Breaking The "Average" Barrier.

I started focusing on putting instruction around 15 years ago. I was working for a company that was an early distributor for Science and Motion Puttlab in the US. This was about the same time that Trackman was introduced, so it was the early age of technology for teaching and fitting. While the skeptics outnumbered the believers at the time, I was convinced the technology was the code breaker for putting. Now 15 years later, we have a million times better understanding of the geometry and mechanics involved in the putting stroke. However, over the last 10 years we have not seen any statistical improvement. On Tour we still make about 50% of our putts from 8 feet, which I believe is a benchmark stat, and it has been that way for 10 years. The stats guys will start firing corrections at me at this point, but regardless how we position the numbers, the stats do not tell us why we aren't any better. What they do tell us, clearly, is that ON AVERAGE we have not gotten better!  

When it comes to golf Average is a lousy standard. At least that was something Mr. Palmer always stressed to me. I am getting away from my point, but I know his acceptable standards are what won him his majors, as much as his talent. Performing at an average level might make you better than you are now, but certainly from a competitive point of view, average is not good enough. It becomes a wall or barrier. So, you must ask yourself, has 50% from 8 feet become a barrier and why are we not getting better? The following, idea is not going to be popular but is absolutely a reason to consider. 

Putter Design. 

The idea of more forgiving golf equipment might be helpful from a full swing perspective, but when it comes to the exact nature of putting it is a big step toward average. It is fair to say that those at the highest skill level control impact better than those who are average performers. There have been several studies pertaining to impact that all show the same result. The smaller the dispersion of impact points on the putter the better the performance. Finding the center of the putter is a feel-based task. You make a stroke that provides solid impact, you will copy the feel of that stroke. The problem with many modern designs is that they mask the feedback. An off-center strike “feels” the same as a solid one. The problem is, even with all the technology to help, with a strike on the toe or heel comes different ball performance. What you feel will not match your expectations of read. In effect, you never learn.  

This concept is so important that has become my priority as an instructor. Find the set-up, motion sequence, and putter design where you “flush” every putt. Once you achieve that, you will be well on your way to finding the other information you need. Over the next series of posts, I will expand on some of the other reasons I believe hurt us pertaining to putting. But it all starts with impact.