CigarStone
For once, knowledge is making me poor!
You know those days when you are dead on with your putter………..and then there are those days when you you’re scared over a two footer…….do you wonder why the difference? It’s your confidence level. Since half of the allocated strokes in the game of golf are putts it's crucial to have confidence in your putter.
If you struggle with confidence in your putter here are a couple things to try.
First:
Understand the importance of “the stroke”; most people try to put the ball in the hole during the stroke and this is the worst thing you can do. It takes everything you can do to concentrate long enough to make a perfect stroke, don't distract yourself by thinking of other things. Understand the break, understand the speed, set your self accordingly and “forget the hole”……just try to make a perfect stroke. That comment may sound like splitting hairs but your mind is distracted from making a proper stroke when you are thinking about “the hole” or “making the putt”.
Second:
Try a putter that is engineered to overcome your distractions. There are three things related to the putter itself which effect the outcome of a putt. 1. The force you impart on the ball 2. The alignment of the putter face at impact (aimed left or right) and 3. Where the ball strikes the putter face in relationship to the sweetspot. Believe it or not, these are in reverse order of importance because when you miss the sweetspot you are effecting both aim and speed. Try a MOI (Moment Of Inertia) putter which is designed to stay on line (helping the sweetspot contact the ball) and stay properly aimed.
In the above picture you can see the brass weight at the bottom and back of the putter. Here’s how it works.
The further the weight is from the axis (the shaft) the harder it is to turn the head, just like any issue with leverage, the further the weight is from the work the harder the work is to perform. This displaced weight keeps your hand and arm muscles from involuntarily (because you are distracted) rotating the putter head which causes alignment problems, and also prevents you from moving the putter head off line which causes you to miss the sweetspot.
These putters are called “tater mashers” “gopher traps” “branding irons” and various other things; typically by the guy you just took $10 from.
If you struggle with confidence in your putter here are a couple things to try.
First:
Understand the importance of “the stroke”; most people try to put the ball in the hole during the stroke and this is the worst thing you can do. It takes everything you can do to concentrate long enough to make a perfect stroke, don't distract yourself by thinking of other things. Understand the break, understand the speed, set your self accordingly and “forget the hole”……just try to make a perfect stroke. That comment may sound like splitting hairs but your mind is distracted from making a proper stroke when you are thinking about “the hole” or “making the putt”.
Second:
Try a putter that is engineered to overcome your distractions. There are three things related to the putter itself which effect the outcome of a putt. 1. The force you impart on the ball 2. The alignment of the putter face at impact (aimed left or right) and 3. Where the ball strikes the putter face in relationship to the sweetspot. Believe it or not, these are in reverse order of importance because when you miss the sweetspot you are effecting both aim and speed. Try a MOI (Moment Of Inertia) putter which is designed to stay on line (helping the sweetspot contact the ball) and stay properly aimed.
In the above picture you can see the brass weight at the bottom and back of the putter. Here’s how it works.
The further the weight is from the axis (the shaft) the harder it is to turn the head, just like any issue with leverage, the further the weight is from the work the harder the work is to perform. This displaced weight keeps your hand and arm muscles from involuntarily (because you are distracted) rotating the putter head which causes alignment problems, and also prevents you from moving the putter head off line which causes you to miss the sweetspot.
These putters are called “tater mashers” “gopher traps” “branding irons” and various other things; typically by the guy you just took $10 from.
We will probably have a 5 degree day and a 55 degree day in the next 3 weeks.
