After further practice, I've learned more about putting in general.


Path is important after all.

The clubhead path is a precursor of the clubhead alignement. We align the head according to its path. I think it's only natural to align it for a push when I swing the club out-to-in, and to align it for a pull when I swing the club in-to-out, and finally to align it for a straight shot when I swing the club in the correct path. Otherwise, I make adjustments on the fly so that I can still strike the ball properly and send it to my target. So, path is important after all.


How can we learn the proper path?

One way is to simply concentrate and do whatever is necessary to swing the club back and forth in the proper path. Easy to say, much more difficult to do in practice. There is no visual cue to the correct path the club should take. There doesn't need to be one but if there was one, it would certainly help.


A visual cue to the correct path.

Bear in mind that the club is swung in an arc which is at an angle relative to the ground. So in effect, it's an ellipse. But we won't worry about this for now. Let's just find a straight line that we can put parallel to our target line and use that as a visual cue to the proper path. We'll adjust accordingly. If you used a rug like I did, you already have a straight line (the edge of the rug), it's just a matter of using it as a guide.


The edge of the rug.

Stand off the rug. Put the ball on the rug close to the edge. Align the putter head so that the heel is aligned with the edge of the rug. Swing back and forth. Slowly at first to teach the correct motion. Take care to see that the clubhead goes off the rug a bit (really only a bit, the curve is only slight) back there and also after you struck the ball. This will simulate the elliptic path I spoke of. Repeat. Once you are confident that you can swing the club in this elliptic path, go ahead and resume the 3 foot drill. Perhaps you'll notice a marked improvement in your accuracy. I know I have.


Force, how much to put in.

I've also learned a way to meter the force I put in the stroke. I use my right foot as a guide. Just inside the right foot is my 5 footer force. Just at my right foot is my 10 footer force. And just outside my right foot is my 15 footer force. The distances may not be exact but the point is to have a good guide for short, medium and long distances. Farther than that should be my 30 footer force but I can't figure that out until I get out next summer. Anyway, I figure if my right foot can help me, your right foot can help you too.


Can't fix force AND path at the same time.

When I was fiddling with path, I found that it was difficult for me to fiddle with force at the same time. I don't really know why even though I have some idea about the reason. Anyway, the solution is simple. I must learn proper path first, when that's solidly learned and automatic, then I'll focus on force. It doesn't take long to learn either technique, it's just difficult to forget about one when I'm focusing on the other. Especially when I put too much force on the stroke. Then I'm tempted to switch my focus to control force but then I lose focus on path and can't control that properly. In other words, I get confused as I swing the club. So, it's best to focus on one at a time until it becomes automatic.


Have fun.