Rick, TFlan and all: When you think about it, it does seem a little odd that we all spend so much time in the technology and fitting of the woods and irons when it is the putter that really has the ability to most quickly and most dramatically affect the score. There is no question that when a golfer stumbles upon a putter with enough differences that SOMETHING about it causes a definite improvement in stroke and impact consistency, real improvement in the score can be realized.
The problem with putter fitting is that so much of it centers around trying to figure out how any changes in the putter can be predictable for golfers in terms of what the putter does to their stroke path, stroke consistency, impact quality. I.E. we all know that finding a putter with the right FEEL for each one of us is important, but we have very little means to determine each golfer's individual requirements for what feel results in real improvement. Even when it comes to changes in the specs of loft, length, total weight, headweight/swingweight/MOI, we're way behind in putters compared to woods and irons in terms of being able to accurately predict the outcome for any golfer. Part of the reason is because the target for putting is SO MUCH SMALLER than it is for woods and irons. Also, a putt is all ballistic while wood and iron shots are far more aerodynamic in their flight. So for now we're stuck a little. We know that lie should be such that the center of the sole is the touch point in the stroke so the face is not pointed off line - on the other hand, how many golfers have just figured it out on their own how to line up the putter with the toe up in the air so the ball still rolls at the target? Tons. WE also know that different lofts make the ball hop or bounce or roll better, depending on where our hands are in relation to the ball at impact. With a keen eye, Clubmakers can custom fit putter loft and definitely ensure a more consistent roll. We also know that high MOI putter heads can allow us to get the ball to roll close to the same distance for an off center hit vs an on center one. We know that length and the two weights have to be right for each golfer, but outside of a trial and error manner, we don't have much in the way of a definitive means to determine what length and what weights are best for what golfer. Hence by trying a heavy putter, Rick stumbled upon something that must have had the effect of making his stroke become more consistent. For some it will, for others it won't. Bottom line is that there is some combination of loft, length, lie, total weight, headweight, butt weight, grip size/texture out there that WILL allow everyone of us get around in fewer putts. It might take a lot more trial and error today to find that than we would like, but it is there for the taking if we all want to spend that much time (and money) experimenting. Last point - since we have one of the SAM PuttLab units in our R&D center, and since we have had quite a number of golfers in the area push us to put them through a full SAM PuttLab analysis, I can say that this is a wonderful analytical and remedial tool for showing any golfer just why they are missing a lot of putts and what stroke changes have to be made to become a better putter. Some golfers can adapt to the changes specified in this analysis, some can't. For those who can, boy is there improvement in putting that can be had with a tool like SAM PuttLab. TOM W -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Richard Wampler Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 11:59 AM To: ShopTalk@mail.msen.com Subject: Re: ShopTalk: Putters, etc. I disagree here. I have been through many putter and was never even a fair putter. Last fall I splurged on a Heavy Putter and now I think I am a pretty good putter. Maybe it is between the ears but I can now approach most putts with a lot of confidence and make a lot. rick >I just finished reading the article about new putters in this month's >edition of "Golf". I got to wondering; does anyone really believe the crap >the mfr's are trying to sell? > >MOI, better roll, shorter/longer, heavier/lighter, 2 ball, 2 bar, tungsten >weights, copper weights, steel weight, peripheral weights, face balanced, >toe heavy, heel heavy, center weights, center shafts, bent shafts, >straight shafts, short shafts, long shafts. The list goes on. > >Then I watch Woods make a zillion putts with a Cameron Karsten Solheim >Anser knockoff and wonder what the hell all the hype is about. Either you >can putt, or you can't, and the multi-gizmo ugly, $300 branding iron won't >make you a good putter. (And does anyone agree with me that >Cameron's Ping knockoff is no better than the original?) > >Oh sure, I have about a dozen putters, and I've tried out just about every >new one that came along. I have yet to find one better than the ca 1967 >Ping "Z" Blade I've used for years. I'm a pretty good putter (thankfully, >cuz I can't hit a green these days), and I do o.k. with most any of the >tools out there. However I cannot imagine why anyone would spend a bunch >of money for a putter that won't do any better than any other putter. > >As the old saying goes, it ain't the bowling ball, it's the bowler - or >something like that. > >Rantingly yours; > >TFlan -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.487 / Virus Database: 269.13.22/1015 - Release Date: 9/18/2007 11:53 AM
