Putting: position of the elbows

Jesse Grewal

The position of the elbows influences the rotation of the putter face as well as the path of the putter. A neutral position of the elbows would be the way they would be bent and attached to the body when one holds a putter up in front of oneself (picture 1). While holding a putter up in this manner, the wrists would be arched and the putter shaft and the forearms would be in a straight line.

To control the putter, the arms would be bent at the elbows and the upper arms would be attached to the sides of the upper body. This could be done by rolling a large towel and placing it under the arms while making a stroke (picture 2). This position of the elbows would create a slightly arced stroke with the putter face opening and closing through the stroke. The key is that the face should only open and close to the extent that it remains square to the path. The face should be 90 degrees to the path at all times.

If the elbows are positioned a little away from the body and stick out, they would create a relatively straight back and straight-through stroke with almost no face rotation (picture 3). This would also make the shoulders tilt while going back and through, as compared to a turning action of the arced stroke.

Therefore, changing the elbow position can change your stroke. If your putter moves outwards on the takeaway you could tuck in the right elbow (for right-handed golfers) to create and inward stroke. Similarly, if your follow-through goes inwards you could push your left elbow a little away from the body to help the stroke move down the line.

(Grewal is the Director of National Golf Academy of India and CGA Hero Honda Golf Academy. If you have any queries get in touch with him at parexcellence@tribunemail.com)