(Premier Login aceputt) Forum Owner Posted Mar 26, 2011 11:58 AM
Yes, Steveau.
Within a certain range (which varies a bit person to person), stroke movements are too short and minor to fully engage the body in MOVEMENT, which the brain understand as changing location or at least challenging and engaging the feet and stance in the action. So little strokes that don't seriously activate the balance-equilibrium system of the body are disregarded as real movement by the brain and body. That defuses the system that allows fine calibration of touch, and sort of leaves the golfer with a vacuum about how things will work out.
I teach that RHYTHM is the two-phase back and thru symmetry that starts and then completes the stroke as the backstroke sets the size and hence the putter head speed and force at impact, but then "sticking to the rhythm" from there thru impact is what "delivers the goods" for touch and force as programmed in by the nonconscious instincts. Deposit [backstroke], Withdrawal and Expenditure [thru-stroke]. Tempo or quickness / slowness of stroke actually sets the SIZE of the backstroke to the appropriate force level (slower tempo results in a longer backstroke for exactly the same force as a quicker tempo and a shorter backstroke size). So WHATEVER tempo you choose to use, you still have to have a symmetrical RHYTHM that gets the backstroke and spends it smoothly and completely. This all means that you can make quicker and shorter and tighter and faster and more "controlled" strokes inside this critical range without fear of blowing the ball past the hole or "nice-ing" one up there too carefully and leaving the SOB choke-short. Change the tempo, but don't fear the smooth rhythm, whatever the tempo, Try this in the 10-foot and in range with different tempos and the same-as-ever smooth back and the rhythm to observe how your rhythm keeps your touch safe and effective even though the tempo speeds up.