|
|
Seven Answers for Better Putting
|
|
Putting Club open Tuesday and Thursday 5-7
|
|
Greetings!
We announced the Putting Club a week ago. We didn't have many details because they weren't dreamed up yet. Here's a brief look at some of the things you can do at Putting Club that are aimed at understanding your current stroke with your own putter.
As time goes on, we're confident that we'll develop a protocol for indoor training and prove the results. It's a little premature to expect that right out of the box.
Meantime, plan to attend a few Putting Club meetings for no better reason than to tune up your own putter.
|
|
#1 Why are all putters 35" long?
| |
|
That's simple. Golf bags are 35" deep. That's because wedges are 35.5". You need a 35" putter so it won't fall into the bag and get lost. Simple.
Thirty-five inch putters are too long for almost every player. What's the downside? A putter that it too long will force you into an unnatural setup position. If your setup is not correct you will have a hard time making a consistent, repeating stroke.
If you're not sure, you can test shorter putters and see if your stroke is more consistent. If your putter is too long, we will adjust it to the correct length for you at the Putting Club meeting. |
|
#2 Why do all putters have 3* of loft?
| | |
The "Law of Averages" works for some things but not for putting.
In the Bay Area in the winter the greens get soft and the greens keepers let the grass get a little long. Your ball comes to rest in a tiny depression. The function of loft on a putter is to help you lift the ball out of the hole and start it rolling smoothly and quickly. Too little loft "pops" the ball out of the depression.
And then there's the possibility that the loft on your putter was never checked, including at the factory. We have seen putters come in with zero and negative loft as well as 10* of loft. You never know.
Is loft important? Why does Phil Mickelson come to town with five putters in his bag?
It's a simple job to adjust the loft of a putter if you have the right equipment. The Golf Lab has the only Mitchell Putter Machine in the Bay Area. We'll teach you how to use the Mitchell so you can measure your own putter and adjust loft for the season.
|
|
#3 Why is the toe of my putter in the air?
| |
Putters are designed to sit "flat". In your setup position, notice the position of the toe of your putter. Most putters are too long, and the angle where the shaft meets the head is too upright.
A sure way to tell your putter doesn't fit is the toe is up and you can't get it to sit flat unless you choke up at least three inches.
Repeat: If the toe of your putter is off the ground and you don't feel comfortable without choking up - your putter doesn't fit.
The result is that the "aiming line" on your putter will be cockeyed.
You have almost zero chance to start your putt on line at the correct speed. If your putter can be adjusted to fit, we'll do it at the Putting Club meeting.
| |
|
|
#4 Can I aim my putter inside the hole?
| |
Here's a sobering statistic. 90% of golfers can't aim their putter inside the hole from ten feet.
That causes a problem. If your aim is outside the hole, you will never make a putt by doing what you're thinking. Players who aim outside the hole have to "compensate". "Compensation" is a dirty word in putting. It means that your subconscious has to take over for your brain.
If you aim left, to make your putt you must compensate by pushing your putt or rotating your putter head open - without thinking. That's a move that can be perfected by professionals with thousands of hours of practice.
For an amateur, perfecting a compensation move is highly unlikely.
Putting Club includes a free aiming test.
We have gizmos to help you learn how to aim. |
|
|
#5 Is your grip helping - or hurting?
|
There are two ways to look at a putter grip. What are you holding? And, how are you holding it? There is probably no area of golf that tolerates creativity more than the way a player grips his putter. There's almost no such thing as simple. We can show you the dozen ways that players are holding their putters these days and help you pick out a grip that works for you. And then it comes to the handle. We have an extensive collection of grips in all sizes and materials to make sure that your connection with your putter is as comfortable as possible. Regripping service is free for putting club members. |
|
|
#6 What about weight?
|
For many years, putters were pretty much all the same weight. Then, six years ago Steve Boccieri jammed a pound of lead down the shaft of his Heavy Putter. That started a revolution. Today, most manufacturers offer putter heads in several weights. Many are adjustable.
The Heavy Putter concept has been refined to the "not so heavy putter". Aftermarket companies like Balance Certified and Tour Lock now supply "counter-weights" that are adjustable under the grip.
We know one thing for sure. For some players, extra weight is immediately helpful. Extra weight takes the "twitch" out of your hands, forcing you to use the "big muscles" of your shoulders and upper body.
The "bleeding edge" of balancing putters involves influencing the stroke by distributing weight down the shaft. We're working on understanding that advanced balancing method with our "Donate Your Stroke to Science" testing. So far, the results are "promising".
You can experiment with balance and measure your results at the Putting Club. |
|
|
#7 Which of my putters is the best?
|
Most golfers have at least a couple of putters in the closet. Now, you can test your putters on the SAM Putt Lab. SAM will tell you which one is the best performer.
How about that for a better way than trying to figure that outdoors on the putting green.
If you were a putter, wouldn't you really rather work out on this surface? No more cold wet grass. No more rust.
| 
|
|
The Putting Club meets tonight. (and every Tuesday and Thursday) |
The Putting Club meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Golf Lab, 1100 Industrial, San Carlos, CA 94070. Cost is $20 per meeting. One month, (8 meetings) is $95. The membership includes full access to all electronic gizmos including the $8,000 Science and Motion (SAM) Putt Lab - the "launch monitor" for putting. Drop-ins are welcome. Players with reservations have priority. Call Dian Terova and make your reservation for tonight. 650-654-1770. Your putter will love you for it. |
|
|
If you're not sure, stop by and have a look.
1100 Industrial, San Carlos, CA - Unit #10
(Across from Golfsmith in the blue topped industrial park.)
|
| |
Best Regards,
Leith Anderson and David Balbi
|
| For More Information . . . |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
