Bobby Locke / Putting Lesson From the Best of All Time! / READ ⬇️ ⬇️

[@RollYourRock]

Please read the description ⬆ABOVE⬆for more info on a putting lesson from the G.O.A.T.... If you enjoy the content here on RollYourRock, please consider subscribing and "ringing the bell" to be notified of new uploads. If you enjoyed this particular video, please consider leaving a "Like" (thumbs-up). Thanks! 🙂

[@johnmule9419]

Fascinating watching this guy putt. I'd love to see a more video of his full swing. Love the old story of US Open champion Dick Mayer approaching Locke to ask for help with his putting. After asking Bobby about his putting "method" and could he teach it to him...Bobby replied "Which one of my putting strokes do you want to learn...I have around 25 or 30 of 'em...depends upon the conditions..."

[@RollYourRock]

Glad you enjoyed the video/description! - Cheers!🙂

[@donaldschmidt2990]

It's a fact that when Bobby Locke played in America he did so well, the other pros conspired to ban him! He once played a series of exhibitions against the great Sam Snead and dominated the matches. Locke not only was a glorious putter, he had tremendous accuracy off the tee. He was a pull hitter who hooked the ball to the target. Combined with his calm demeanor, Locke had the essentials to be an all time great player. Had he not suffered a terrible car accident, we would probably be speaking of him alongside Hogan, Jack and Tiger. As for his putting, Locke was so good he once went a whole season without three putting! Name a player on tour now that could do that. As for the slower greens, that only made it tougher. If you want to stop a tour pro slow down the greens. Slower greens are harder to read and cause a playervto put too much of a hit on a putt. Not a smooth stroke. Locke was an all time stylist. A true legend of the game.

[@RollYourRock]

Hall of Fame reply!👍 Yes, this was probably the last video of him before his accident in 1960

[@trader9926]

They did the same to Moe Norman .

[@RollYourRock]

@@trader9926 How so? - Can you provide details? Cheers!🙂

[@mrmagoo3072]

Definitely top 2 putters of all time

[@HILLTOPGOLF]

@RollYoirRock I read the comment about Moe. Not exactly true. Btw I knew Moe personally and spent a lot of with him and around getting to know him while hitting balls together. For the record the RCGA (Royal Canadian Golf Association) rescinded his amateur status because he was selling prizes to a group of buyers. Back in the day fridges, tv’s etc were prizes during amateur tournaments. Moe would call in sick from his day job to play these events. He’d win shooting a low score resulting in his name appearing in the papers (local, regional) hence his bosses would see the articles and eventually fire him. His only means of making money was selling the prizes he’d win. During this time he was a golfer without a home because the PGA of Canada would not accept him for membership as he didn’t fit the mold. Eventually of course he did turn pro and Moe is honoured in many ways within the PGA of Canada.

[@ABPerlov]

I always thought from the stories that Locke made every putt that he saw. Great and rare footage of Locke.

[@RollYourRock]

Yeah, I've read those stories as well!😂 I was almost disappointed..., but considering his record, he made quite a few!🙂 Did you read the description/putting lesson above?

[@ABPerlov]

@@RollYourRock Great story. I understand Locke developed his putting technique to overcome the grainy Bermuda greens. The PGA Tour banned Locke because he was just too good according to Claude Harmon.

[@RollYourRock]

@@ABPerlov Bobby Locke was a golfing phenom who hooked his way into the Hall of Fame. He hooked nearly every shot and even claimed to hook his putts. - Prior to coming to the US, Locke played Snead in 14 exhibition matches. Locke won 12 of them. Snead encouraged Locke to come to the US... - So after 8 wins in 8 months and considered one of the best, if not the best on the tour, what happened? One part jealousy and one part hate - the American Tour Players couldn’t stand him - giving him names like “Muffin Face” and “Ol Droopy Jowls.” - In 1949 Bobby Locke claimed his first Open Championship. Due to the constraints of his schedule and his Open victory, Locke canceled a couple of his PGA Tour events. - That did not go over well with the players on the tour who lobbied the PGA to do something. And they did!

[@ABPerlov]

@@RollYourRock Locke won a PGA Tour tournament by 16 strokes. He is definitely one of the all time greats who is under appreciated.

[@ag358]

When Bobby was young his dad gave him one of bobby jones books and told him this is the greatest player ever so bobby read the book and became a great player. He wasn't long off the tee like jones but always in the middle of the Fairway he said i just hit thr ball far enough to get on the green. A good lesson to remember.

[@RollYourRock]

"I hit the ball just far enough with my Driver to reach the green easily with my approach shot." - Interesting concept, wouldn't you say? Hmmm...🤔

[@ag358]

@@RollYourRock yes and most probably will hit it far because we all know extra effort usually results in a poor shot. I'd love to find a wood shafts putter it should give you good touch. Also ppl should consider going to a round shaft for the putter. I switched, it's lighter and feels natural. I had a local guy put in a shirt iron shaft . It may not be for everyone but he'll putting us almost half our game. Sometimes more hah

[@ag358]

@@RollYourRock I should have used his exact quote he was saying just get it in the fairway even if your coming in with longer clubs of course he was good with long irons and had many long range birdies

[@RollYourRock]

@@ag358 You might want to pick up an old or new Otey Crisman putter. The mallet head/hickory shaft was very popular in the 50s. I believe Jimmy Demaret won all three of his Masters titles with an Otey. Cheers!🙂

[@ag358]

@@RollYourRock Jimmy, haven't heard his name in but, he had those Popeye forearms. I'll take a look at them ty.

[@ysgol3]

Wonderful introduction - fascinating, thank you. Locke was only 41 or 42 when he had the devastating car crash which finished him as a top player. He played the game so beautifully and smoothly I reckon he had at least another Open in him had that not happened, possibly more to equal or even break Harry Vardon's record of 6 wins. He was a maestro, no doubt about it, it's such a shame he's largely forgotten today.

[@RollYourRock]

I couldn't agree more, except for Vardon' record... I believe he actually won six open championships

[@ysgol3]

@@RollYourRock Hi, thank you for your reply...oops, of course it was six, the last one in 1914. My inexcusable mistake, which I've corrected now!🤥

[@RollYourRock]

@@ysgol3 No worries, my friend! - Totally excusable...🙂

[@fairplayer7435]

Also very tragic what happened to his wife and daughter after his passing.

[@ysgol3]

@@fairplayer7435 Indeed, such a sad ending,

[@flyingwarrior7155]

He coined the phrase " drivers for show" " putting for dough"

[@mrmagoo3072]

I often play at his home course observatory gc in johannesburg its an awesome course with so much history and the revere him there.

[@RollYourRock]

I suspect you may have some stories you could share... would that be possible?

[@fairplayer7435]

Observatory is also known as ‘Observe the trees” due to the adjacent fairways separated by high lines of green wood. It’s a magnificent place with a lively atmosphere. Sadly that part of Joburg is surrounded by deteriorating flatlands in nearby Hillbrow and Yeoville. You have to run the gauntlet to get to the course.

[@misdit]

Not big on acknowledging applause, Bobby. Marvellous, clear footage from so long ago. Eye opening how dreadfully slow the greens were in those days. Nowadays the fairways at Augusta are faster.

[@RollYourRock]

And smoother, too! - Cheers!🙂

[@brianmcg321]

I think greens today are way too fast. I think greens need to have some grain in them. Make the players hit the ball.

[@RollYourRock]

@@brianmcg321 Brian, how fast is too fast?

[@MichaelSeward-en3qo]

This is proof positive that there is no one " perfect " way to stand at address when putting. The best putters roll the rock more smoothly than others and that's done by the way the face impacts the ball at contact with a slight upward motion and the ball just ahead of center. The 3 or 4 degree face putters seem to be the best at this impact position. Doesn't matter if your feet are out, in, sideways, WHATEVER, it's how your hands deliver the face at impact. Practicing one handed is the best way I can describe to get that feel of a premium face strike using your trail hand. You have to remember Locke was rolling the rock like no one else at a time when greens were not the pristine surfaces you find today, so it's obvious he could not only control the pace, but his break reading was awesome too.

[@RollYourRock]

Yes. - Discounting a few fundamentals, you can just about do anything as long as it's repeatable. Interestingly enough, I like putting one handed as well. But I prefer using the lead hand. Putting with the weaker lead hand, you're forced to move the putter smoothly or you will have no chance finding the sweetspot. Putting with the lead hand really smooths out the backstroke and transition. But once again, that's just me... Cheers!🙂

[@swingeasyguy]

Yes that's you...I prefer the trail hand one handed to warm up the way Tiger does...tried the lead hand and can't do it! very individual game!@@RollYourRock

[@RollYourRock]

@@swingeasyguy Swing easy, guy! ❤it!

[@mickmack8999]

Thank you for the video and the description, much appreciated

[@RollYourRock]

You're welcome! I"m very happy you enjoyed the video.

[@roythomson638]

If I pull putts why don’t I just accept it and setup like this guy!

[@RollYourRock]

Roy, that might be one option, but there are others...

[@RaysDad]

My thoughts: Narrow, closed stance. Long wristy backswing looks very relaxed but he tensed up on downswing. Like Casper he didn't follow through; he makes an effort to stop the clubhead an inch or so past the point of impact. Doesn't hold body still -- rotates shoulders and hips left during downswing so it looks like he should have pulled every putt. Strikes short putts very firmly.

[@RollYourRock]

Good/accurate observations. Well said!👍

[@regcade6767]

Thank you RollYourRock for your great videos - but remember, nostalgia is a thing of the past!

[@RollYourRock]

Reg, you're very welcome! This channel keeps me off the street when I'm not on the course... Cheers!🙂

[@leeeustace7643]

Great video of one of the greatest putters in history. Oddly though, he didn't sink too many in this video.

[@RollYourRock]

Actually Bobby made every one of those putts, but for one reason or another, a few didn't go in.

[@regcade6767]

When Lock arrived in America to play in their tournament's they said he wouldn't do any good because he had a weak left -hand grip, to which he replied, "I pick the cheques up with my right".

[@RollYourRock]

From what I've read, Bobby was quite good at silencing the crowd.

[@regcade6767]

His skill kept them in awe and respect of him. I had the privilege of talking to him and have watched him many times. - he's the most patient man and golfer I've ever seen - the perfect temperament for life and golf. @@RollYourRock

[@RollYourRock]

@@regcade6767 I could sense those exact personality traits from watching this video. Thanks again for sharing your experiences with the great Bobby Locke.

[@davidmcnamara3243]

When he won a tournament, he would take out his ukulele, meet spectators, who were gathered in the clubhouse, and give them a song One of the original golfing gentleman : pure class!!!!

[@regcade6767]

@@davidmcnamara3243 Thanks for that. I did know about it though, as I vaguely remember seeing a photo of Locke playing his ukulele with some people in a clubhouse I think - wish I could resurrect the photo!

[@philipsoutherton]

Awesome find, I thought footage of Locke was really scarce.

[@RollYourRock]

You and me both! Did you read the instructional part in the description? Interesting as well...

[@regcade6767]

@@RollYourRock Good, close-up footage of Locke putting is rare, considering he was probably the greatest putter of all time. The above are some of the best I've seen - pity he didn't hole may putts on this to live up to his reputation!

[@RollYourRock]

@@regcade6767 Reg, I would venture a guess that his "make" percentage this day had a great deal to do with some awful greens. Example: 1:48 😳

[@regcade6767]

@@RollYourRock I would definitely say that his not holing as many putts as usual was due to the bad condition of the greens - I didn't want to go into that, but they were awful! Mind you when Locke took the U.S. Pro Tour by storm, winning tournaments in I think 1947, rival Lloyd Mangrum said of Locke, "that S.O.A.B. could hole 60 footers over peanut brittle"!

[@RollYourRock]

@@regcade6767 Love it!😂

[@Way2sublime77]

Best putter of all time and they show him missing every putt 🤣🤣🤣

[@RollYourRock]

He made a few, but I hear what you're saying! By the way the ball was jumping around, it looked like the greens were pretty rough. One putt for example look like it jumped sideways 2 feet from the cup! 😳

[@pjb1777]

Burl Ives is the golf commentator?

[@RollYourRock]

Paul, you're dating yourself! - I'm 97% sure the commentator is James Newton Demaret of Houston, Texas.

[@gerrymcintosh4477]

From what i herd, that’s the most Bobby has ever missed 🤷‍♂️

[@RollYourRock]

HaHa... yeah, those greens were pretty rough, weren't they!?

[@FBI_Surveillance]

The other pro’s called him “Old Muffin face”!

[@RollYourRock]

and for good reason!

[@matthewdrake9699]

Wow those greens were slow!..

[@RollYourRock]

...and pretty bumpy too.

[@douglaskercher6948]

What was he doing at 6:29 !

[@RollYourRock]

Mis-judging the speed of the extremely slow greens.

[@JeffreyBuckels]

I am not a follower of the Locke School. The putting/chipping method of Paul "Little Poison" Runyan - put together by himself from a very young age - is the direct ancestor of the putting style of today. Bobby Locke did what he did - and his style is a hoot to watch - with this real active wrist action on the follow through. Billy Casper, another candidate for putting GOAT, did the same thing. A hoot to watch - so brisk and masterful. Palmer displayed the characteristic fault of this putting style, namely, troubles with long putts. Nicklaus in particular exemplfies the Runyan short way to lower scoring - get close to your work, inactive hands/wrists, placement. Nicklaus was great from every distance but I mostly remember the 6-to-10-foot par puts that you have to make to win the big ones, and Nicklaus made more of those than you can count. He had the great Runyan approach to putting, which among other things helps the golfer manage nerves. With Bobby Locke, you have extraordinary hands - same thing Casper and guys like Bob Rosburg. That same brisk manner.

[@RollYourRock]

Excellent comments! - Well said, Jeffrey 👍👍

[@anthonymead4359]

By Locke's incredible standards on the greens this was probably a mediocre round. But, you cannot judge a man on one performance in anything let alone golf! He won four Opens and a clutch of PGA tour events competing alongside the likes of Snead, Hogan, and Byron Nelson. I can't believe some of the comments on this thread - they border on lunacy. I mean, only a lunatic would have the mind-set to make such 'banal gobshite!'

[@RollYourRock]

"Reply of the Year" 🏆

[@thegolflibrary7322]

Golf’s Mystique Solved

[@RollYourRock]

I don't know about that, but this is highest quality footage of him in action.

[@thegolflibrary7322]

@@RollYourRock yes All Star Golf matches and some newsreel are the best I’ve found. Golf’s Mystique Solved is the book your text is from. By Dick Mayer and Bud Timbrook. The Bobby Locke putting lesson is at the back.

[@RollYourRock]

@@thegolflibrary7322 Of course! - It didn't register at first.🥴

[@MSDOGS1976]

The game has changed tho. I doubt the pop stroke like his would do well at today's Augusta.

[@RollYourRock]

If the hands are Educated enough, it just might...

[@iiZAPPx]

I just lack appreciation for oldschool putting strokes because of how great the greens are these days/how fast they are. I just dont think many of them would be as good as they were in todays game. I think they got away with a stroke that would be incredibly difficult to maintain consistent speed control beause of their green speed conditions etc. Whats the word... agronomy? Correct me if I'm wrong. Having a hard time remembering the term

[@RollYourRock]

You're correct that agronomy techniques/knowledge/mowers have changed a great deal since 1959! One thing I do believe is that the greats from any era would have found a way to succeed on any condition. As I'm sure you know, there are still some really fine players that have "pop" strokes in today's game. Cheers!🙂

[@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb]

Feel sorry for anyone playing those attrocious greens

[@RollYourRock]

Yeah, especially at 01:44

[@jerreddenton4862]

These greens were slow and didn’t have a smooth surface. The best technique for consistent roll was putting with topspin which gave the ball the best chance of holding the line. Obviously this isn’t the preferred method on fast greens that are smooth.

[@RollYourRock]

Jerred, don't you think topspin would be preferable to backspin?

[@seancornish9607]

that 6 footer at 1:57 was awful 😆

[@RollYourRock]

Yeah, brutally difficult greens for sure...

[@anthonysauerman4934]

He literally only sunk two putts all round, on 3rd and 18th, and missed more than ten makable putts, hard to see here why he was such a good putter... ???

[@RollYourRock]

Anthony, thanks for your thoughts...

[@barbt.9211]

I saw Mickey Mantle once, he Stuck out first two at bats, he really stinks as a baseball player. LOL

[@RollYourRock]

@@barbt.9211 LOVE IT! 🏆

[@1974jrod]

Looks like he was playing with Hogan.

[@RollYourRock]

In this match, Bobby was playing against George Fazio. Cheers!🙂

[@1974jrod]

@@RollYourRock ok. Hard to tell, but he dresses similar to Hogan. And, he was born the same year as Hogan, Snead, and Nelson.

[@RollYourRock]

@@1974jrod yeah, everyone wanted to look like Hogan.

[@chillier8363]

Slow looking greens back then

[@RollYourRock]

Yes, this is from 1959, when agronomy techniques and mowers were a bit archaic by today's standards.

[@christopherdavies7213]

His putting technique looks very odd to modern eyes. And the state of the "greens”!

[@RollYourRock]

Different times and conditions, for sure!

[@Darren-df2wn]

IMO , this feet together , left hand , finger swing technique, provides far greater accuracy and feel, than the modern " rock the shoulders " stroke , which was made popular by Paul Runnion, in the 1950's.

[@RollYourRock]

@@Darren-df2wn No question the Bobby Jones/ Bobby Locke technique will work if you have the right putter in your hands! - It can't be too heavy. BTW, that's Paul Runyan you're referring to. Cheers!🙂

[@quicksilver2510]

His putting is ordinary in this footage.

[@RollYourRock]

Well… some days, even the very best, are ordinary.

[@finbar481]

He seems to decelerate on the strike. Like quitting at the ball. Obviously it worked for him but I always thought that was a big no no.

[@RollYourRock]

Not a deceleration, but more of a popping, limited follow-through stroke. You're right, you don't want the putterhead decelerating into impact.

[@finbar481]

@@RollYourRock Ah right. I'm not sure I would want to pop the ball up on a putt though I think that would make judging the distance march harder but ive seen nicklaus, palmer do it and it worked for them. For the last year I've been striking the putt looking at the hole instead of the ball on anything under 10 foot and it's amazing! I hole a lot more putts and anything under 6ft is a tap in lol. I've got so much confidence with my putter now. I recommend anyone give it a try 👍

[@RollYourRock]

​@@finbar481 You can witness this popping stroke in Billy Casper's putting, widely considered to be one of the 10 best putters of all time. I recently posted a video of Billy making a $500 eagle putt. There are several current-day examples of this kind of stroke, the best example being Brandt Snedeker, another truly great putter. Looking at the hole while putting can be beneficial, especially if you have a little hit/yip in your stroke. I hate to say that word! Jordan Spieth will do this quite often on short putts.

[@captainbigbird9399]

There's NO WAY this guy is the best putter ever!!! NO WAY POSSIBLE. 😂

[@RollYourRock]

Many people would disagree with you...

[@regcade6767]

The reason he didn't hole many putts is because the of the condition of the greens - they were awful. Nobody, not even Locke, could hope to hole many putts as usual on greens like that.

[@captainbigbird9399]

@@regcade6767 I absolutely agree with you. The greens usually weren't as good back then, so they would grow the grass a little taller on the greens than they do today. The taller grass would obviously make the greens a lot slower. In my opinion, slower greens are harder to put on because you have to make a more forceful stroke. Perhaps Bobby Locke may have been the best putter ever if he could put on greens like we have today. However, I believe Jack is probably the best there ever was at putting under pressure. Maybe Bobby runs a really close second. 😃👍 What I do know for a fact, is Bobby can put a hell of a lot better than I can. 😂😂 My buddies tell me when it comes to putting, I have the hands of a blacksmith. 😂😂

[@RollYourRock]

@@captainbigbird9399 "Hands of a Sturgeon" is what I get from my buddies!🤣

[@jehosephophaniel3444]

i dont think he was at putting!

[@RollYourRock]

EVERYTHING I've ever read about Bobby Locke, says the opposite.

[@earlfultz8603]

Tiger woods is probably the best putter in his prime ever

[@RollYourRock]

Difficult to argue with that... especially under the gun in major championships. Cheers!🙂

[@martinshaffer2014]

His ability as a master putter is a myth.

[@RollYourRock]

Martin, that's an interesting take that I haven't heard before. Can you provide evidence to support your statement? Cheers!🙂

[@RollYourRock]

Martin, don't leave us hanging...

[@alberg6290]

did you mean legendary?------record certainly contradicts his ability being a myth.

[@Pooler29]

Because Martin's blowing bubbles out his arse@@RollYourRock

[@jherl8307]

Guy looks like Jackie Gleason. Gary Player claims Locke was the best putter ever. Didn't know Gary Player has never heard of Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

[@RollYourRock]

Thank you for your perspective. Cheers!🙂

[@RobCoghanable]

Doesn’t look so good to me

[@RollYourRock]

Curious? - What were you specifically looking for that "didn't look so good"?

[@RobCoghanable]

@@RollYourRock a usable technique

[@mrmagoo3072]

​@RobCoghanable, his technique is definitely usable he purposefully pulled his putts if you look at his feet at the address you'll notice the lead foot is about half an inch in front of the trail foot(closed stance) and his trail elbow is tucked into his torso, it allowed for quite a mechanical repeatable stroke I use it all the time.

[@RollYourRock]

@@mrmagoo3072 thank you for the feedback, Mr. Magoo!

[@Beazle00]

So that was supposed to be THE great putter. What a load of bull. It’s a poor wristy stroke that would crumble under real pressure against the world’s best. Jack and Tiger were far better putters than Locke.

[@RollYourRock]

I see you're a history buff… you may want to check history on Mr. Locke. - You'll find that his competitors were the ones most likely to crumble... Cheers!🙂

[@regcade6767]

Because it's a wristy action doesn't mean it's poor - it's what works that matters, and Locke's putting stroke worked wonders - FOR HIM. Bobby Jones and Billy Casper had wristy strokes and both were great putters - it's all about confidence.

[@donweaver6818]

Jimmy Demeret, "These greens are tricky". Did you miss that part? Didn't miss many greens either.

[@RollYourRock]

@@donweaver6818 1:03 😂

[@regcade6767]

The greens he's putting on are in terrible condition - so bad it's like putting on peanut brittle!