Geoff Mangum's Flatstick Forum: More on Bobby Jones & Putting

Geoff,

Here is some additional information I found with regard to your answer about Bobby Jones putting ability and stroke that was posted in the forum back in October 2002.

In his book, “On Learning Golf”, Percy Boomer states, “…even the great Bobby Jones went through a period of “Walter imitation”. Though he did not adopt the same wide open stance, he used Walter’s reversed overlapping grip and smooth slow follow-through.”. The “Walter” that he talks about is Walter Hagen. He also goes on later to state, “…I knew that Bobby Jones had said that the putting stroke was like any other and that in actual application the Pendulum Stroke is a physical impossibility.”

Percy was using Bobby Jones putting stroke in support of his belief that, “I putt as I drive”. I took his statement to mean that he used the same feel in both the full swing and putting stroke. Since he was a contemporary of both Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen this would account for the “miniature golf swing” putting stroke of all of them.

Mr. Boomer also agrees with your assessment of Walter Hagen’s putting ability calling him, “…the King Pippen on the green of his generation and the father of modern golf-green methods.”. I took this to mean that Percy thought he was real good in 1940’s language.

On a personal note, THANK YOU for your web site. The time, effort and content that you have put into the site is nothing short of amazing.

Best regards,

Jack Boessneck

More on Bobby Jones & Putting

Thanks