you want the club to be when you're swinging from the top of the backswing to impact. It can be a challenging position to consistently put the club, especially if you struggle with coming over the top.
David Pennell has never really understood the significance of the slot, so he sent in a question asking me to explain and illustrate it. My goal today is for you all to understand and eventually implement this idea into your game because it will most likely improve your ball striking.
Surge,
Would you please define and illustrate the "slot"? I have heard this term all my golfing life but have never fully understood what it means or where it is. Sometimes I think I can feel it but then I lose what I thought was it so I guess I'm confused. I know it's important but I can't get my brain or arms around this concept.
Thanks and respectfully,
David Pennell
When you get to the top of the backswing and begin your bump, that's the movement that's going to pull the club into the slot. You want to make sure that the club doesn't fall too much though, which is why your right hand plays such a big role in the swing. If you engage your right hand, it will control the club in the way you intend.
Good luck and remember to keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
Follow up
Dennis (from yesterdays blog),
Shocked to see the ideal video tip to follow your question from the day before?
Don't be. Many times, those following Surge on every new video feel that it was made for them and not the 1000's of other golfers that may view it. The ideas and pics I left you yesterday fit today's almost perfectly. One thought I left out was what Don talked about today when he mentions the secondary spine tilt. Keep in mind the secondary spine tilt and the drop into the slot from the inside is all because of starting the FUS with a lateral bump. As I said, by setting up in the Master set up position and parallel left we give ourselves the best opportunity to get back to the ball from the inside.
For those that missed it, reveiw the pics I left from yesterday and you will see Surge getting into the slot.
here's a couple more that demonstrate that secondary spine tilt as he bumps.
Look at 129 and 130 to see the one inch bump that simultaneously drops him into the slot.
And who of you have still not downloaded these 349 awesome pictures?
Surge's stop motion video
Robert, I watched this yesterday, and did not save it. Now, I cannot even access it on picasaweb. I am devastated!!! Please help! Deb
Pics
Deb,
Not sure who made it inaccessible but I can no longer access it either. Dang it. I hope they are made available in the future. I will try to find them again. No idea what happened. Anybody else have them saved some how please let me know.
Bummer. I would pay to have them.
Pics
Robert, I'm not sure, but it might have something to do with them upgrading Picassa to a new version.
Picasa
Kevin,
Perhaps that's it. In any case I wish I had been a little wiser. I cannot find it in my permanently down loaded gallery either. If any one was good enough (smart enough) to get them separately down loaded please let me know. Those were (are) some of the best pics of Surge we ever had access to. Sad if they're lost.
Those photos should have been
Those photos should have been taken down over two years ago! They finally come down I see. I have a copy of them all saved.
Picasa Album
Brady,
How about putting together an album similar in size to the smaller and recent Mini Manual with all of the sequenced pics for a reasonable price. I think many would be interested in making a purchase. I'm certainly interested.
Pictures
Yes,
I would buy them too. They show Surge's swing in depth better than any other collection. Would be great to have them for now and future generations. Of course "while we're young" would be best.
Pics
Terry,
Customer service informed me that they are planning on making the pictures available again in a members only section on SS some day soon. Let's keep our fingers crossed!
Pics
Robert, Yea!!!!! Great news.
These slo-mo stills are amazing. For me, the top of the backswing, the timing of the bump, the direction of the bump, the spine angle through impact, and the recoil, all were crystal clear. No other daily or reading of the manual explained these elements so well. I'm stoked!!! Deb
Just click "Save" once :)
Just click "Save" once :)
That is actually a great idea
That is actually a great idea. We'll look into it.
The photos will also eventually be back online but it will be some time as we have a lot of work we are doing to Inner Circle 2.0
right/back foot
Just something that has made a big difference to me.
I found the other day that there is an "ideal" degree of flare in the right foot that allows me to "sink" into it correctly (ie on the inside of the foot) on the back swing and then, after ringing the bell, swing up efficiently to the finish. This was a revelation to me. If there was not enough outward flare I would get stuck on my right/back foot (weight would usually "drift" a bit to the outside of the foot) and I would not get through the shot properly.
So, how to find the spot/position? Easy. Take a half back swing waggle in the preloaded heavy right position and start to sink a bit. I can feel when the weight goes properly to the inside. If it doesn't I simply adjust he flare angle a bit. When it feels right, i know I'm good to go--and this works amazing well.
Thanks
I need to remember to try this, because the flare of my back foot and getting stuck with my weight there is one of the problems I run into from time to time. Thanks for the tip.
right/back foot
Charles,
No matter how they sound, I try and read all the comments. In your case I am glad I read your comment on the flaring of the rear foot. While going back to basics [again ; - ] what you said about getting stuck on the back foot, rang LOUD and clear. Nice and sunny today and definitely warmer, so out onto the front yard and golf mat to swing. I used every club in the bag and was happy with the results. Like Robert Fleck occasionally does, on our last outing on Friday, I found myself a couple of times stuck on my rear foot! So I flared it more than I have been doing and Lo! and Behold! didn't even have to think about it. Not once was the weight left on the rear foot. A big thankyou. Looking forward to the beginning of the week to assess it on the course. I used the 'torture drill' to warm up and similar to your PLHR set up.
A grateful DH
right/back foot
I'm glad this was useful. For me, it is really the key to making the transition...and confirms, once again, that "the set up determines the motion". I suspect everybody probably has an ideal angle for that back foot which makes it easiest to sink into the inside of the right leg...but if you don't get that right, it seems to me the rest is just trying to make compensations.
i never swing before I've checked this; ie with the waggle/lift I described in my first post.
right/back foot
Charles,
Like Robert F. and DH I too appreciate this reminder. I noticed yesterday that all shots I hit solid and on line that I finished on the front foot. Several shots that were short and right I was not fully transferred off the back foot. Don't know if I've ever considered the flare of the back foot as a factor. I will also vary that one and look for better results. Thanks
Rear foot flare
Thanks Charles for this reminder. I have a tendency to take the amount of rear foot flare for granted and not do enough, It's good to know that it's worth paying attention to. Something I noticed while looking at foot flare, is that if the feet flare out at 30 degrees, so do the knees with the Surge stance. I do think a lot more about the knees when aligning and doing the swing than the feet, so maybe I'll try making sure that the knees feel symmetrical and are pointed out at 30 degrees to the target line as a part of setting up. I need something to force me to remember things like this. How about picturing the knee caps as a couple of headlights pointed out as 30 degrees?
I expect that you are right about everyone having an ideal amount of foot flare. It might have something to do with the amount of foot flare that a person naturally has when standing.
Dave
L2 Progress
For those interested in the L2 here is my first time out with it. It's not a love story yet, but I really think it may become one. I did not arrive early enough for the practice green so all my tests and trials were during play.
The best thing is the on line hits even when well off the sweet spot. The head really wants to remain square and seems to do so even when contact is made towards the toe or heel. I hit several on purpose well outside the parallel aiming lines and they still traveled towards the hole or on my intended line. With my old putter most short misses were pushes or pulls due to missing the sweet spot, not so today, Most short straight putts were in the hole and the breaking shorts were missed from speed and not line.
That brings me to the worst or hardest part of the learning curve, distance.
Most long putts 15' or more were left well short. Time after time I would tell myself to not leave it short, only to leave it short. I do not know if it was brain farts or what. The head is so big and so heavy that it seems as though a small stroke would deliver a long distance putt, but not so. I am by no means discouraged and will be sure to continue the practice. My next outing is Monday, so I will be sure to allow an hour or so for early practice green this time. I think and hope it is just a huge difference in the feel between my old putter and the new one on the distance factor and will come around with time and practice.
Robert, Or John, If you have any suggestions or information to relate on the distance factor with the heavier head transition and stroke, I would be most interested. I will experiment between longer and faster, but I'm really not sure if I should prefer one over the other. Without adding any forward acceleration to the stroke it seems rather difficult, but I realize that the pendulum machine is more of a constant speed back and through. I even think I may have decelerated on a few of the longer putts due to the heavier head. It is a work in progress as all other parts of golf, and one I will continue.
Also forgot to mention one of the better aspects of the putter. It is a free standing putter and can be lined up from behind the intended line. I love this part or ability of the putter. I did not use it on every putt as I was trying several different things, but when used it delivered excellent results.
Distance with heavy putter
Terry,
I don't have an L2, but I have used a heavy putter for over 6 years and have pretty good distance control with a pendulum swing. I use the same back and through method, using approximately 1 inch for each foot of distance. I actually use closer to 3/4-inch. For example, I would take the putter back 7-1/2 inches for a 10-foot putt. I had to practice at first to find the proper tempo, eventually realizing that it was the same as my takeaway on all my swings. The problem for most people is judging the inches to swing. The method I use indoors is to place a yardstick or tape measure on the floor, with the end even with where I put the putter face behind the ball and stretching out to the takeaway side. I have a foam block that I put at a specific point, take the putter back to the block, and swing through. I then measure how far the ball goes. I place the block so it is touching the back of the putter when the putter face is at the desired mark. An added effect of doing this is that it forces me to accelerate through the ball. I rarely decelerate any more, except when I let my nerves take over. I hope this helps somewhat. It is working phenomenally during my recovery period.
Kevin McG
L2 Putter
Kevin, Thanks for your advice on developing tempo. It seems to be where I need the most attention on the longer putts. I have been doing some carpet putting this afternoon and find myself actually decelerating on a few of the longer ones. I may give your foam block and yardstick method a try.
Distance Control
Hi Terry, Your challenge with distance is not unusual.
The advise you have been recieving is very good and will help you get into some good habits. The stability of the putter gives you an arm freedom that you have not enjoyed up until now. So getting your elbows away from your body will do a lot to increase your stroke size without opening or closing the face. But the biggest help to increase your distance control for longer putts is to include a slight forward press into your stroke. This will activate the next biggest help, which is to feel a "push back" with your left shoulder to start the stroke. I talk a lot about the right shoulder release through the ball in order to maintain the momentum of the head and to keep the face square. But the feeling of the left shoulder moving the club back does a lot to get the pendulum going and the slight forward press will not only give you a pushing setup, but will also get that all important tempo going with a smoother backstroke.
A side note to the forward press is that it will also slightly deloft the club face which will give you a better energy transfer through the ball on longer putts.In contrast, Less of a forward press, [or none at all], for the short putts gives you more loft to get the ball rolling with less effort.
Don't be surprized if you start putting long after getting these ideas in place, but once you do, you can begin to dial down the stroke size to fit the conditions.
cheers.
Forward Press
Thanks John,
I have always putted with a forward press, but decided to not use it with the L2 Putter. I am so glad to see you recommend it and I have found a benefit already just putting on my carpet. It does indeed assist the entire tempo of the stroke for me, seeing that I have been using it for years.
Thanks for your assistance and advice, and from all other contributors. A wise man seeks many counselors.
wise man
I am in Northeast Ohio if you ever get up this way. I have a training center that has a few gadgets to help get the motion, including my silent partner...the L2 Pendulum machine.
L2 Putter
John,
I am about 2hrs south of you in Canton, so perhaps over the winter I may just drive up for a lesson, if not sooner. I'll let you know at a later date.
PS, Will you be at the Cleveland golf expo this year, and do you know the date for the next one. If so, I will try to make it to that. We have a smaller expo in Feb, at the Stark Co fair grounds, you might consider that as well.
meeting
Perhaps in the next few weeks, we can do it if we get another break in the weather.
Forward press
Hi John,
I found your explanation of the forward press very interesting. I've always used one as a trigger but only recently stopped doing a forward press for the shorter ones and have become more consistent. The long putts do seem to roll better with a forward press and now I know why, thanks to you.
As a side note, it kind of bothers me when I see people using a forward press and then having an extended pause before beginning the backstroke. Jason Dufner is an example of a pro who does this. I find that my tempo is a lot better with a 1,2,3 cadence and" one" is the forward press and the first beat. With short putts, I do a mental forward press for the first beat and do the backstroke on the second beat.
Dave
press
I agree with no pause, it kind of defeats the purpose in my view.
Putting Distance
About a year ago, I had a big problem with long putts, so I worked and worked on these, maybe 3 times a week for several hours at a time. I experimented on different grip and swing styles and now I have them off pat.
I have a split grip with one hand on top of the putter and than the other down lower, have very soft hands and limited backswing. This style takes the pendalum point down to the top of the putter, away frrom the neck/shoulders. I control the hit with the bottom ( right ) hand and are able to measure the power of the hit according to the distance, if I'm putting badly I know I'm taking the putter back too far. I'm still using my old putter
which I think has a heavy brass head. I changed to this system as I always had problems with the hands working against each other, maybe it'll work for you.
right hand low
Your thoughts on your putting grip are very logical for the issues you were encountering. I have discovered that any dominant hand grip can give way to sub-concious in stroke corrections. the sub-concious has no problem using the dominant muscles to translate thoughts into motion. unfortunately, sometimes the thoughts are not in the best interest of the putt at hand. I believe this is one of the major factors, although not always the only one, that can produce the yips. I think that "sub-concious" thoughts can produce "non-concious" movements that can cause an extra push or pull that works directly through the dominant fingers, hands, and wrists.
The addition of Weight causes the smaller muscles to work together more than seperately. a comparison would be how we can pick up a fork without thinking about it, but a chair takes a concious effort.
This is, of course, not to say that putting sub-conciously using the small muscles, does not work... on the contrary, it does. It just has trouble working under pressure and with any amount of consistancy, which makes it even more difficult to discover. If it was inaccurate all the time, we would have walked away from it a long time ago. It can tend to work really well on the practice green though!
Right Hand Low
John, found it interesting that you mentioned to Terry about keeping the elbows away from the body, because that's what I do also, but each point up and down the line of the intended putt. This feels like a piston action and for me it keeps the ball on line allowing the bottom hand only to determine length. Speaking of the "yips", I found the soft hands approach, does nullify this aspect.
right hand low
Neil, Soft hands and arms away is the ticket.
The Ticket
John, thanks for the confirmation, I get many laughs from people when I putt, but from now on I'll just smile more confidently and putt away.
the ticket
Sinking putts usually keeps the laughs away.
Sub-conscious thoughts
Sub-conscious thoughts producing non conscious movements. Wow, really deep and very true. Today I played a hilly course on the far southwest part of the valley. It's up on the side of our 'black mountains'. The contours make it nearly impossible to understand how the ball will break. I made some really solid putts that went exactly where I asked them to but they did not go in. Ones I judged left to right went straight or even right to left! Then it seemed everything was missing left on almost every putt. I had LEFT on the brain. I think I was suffering from the sub conscious thoughts of not going left that caused me to go left. I think I was in the Bermuda Triangle of putting.
It is amazing that sometimes I can read every putt and other days I can't read hardly a one. Still I take solace in that putted on the lines that I choose even though they were dead wrong today.
I Did make a nice 12 footer on the last hole to save par. Jim Furyk sure as heck made almost everything today. Truly amazing. Sometimes it's all so easy. We know it's often not. That's one of the crazy appeals of golf. A constant opportunity for that great round when they all fall in.
Predominant break
Part of that may be that you're used to the far north-east area of the Las Vegas valley. The angle of the predominant break shifts as you move south. Everything has a pull toward Green Valley, which is in a completely different place when you're at the south end of town. :)
Green Valley
Robert, all true.
In Las Vegas they say everything rolls toward the Stratosphere Hotel which is about center of the valley. Green valley is over the ridge that passes through. Like you say that changes all the normal rules. Don't know if you've ever played the Revere/Lexington (two sister 18's). They are way up on the sides of Black Mountain -well above the old Henderson Black Monitain GC. With earth moving machines they have manufactured many of the shelves up there for the 1,000's of new homes and developments. There are changes in elevation of 100-300 feet on the same holes. Crazy slopes, many side hill lies. You would have to be one of Old Tom Morrise's sheep to walk it. Of course it is electric carts only. Many of the breaks seemed to defy which side of the mountain was above or below. I would need to play there regularly to gain any insider knowledge for consistency. It is about 25 miles from my house so that's not going to happen!
FYI, they just re-opened muni. They have over seeded and it is currently like a jungle. The rough is actually really high. Sod is wet and thick from all the watering and rain we've had. They are cutting it long as the new grass fills in and matures. You wouldn't recognize it.
Play on!
sub-conscious vs conscious
John you are one of the few who understands what can lead to what is called the"yips." I prefer to call this condition a war between the hands. Your description is more technical while my words are more descriptive and maybe easier for the average player to relate to.
Essentially the war between the hands has its roots in poor optical alignment. That is the golfer is not looking down the intended line of the putt. Because most of us stand to the aim line at a 90* angle we can be aimed quite a bit off. This leads to the putt swing going down the optical line and not the true aim line and needing a compensation to reroute the putter to produce the on-on-on square and solid hit.
For me and those who want to learn it conscious manipulation of the putter parallel to the aim line is the key. The back arm pulls the club back and the front arm pulls in through. Not what most people would expect to work but this can keep the angles rock steady. Which is the antithesis to the "yips."
sub-conscious
I have found that the AIM thought can add to the dominant muscle participation into stroke direction which can throw off everything.
Distance control is a product of our "binocular vision" assesment of distance, and our experience at reading green conditions,[ uphill,downhill, grain etc], followed by how we transfer these conclusions into touch and feel for enregy transfer into the ball which means backstroke size.
Direction, on the contrary, is a product of mechanics. whatever it takes to get the putter face exactly square into the ball, contact the sweet spot of the putter, and be capable of allowing the touch and feel for distance to transfer as purely and repeatably as possible, is the rest of the story.
If all this is done perfectly, [which is the big challenge], and the putt is missed, then the first place to look for a correction is green reading.
I found a lot of these conclusions by using my Pendulum machine.
The L2 Pendulum machine has perfect, repeatable mechanics for direction, and if the putter is pulled back to the exact same spot every time, which is the product of my touch and feel and green reading, transfers the exact same amount of energy into the ball. So when I set it up and use it, if it misses, I read the green wrong, or did not feel the correct distance, and therefore chose the wrong backstroke size.
[This is how I discovered the "lopsided ball" issue. ]
What a wonderful part of the game....putting
Narrowing the factors
John,
I have really appreciated your participation and observations about putting.
Repeatable mechanics. This is what we would all love to achieve. Eliminating as many factors as possible to allow it to come down to simply the tempo and stroke. Like you said, even finding the balance point to avoid the possible wobble. Interesting how you fully discovered that with the use of your pendulum machine. Purely repeatable as possible. Yesterday was good example of what you're saying. I hit almost every putt on the line and pace I wanted yet holed few over 5 feet. It was an unfamiliar golf course and I couldn't get the reads correct. One of those days. However I did feel like I made the putts they just didn't fall in.
Thanks for continuing to share more on the subject. We appreciate it:)
Sometimes the magic works..sometimes it doesn't
I have had the same experience of good mechanics and a sound stroke feel that still did not equate into making the putt. Along with the wobbly ball possibility, there is always the fact that greens are far from perfect. From unreadable dips and bumps, to footprints and old ball marks, but at least everything in my power to control I feel I do. and so it goes.
There's no game like it to be sure.
L2 report
Wanted to share my further progress with the L2T putter. This morning I made 3 putts of significance and lipped out another from 60 feet. The 60 footer was rolling with near perfect pace and just rimmed out leaving a 1 foot tap in. That was cool. The trick with the longer putts is to not fear taking a big stroke, while NOT a harder stroke. Any change in muscle tone can change the distance and direction just enough to not turn out well. Getting comfortable with the tempo and size of stroke is most important. Set up and alignment is actually fun, a real kick. Almost like cheating. The putts I holed were 25, 20 and 10 feet. I don't make all of course but expect to. Very good feeling to have. I have been also practicing nearly every day. Getting comfortable for sure.
Bigger stroke
Terry,
In one of my earlier comments I mention that distance is the challenge at first not line. I too have been figuring out the distance factor. Game of opposites. It would seem logical that a heftier head would produce more distance with less stroke but not so. Re-watch John's video and you will understand his comment that the L2 offers the opportunity for a freer flowing larger swing of the pendulum. A lighter putter (just like a lighter driver) swings faster. Oddly enough that was why I was so often way past the hole, leaving me a long come back putt with my lighter weight putters. Where as (like me) you use to pull and push putts that is almost none existent with the stable L2. Again, re-watch john's demo again with your just off the real grass experience and you'll notice he says feel is a distance thing. Remember, distance is not regulated by putting harder or softer. Keep your tempo the same, don't add any extra "hit" just increase the size of your stroke. This again was why I said that maybe your putting practice tool may not work as well with the L2 when it comes to measuring the back stroke and follow through. This is where most of the practice must be about distance. There are lots of distance drills that you already know or have saved in your putting library. Crack 'em out. One good one is to buy several little wire flags. You know the little red flags you can get at Home depot. Measure them out at 15,20,25,30,35 and 40 feet or more.(Or lay golf clubs down) See how close you can hit the ball to each one. Keep the exact same tempo and muscle tone and rhythm regardless of distance. The ONLY thing that changes is the length (size) of your back and through. Make sense? John will likely add some additional thoughts to consider.
Go easy on yourself Terry. This will take some practice. As you say, you'll have the whole winter soon.
Bigger Strokes
Robert,
This seems to be my feelings also. I'll need to practice various distance putts to develop a consistent pendulum stroke. A little more of just fun playing around will go a long way towards getting a feel for it's abilities. This is without a doubt the heaviest putter I've ever used, the lightest being The Thing if you can recall that one. I will play around on the carpet this weekend, rewatch all the videos, and hopefully do a little better with Monday practice and play. Not quite sure where John is located in Ohio, but a tune up trip might become necessary.
L2
Robert,Terry,Phillip, et al.
Just wanted to take a moment to announce that my birthday order is now
in the process stage. I ordered the Traditional version @ 35" in yellow. Why yellow? It will match my Alpha head covers. I like to look good even when I'm not playing at my best. ;-)
I'm really looking forward to its arrival and taking it up to Limestone Springs for a test outing on the bentgrass green there.
Oh boy!!
Happy Birthday Booger. Oh boy oh boy oh boy!!!!
Lee Trevino and yellow
Lee Trevino says he won't use the color yellow in golf, as it denotes cowardice. I on the other hand like the color yellow and live in a small two bedroom, yellow painted Bungalow. I use the yellow/green Wilson Duo balls, and bought mine in the 36" yellow. I just think the whole putter has more pop in the yellow.
Congrats Boog on your new purchase. I hope you like yours as well as I do mine.
Sunset colors
The sunset colors of red, yellow, and orange have always been my favorite. Most of my golf shirts and hats are one or more combinations of those. I was big on orange long before Ricky Fowler was a twinkle in his fathers eyes. Like I tell Cindy when I'm looking over a new shirt or golf hat, I can never have enough yellow. Have used yellow and orange golf balls but prefer white. I did get the white lined L2. Just suited my eyes at the time. It's a good thing they say it's not how you feel it's how you look and you look marvelous!
Now if we can just sink more putts!
The slot
I have found that the slot is harder to consistently find for the longer cubs like fairway woods and driver than the shorter irons. I think part of the problem is that as you go to longer shafts the angle that your hands make with the ground changes. It becomes flatter. For me what that means is that I have to concentrate harder to keep my palms perpendicular to the ground. It almost seems like my swing must be flatter, but in fact it is that my hands are at a different angle coming through impact. I have never heard this discussed on a video or blog and would be interested in others thoughts.
The Right Hand
For me this video has just highlighted the right hand. I was a domimant left hand controller from my old rotational days and found it hard to switch. The last few months have been working on a more vertical stance ( face on ) and
introducing the right hand from the top as Surge suggested. Previously this would have been a NO NO, as in the past would have me casting. I always presumed that you needed to have a spine tilt at setup, but Surge doesn't and instigates the tilt with the bump, so I'm still learning, but oh what a long slow road it's been.