Golf Club Counterweighting - Not a Fad!
We have discussed golf club Counterweighting in this newsletter and in my blog posts in the past. Counterweighting or butt weighting of golf clubs is adding addition weight to the grip end of the club. Here is a press release about the putter that Justin Rose used to win the U. S. Open - this putter had extra weight in the grip end: Justin Rose Counterweighted Putter There is also now a company - Boccieri Golf - that manufactures a grip that includes a 17 gram weight in the grip cap. They have a pretty good spokesperson for their product - Jack Nicklaus. Here is a link to a fascinating video about how counterweighting did help his game in his prime, and is helping his game: Jack Nicklaus - The Value of CounterweightingFor irons and drivers, there is no set formula for when counterweighting will help a golfer get improved results. So why does it help when it does - the key is what counterweighting does to the Overall Balance of golf clubs and how golfers respond to changes in balance. I have, for example, made up a set of five 6-iron test clubs - with no counterweight in one, and with counterweights varying from 12 grams to 40 grams. The 40 gram counterweight moves the Balance Point of the club 2 inches closer to the butt end of the club - this is a large change in feel. Different grips can also have the effect of counterweighting in clubs. For example, some larger grips can weight as much as 20 to 30 grams more than standard size grips. When you consider getting larger grips put on your clubs, be sure you hit some shots with at least one of the clubs with the larger grips, and be sure you like the change in feel of the added weight. As discussed here before, I consider counterweighting in putters to be the true Secret Sauce for helping golfers get great speed control and rhythm in their putting strokes. Particularly when using a weight that an be put down the putter shaft, counterweighting can smooth out a putting stroke. Jack Nicklaus knew something was different in how his clubs performed that either had or did not have counterweights in them!
|
Putter Offset - Why or Why Not?
A large majority of putters that are sold by major putter companies have some type of offset in them. Why do many putters have offset? - inquiring minds want to know! I attempted to do some research about the history of offset in putters, but did not really find anything concrete. I did, though, find some old pictures of putters from as far back as the 1890's. This link is from some materials done by Geoff Magnum, a putting teacher: Some pictures of old putters with offsetThere is a lot of confusing information available on why or why not offset is needed in putters. A large majority of this information falls into two camps: - Putter offset is needed to promote keeping the hands forward in the putting stroke; or
- The type of offset you need in a putter is related to whether you are left or right eye dominant. I have seen some posts saying if you are right eye dominant you need offset - and others saying the opposite.
I am personally on the side of what Geoff Magnum said in the link I noted above - that many of the early putters built had offset, and companies have continued to build many putters with offset with no compelling performance reason. That said - there is nothing wrong with an offset putter as long as you know what it IN FACT can do to your putting performance. Offset can affect how a golfer aims his or her putter at address. Research done by Edel Golf suggests that, for about 70% of right-handed golfers, offset promotes aiming to the left at address - though for the other 30% it can promote aiming to the right at address. The more the offset, the more the tendency to aim left. Also hard "plumber's neck" offset can influence aim more than softer 's-bend" offset. Offset, then, has an important influence on how a golfer looks at and aims a putter. So when you buy your next putter, pay attention to the fact that offset that looks "pretty" may actually influence how well you can putt!
|
Left-Handed Edel Wedges Available - and Swing Aid ReviewAny day now, I expect I will receive the left-handed Edel Wedge Fitting System - if you are a lefty and want to improve your wedge short game, please come and see me and find out how well these wedges can perform to improve your game!
----------
A few months ago I wrote about the Swingbyte swing analysis / training device. Recently MyGolfSpy did a review of a number of swing analysis / training devices; here is the link to that review...
Golf Swing Analysis / Training Device Review
----------
Happy July!
The Fit Is IT!!
Tony Wright (Helping Golfers Get "Lucky!")
GAME IMPROVEMENT GOLF
Oak Ridge, TN
The PREMIER Short Game Fitting Center in East Tennessee!
tony@gameimprovementgolf.com
www.gameimprovementgolf.com
|
