Laws of Motion

Action/Reaction:

For every action there is an equal or opposite reaction. Once you pull your putter back to hit the ball, the ball is giving force to the putter. When both forces collide this causes the ball to react and goes towards wherever the golfer is aiming.

Application of Force:

Application of force is what makes the ball travel. If you put more force behind the ball then that will make the ball travel farther.

Extension of the Projecting Limb:

This law decides if the ball will go straight or curve, travel far or short. Being in good position for the putt, having your arms straight for all the steps in the putt will make your putt successful.

Critical Elements for Putting:

Video of Putting

Preparation:

__4__1. Feet are shoulder width apart

__4__2. Weight distributed evenly

__4__3. Eyes over ball

Execution:

__4__1. Hips and shoulders still

__4__2. Arms, Hand, Putter swing back as a unit

__4__3. No wrist cock

Follow Through:

__3__1. Swing continues smoothly

__4__2. Square blade

__4__3. Holds for moment to check squareness

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3

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Skill is performed very well with no mistakes. All critical elements are demonstrated

Skill performed well with few mistakes. Most of critical elements are demonstrated

Skill is not used all the time. There are a few mistakes with the critical elements

Skill is used with no critical elements but has some good position

Pre-Control

Skill is used with little or no critical elements. You’re putting the ball and you are not in line with the target, feet are together, and you hit the ball looking at the target.

Control

Skill is not used all the time. There are a few careless mistakes made with the critical elements. The putter will be in good position but sometimes would be in bad position, not the same motion as they pull back the putter to the follow through, and the putters head is not square.

Utilization

Skill is performed well with few mistakes. Most of the critical elements are used. Position for the putt is performed well while hips and shoulders are still through the putt, weight is evenly distributed, and the back swing and follow through are the same motion.

Proficiency

Skill is performed very well with no mistakes. All the critical elements are used and is a successful putt.

Form Follows function

When you need to putt the ball up hill, the golfer has to have a greater backswing to get more power to hit the ball up hill. If the putter is putting down hill then he/she needs to half a smaller backswing for less power or else the ball will take off past the hole.

Potential Errors in Skill Performance and Appropriate Teaching Cues

1. One error in the skill of putting is hitting the ball too hard. This is common for putting, and usually happens because of the follow through. The golfer wants to have an equal and smooth backswing to the follow through

2. Another error for putting is not putting the ball straight. This can be caused by a lot of things like, not reading the green, feet not shoulder width apart or in line with target, and weight is not evenly distributed. If you correct all these mistakes then the ball should go straight in the hole and you can give a tiger fist pump.

Recourses

Schemmp, P, & Mattsson, P (2005). Golf Steps to Success. Human Kinetics Publisher, Inc.

Handouts from Fundamental, Locomotors, Manipulative Skills