In golf, the “rocking shoulder” putting technique refers to using minimal arm and hand movement in the putting stroke and instead focusing on the movement of the shoulder blades. This technique emphasizes a smooth and controlled stroke by allowing the shoulder blades to glide across the rib cage during the putting motion. By minimizing excessive arm and hand involvement, golfers can achieve greater precision and consistency in their putting strokes.
The key concept behind rocking the shoulders in putting is to reduce unnecessary moving parts in the stroke. By primarily engaging the shoulder blades, golfers can maintain a more stable and repeatable motion, leading to improved accuracy on the greens. This technique encourages a compact and efficient stroke that relies on core body movements rather than relying on the arms and hands to control the putter.
Resting the elbows on the ribcage can help stabilize the putting stroke. The putting stroke should be straight back and straight forward at the body’s natural tempo, which can be slow, medium, or fast. The length of the back and forward stroke should determine the length of the putt depending on gravity…uphill, downhill, or sidehill.
Practicing the rocking shoulder technique can help golfers develop a more reliable putting stroke by promoting a consistent pendulum-like motion that is driven by the shoulders. By honing this skill, players can enhance their distance control, alignment, and overall putting performance. Incorporating this method into putting drills can lead to better results on the green and ultimately help golfers sink more putts with greater confidence.
Overall, mastering the rocking shoulder technique in putting involves focusing on subtle movements of the shoulder blades while keeping arm and hand involvement to a minimum. By prioritizing body mechanics over excessive manipulation of the putter with the arms, golfers can refine their stroke mechanics and elevate their performance on the greens.