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.  

Finding Continuity In your Golf Game.

OK, I will be glad to admit this might be my version of a golf Hot Take. But, over the past few months I have seen some real success in looking at full swing tendencies to help putting strokes. So today I put this idea out there for discussion. I admit this is not an original idea. Over the years I have heard several instructors talk about “releasing the club” with a similar feel through the bag. Sean Foley with Tiger Woods is the one that comes to mind first. 

The key component is a match of the trail hand grip. With the help of the ULTIMATE GOLF LESSON screens, I have a new clarity on how a player should grip the putter. Without going into 20 pages of detail, what I am saying is if you play weak in your full swing you should play weak with the putter. Or strong, or neutral or anywhere in between, as long as they match. 

 

As the trail arm extends it seeks a certain orientation, so if the trail hand is out of position, as the forearm rotates the face rotates with it. Shut becomes open, Open becomes shut. In practice, we have asked all players who use what I would call an alternative grip to check using the screen. We rarely see a match. In a sense it is like the hand has a mind of its own. If you argue with it, it fights back. 

Understanding this concept, I now have a more specific answer to the fitting question, “what is the best grip?” The problem is that putter grips are not always designed to match your hands or the orientation of your hands. Also certain grips tend to benefit certain putter designs. The best example is the PingMan grip with a Anser or Newport style putter. Mr. Solheim designed all components of the original Anser to work in harmony. 

 

To anyone who wishes to dig deeper in this and other topics pertaining to putting, I encourage you to participate in my online course this winter, please contact me to sign up. 

BURNT EDGES - Back to Work

Occasionally, over the course of my instruction career, I have taken a break from publishing anything about my research or instruction. I take the time to evaluate every section of my system. What works, what does not, but most important what do not I understand. This time it took much longer to work through. 

This past year has been one of those times. Late last year I was introduced to bio-mechanical concepts put forward by Mike Adams and Terry Rowles. The concepts, called the Ultimate Golf Lesson Screens, identify physical characteristics in a combination unique to every player. I am in no way qualified to explain in detail how they work. I will only say pertaining to putting their application has been a game changer!  

ULTIMATE GOLF LESSON

ZANDERGOLF

FREEBIRD GOLF

On a side note, if you are an instructor or player who wants to understand the swing better, you must investigate these concepts. Regardless of any theory or method you believe, you are going to understand it better with this information. 

Luckily for me it was a perfect mesh with the 9 Profiles. Perfect. Biomechanics dictate set up. Set up dictates stroke path. Match movement patterns to setup, pick a putter that is balanced to the defined stroke. Also lucky for me I have had the opportunity to work with some top instructors to test the system. I want to thank all my clients, who continue to work with me applying and testing the system  

I have always used this blog as a form of peer review. Take the concepts I am working through and put them out to the public. I will continue to do so. So, I hope that those who have visited this blog over the year will continue to do so.  

To my past and current clients there will be an update to the Reference Guide coming very soon, that will be emailed to you upon completion. There are 3 Guides now. How to define your Best Stroke. Putter Fitting to the Definition. Putting Strategies. I will be using Zoom or FaceTime to provide an open forum for my clients to discuss, argue and defend the concepts presented. I am also going to be offering putters built to match the system. The first 10 prototypes are finished. If you interested in participating by getting one and working with me on getting the correct fit, please reach out. 

If you are interested in becoming a client either as a player or instructor, feel free to reach out as well. I have some openings and would enjoy working with you. 

Finally, a word of gratitude to Mike Adams, Terry Rowles, Josh Zander, and Brett Freeman for allowing me to collaborate with you and sharing your students with me. It has been a blast and I hope we can continue working toward breaking the putting code. We are close.  

Aiming as part of your Strategy.

Aiming is a concept difficult to understand. It can be visual, it can be feel based. It depends on how you see the putt. Direct target (spot), indirect target (alignment /path based), all the way to the hole, or just a segment? Do you aim the ball, or aim the putter? No best way.

Random Putting Thoughts

 Working in your putting this winter? A useful piece of information is how the direction of your hand path compares with your shoulder alignment at address. 

Things to think about....

Two types of Speed Control when putting a golf ball. Speed that keeps you from 3 putting and the speed required to make a putt. The difference can be staggering to consider.

Successful putting mechanics are a result of understanding 3 concepts. Inertia, Effort and Momentum. 

I have never understood the consensus opinion that fast greens require a different type of putting stroke. 

I have never understood the value of optimal numbers when evaluating a putting stroke. Wouldn’t the conditions of the putt dictate optimal? I think the optimal acceleration pattern for the sandbelt region of Australia decels into the stroke. Yet on poa in California, not so good.

Putter Weight Influence Part 3

When we talk about developing a feel for speed control in putting, we are discussing controlling effort and momentum. How much effort does it take to get the putter started, to change directions at the end of the backswing, and how much effort to arrive at the ball in the proper position and speed.

It doesn't take much to find discussions on how to apply the effort. You will hear and read plenty about how to control effort. For example, in our online course, Burnt Edges identifies the initial source of the movement and the sequence of movement that brings you back to the ball. Do you control effort with your core, your shoulders, your hands or a combination? But even if you identify the source of the effort you have only solved part of the problem. More important is when do you apply the effort? Unfortunately, that subject has been one of those you are basically left to discover on your own, unless you are working with a knowledgeable instructor.

As much as any other factor, understanding timing is the key to better putting. The timing of your stroke is integral to controlling the putter face, speed and position at impact, no matter how you perceive the task. Timing is typically measured in two ways. Total time to impact and the ratio of backswing time to forward swing to impact. Total time of the stroke is another measurement you might see. But it is an indirect way of analyzing as the follow through portion is a variable that has an indirect influence on impact.

I have quite a large data base of measurements. The median time for all strokes to impact is 1 second. I might as well save myself the analysis as that is the conclusion of most diagnostic technology manufacturers. I have seen successful strokes as quick as .75 and as slow as 1.3. I use 1 second as a reference between up tempo strokes and slower tempo strokes. Are you more like Brandt Snedeker around .7 or Loren Roberts at 1.2?  It helps as we examine time to impact that we measure in 3 intervals. I like 5 feet, 15 feet and 30 feet. Not as much for convenience but these are distances centered in ranges the statistics people have identified as crucial to scoring. Many are surprised to learn that in the best performers, there is little difference in time to impact between the three distances. They use different length strokes, at a different pace, within a similar time frame.

Me at 600 grams total weight.

The next step in understanding effort and timing is to consider the ratio of backswing time to time to impact. This ratio is often shown as backswing to forward swing. The accepted range is around 2-1, where the backswing takes twice as long as the forward swing. Again, I don’t consider this as the target score! Only a reference number. If you like a slow backswing and an accelerating stroke through the ball then your ratio is going more than 2-1. Some players are a little quicker in the backswing and apply less effort going forward, so their forward swing time will be a bit slower. Remember your best putting stroke is like a fingerprint. Every successful one is a little different than another.

Bruce at 545 grams total weight.

Now, I have said all that to tell you this. Nothing has more influence on the timing of your putting stroke than the weight of the putter! You can practice for three months with your current putter and not achieve the results you can in 10 strokes with a weight change. It has taken me 10 years of research to understand it, but now that I do I can see a clear path to helping players more quickly. If on your own or with your instructor you think timing creates an issue in your stroke, first consider the overall weight of your putter and how that weight is distributed. Then remember that lighter is faster and heavier is slower. You might save yourself some time. Stay safe!