No worries though.Your alignment and ability to keep it through
the back stroke and follow through seems to mystify you.

You’ll get better bit by bit and shave strokes off your putting.

No worries.

Mark G

I do agree with you though that good consistent setup is the biggest factor in success on the greens. At least with the PILS approach.

And you’re right about using them together. I recall at the end of one of the chapters he said if you can use the putting track, Elk’s Key, and the super pro teacher clip you’re stoke would be perfect mechanically.

With respect to the Putting Track, I kind of look at it the opposite way. You won’t be able to keep the putter head in the track without touching the sides if you don’t fix your setup. At least, not without manipulations in your hands/arms to accomplish it, which should be readily apparent.

The PILS stroke is so simple that setup really is like 80% of the problem. Once you’re aligned properly, hands directly below shoulder line creating a vertical pendulum, and gripping the club with a dead-hands grip, you’re just about all the way there. It’s just a matter of taking it straight back and through. The Putting Track helps get rid of the little compensations that remain.

If I recall correctly, Pelz says that the Putting Track and Elk’s Key can be used together to groove a perfect setup and perfect stroke all at the same time.

If for some reason I was only able to own either the Putting Track or Elk’s Key, I would definitely go with Elk’s Key. There’s a putter path line on Elk’s Key to help you take it straight back and through, but the setup feedback is so important and that’s where it’s so complete.

As for the Putting Track, does that not defeat the purpose of accurate feedback? It’s relatively easy to train yourself to keep the putter head going in a straight line while not correcting the root of the problem — whether that be poor alignment, poor mechanics or some combination of the two.

Interesting stuff nonetheless.

I’ve also noticed the figure-eight putting stroke at times. I feel like it may also be caused by an improper setup. In a PILS stroke, the shoulders at address are parallel to the aim line, and they remain square throughout the stroke.

However, if the shoulders are not square at address, then you can’t swing straight back and through along the aim line without some manipulation happening.

Another possible problem is the hands not hanging directly below the shoulder line at address (failing to create a pure vertical pendulum). If, say, you’re too upright with your hands in front of your shoulder line (more toward the aim line), your PILS stroke will become a more rotary stroke.

Elk’s Key will definitely help with that because it will get your eyes over the ball (or just behind it) and shoulders square. It also gives a path line for you to swing along. With the proper setup, it’s very easy to get out of the figure-eight habit.

Another training aid that I use to help with that is Pelz’s Putting Track. That one will definitely help you break the figure-eight habit.

I just leafed through the Short Game Bible and I believe you’re right that he doesn’t describe any specific shoulder action. However, he does point out that if you set up with your body aligned correctly, with your hands directly below your shoulder center-point (creating a perfectly vertical pendulum), and you make a dead-hands stroke with absolutely no manipulations with your hands or forearms, you will naturally make a proper PILS stroke. I’m guessing he doesn’t specifically address shoulder action because we’re not supposed to consciously have any specific shoulder action. I believe, though, the shoulders will remain parallel to the aim line throughout the stroke.

I’m pretty sure I have a similar problem since I never feel like I’m aiming correctly. One putt feels like I’m aimed above the target line, the next I’m probably below, and as a result I NEVER feel like I’m ever *properly* aligned to anything. And that’s no state of mind to be in before you even step up to the ball.

I’m thinking about getting Elk’s Key for myself since (1) it seems to be the most reliable way to *quickly* get feedback on alignment issues and (2) all of the Pelz feedback devices I’ve bought have been more than worth their weight in gold.

As an aside, something else I thought would be interesting to hear your take on is remedying the dreaded “figure eight” stroke by using Elk’s Key. I thumbed back through the Putting Bible but I don’t recall Pelz ever addressing that with regards to alignment and how your shoulders should move during the stroke. I seem to have caught a case of the eights lately (especially noticeable on short putts) and it’s doing a number on my psyche and confidence. I think the rest of my stroke mechanics are pretty solid PILS wise, so I’m *hoping* more consistency in my alignment and stroke motions will help me lick that problem pretty quickly. Anyway, like I said I’d love to hear your two cents on that one if you see this.