Last week we started a discussion about how the weight of
your putter can influence your stroke. As we discuss weight there are two
things to consider.
First, is the overall
weight of the putter. This is usually measured in grams and can range from 500
to 700 grams. The second is how the weight is distributed across the putter. Traditionally,
this has been expressed as swing weight. Over the past couple of years, I have
been looking for a more accurate description. We have an in-house procedure
that in its basic form tells us if the putter is head heavy or grip heavy. As
putter design has evolved and more options have been provided for all
components, this creates a new set of variables to consider as you look for the
tool to match the task. The problems to consider in simple terms are more
weight or less weight and where do you put it.
Here is an example I see quite often.
A top-level player, coached by one of my clients,
was fit by a manufacturer at their facility. She was fit in the recommended
model of putter, at a length and lie. When the player was asked her preference
pertaining to weight the reply was, “I prefer heavy”. The fitter put more
weight where it was easiest to add the weight, all in the putter head. The
putter spec’d at swing weight D-8.5 and an overall weight of 565 grams at 34
inches. When you look at the stats alone there would be no reason for alarm. A
little heavier than standard swing weight and total weight, but that was the
player’s preference.
Now let’s talk about issues we see with this player. The
primary complaint was a right miss and a tendency to leave the ball short. At
impact, the putter is delofted an average of 3+
° at impact with a static
measurement of 3
° of putter loft. The illustration below is what we see on
Capto. I do not have permission to share the player’s personal information, so
I have cut the bottom of the screen image. First, we know from years of looking
at reports combined with player interviews that forward shaft lean is often an
anti-pull compensation. Next, without getting too deep in the weeds about
personal coaching preferences concerning launch angle and the loft / putter
rise angle combination as it pertains to roll, I can suggest without any
reservation, when you get a negative loft angle at impact, regardless of rise
angle, you run into problems. We have discussed this in previous posts at https://bargolfinstruction.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-diagram-above-is-meant-to-depict.html
.
In this case it is a problem, not because it happens every
time but because it happens randomly, which is worse. Most putts for this
player are launched around 1 degree or less, and a sense of feel is developed
based on that launch condition. But in this case, there is a tendency to deloft
more often than add loft and those putts that launch into the ground don’t roll
out the same. This changes the feel for speed and creates doubt during the
round. If 2.5 mph rolls the ball 10 feet at a 1
° launch. That is our
expectation. But a -1
° degree launch is unpredictable, but more likely dependent
on ground conditions. Cruising through the round and things are going well,
then drive one into the turf and get an unexpected result. Now the second-guessing
takes hold and our rhythm and confidence is in doubt. The first Capto
screen capture shows the putter coming into the ball and you can see the
evidence of the putter lean. From a putter perspective we must ask if by
driving the ball into the ground we bring friction into play early and at a
higher level than if we had launched the ball clean. Does this launch condition
and increased friction impact the ball speed?
The next example is the same player, same stroke. In this
case we are looking at the acceleration profile of the putter stroke and the
speed the acceleration creates. In this graph the green line represents a
pendulum movement of the putter. The yellow line is the point in the stroke
where the putter transitions from backswing to forward swing. The purple line
is the bottom point in the arc.
In the interview with Tony Wright
https://gameimprovementgolf.com/149-putter-weighting-101-bruce-rearick-interview/
I mentioned the analogy of a huge tanker. I think that best describes what we
see in a pendulum acceleration profile. The boat/putter starts in one direction
with the hammer down. As it gets closer to its end it reverses the engines, but
momentum carries it in the same direction until you reach the end of the
backswing. Therefore, you see the acceleration in the opposite direction even
while the boat/putter moves to the end of the backswing. Then as it comes
forward the initial acceleration or effort peaks and a combination of gravity
and momentum takes it to impact. In our player’s profile we see no effort in
the backswing, very little effort in the forward swing until about halfway to
impact. The assumption is this is a function of control. The player controls
the effort all the way through the stroke, then hammers the putter as if she is
trying to beat a yellow caution light.
Why does this happen? Slow back and delofted has been a
common teaching method. But in this case if you ask if it is intentional the
answer is no. My contention is this is a reaction to a putter that is too
heavy. The head lags as the putter comes forward. Momentum combined with effort
carries the putter to the ball at an increasing rate. Yet, notice how the
effort falls off dramatically at impact while the speed shown below does not. If the effort was maintained the speed increase would be more dramatic and the ball
would go miles past the hole. What you can’t see from these graphs is the slight
tendency to recoil at the end of the follow through. For this player the
solution is a work in progress. Not because of a lack of a plan, but because
brand loyalty inhibits our options. Another story for another day.
If you have any questions about the graph or using Capto
feel free to contact me. I will be glad to explain how I use it and my
interpretation of the data.
