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 Was the key an eagle-like eyesight that could pinpoint where a break began? His fluid mechanics? The buffalo meat that was a staple of his diet? If you believe him, it was laziness. As he recounts in 2003’s “Golf’s Greatest 18,” Casper said he didn’t like walking around the course as a youth, so he hung out near the putting green. The flip side of that likely facetious remark is that Casper spent a lot of time on the putting green and improved his stroke by hitting putt after putt after putt. That might still be the best way to improve. But few of us have the focus, dedication and commitment of a Billy Casper, so a little assistance helps. If you’re struggling on the greens, we’ve found some people who can help. Read on. Read them so you don’t weep No matter your stroke, if you don’t know where the ball should go, you won’t make many putts. “If you can’t read greens, then putting becomes all about luck,” said Derek Uyeda, a PGA instructor at Stadium Golf Center in San Diego. “In fact, without the ability to read greens, even with perfect stroke and speed, you’ll likely miss the majority of your putts.” Reading a green should begin before you step on the putting surface. “I always walk with my head up to get an overall view of the land before I’m even on the green,“ Uyeda said. “After I get to the green, I mark the ball and take a quick walk around to see with my eyes and my feet. Sometimes you can feel something in your feet, such as a slight slope, which can give you information on how to hole the putt.” A good place to start figuring out how a ball will roll is determining the high and low points of the green and the course. “Obviously, the slope of the green will affect how a putt will roll, but when hitting breaking putts, you have to consider whether you are hitting a downhill or uphill putt,” Uyeda said. “Downhill putts break more than uphill putts because you have to hit the ball softer, and the faster the ball travels, the less it curves.” An important part of reading the green is where to stand. “Typically, I encourage my students to stand seven to 10 paces behind the ball and in line with the hole,” Uyeda said. “Then, you should slide to one side to look at the line on which you want to hit the putt. The only problem is that everyone sees things differently. Through experimenting, try to find out where you see the break the best.” Technically speaking Two Southern California teaching professionals are among the growing ranks of instructors utilizing putting analysis machines that measure and record every aspect of the putting stroke. “There’s never been a really good system to measure what is actually happening with the putting stroke,” said PGA professional George Pinnell, who purchased a SAM Putt Lab system this year for his Rowland Heights golf academy. “This is the first one that measures a putting stroke like a normal golf swing and gives you detailed information on 28 different parameters.” The machine takes a reading every 15 millimeters of the stroke, and the numbers are easy for students to comprehend. “Even with a video, you can explain to a student what they’re doing wrong, but until they feel it, they’ll walk away not understanding what you’re talking about,” Pinnell said. “This system gives them the benefit of seeing the feedback and that makes it such an effective teaching tool.” Nick Kumpis, a PGA instructor at Pelican Hill Golf Club, uses a TOMI system, which utilizes a clip attached to the putter head. Using infrared light, the clip signals information during the stroke to a base unit, which transmits the data to a computer. The software then converts the data into graphics and charts. “It captures every bit of information you need, from alignment and impact to tempo and rotation,” Kumpis said. “And unlike a regular video system, where you plug in a camera and get a standard image, this one produces graphics that make it very easy to understand where the stroke needs work.” Though both machines provide valuable information, Kumpis said it’s imperative to practice as well. “You still need an instructor to help implement changes,” he said. Thinking outside the putter box Ron Pritchett designed the Round-a-Bout G-360 putter four years ago. He assembles the putters, which are available through Ashdon Golf, in his garage in Ramona and does the majority of his business over the Internet and through word of mouth. Yet Pritchett’s humble operation netted him the top ranking in RankMark’s 2007 survey of putters. The secret? There’s a ball attached to the middle of the putter head that reduces bounces or jumps, since “the ball is pushed along the ground by the circle rather than lifted in the air like a normal putter,” Pritchett said. “I didn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, but I did change the actual engineering of the putter, which is something that most putter companies haven’t done,” he said. “They may change the color of the insert or the cosmetics, but it’s really the same kind of putter. This one is definitely different.” Another local manufacturer, Fisher Golf, uses the company’s patented Advanced Polymer Insert Technology in its putters, which increases the time the ball is in contact with the putter face and results in less skid and spin. “Metal putters come off as too hot and you get no control over speed or direction,” said Glen Passaretti, the Fountain Valley-based company’s director of sales. “I equate it to driving your car on ice. No matter what you do with the steering wheel, the car goes where it wants to go. That’s like using a metal putter. But with our putters, you suddenly have grip and control over the speed and direction.” The inserts include softer, soft, firm and firmer feels. The softer the feel, the slower the ball rolls, meaning golfers can switch inserts based on playing condition or their stroke. “A lot of people don’t know there is an option in feel,” Passaretti said. “But with our four-speed putters, all you have to do is flip the insert around or screw another in and you have a completely different feeling putter in your hands that gives you phenomenal control over your ball.” Make more putts with a sound stroke and a regular routine By Eric Lohman The easiest way for a beginner or intermediate player to reduce strokes is to create a fundamentally sound putting routine and then practice it on a regular basis. The following tips will help: 1) Bend from the waist until your weight is distributed evenly on the balls of your feet. Your eyes should be directly over the ball and your arms should hang freely under your shoulders. 2) Limit the turning of your shoulders and hips by setting up “pigeon toed” to restrict lower body movement. This will keep the putter moving along your intended target line. 3) Your backswing and follow through should be the same pace and distance from your starting point — like a pendulum. Accelerate at impact and finish with your hands gripping the club over your forward thigh. 4) Lead with your forward wrist, and don’t allow the putter head to swing underneath your hands, which could cause the ball to bounce. 5) Square the putter’s face to your intended target line before every putt. It’s common for golfers to aim several inches away from the proper line and then subconsciously try to square the putter face during the follow through. Have someone watch you hit some practice putts to let you know if you’re aiming properly. 6) Putt through the ball and finish your stroke, which allows the putter face to remain square to your intended path. This will result in the toe of the putter appearing to turn left of your target, but you’re actually releasing the putter face, which ensures that the ball will roll on its intended line. Eric Lohman is the KemperSports PGA General Manager at Yorba Linda’s Black Gold Golf Club. He can be reached at (714) 961-0253, ext. 111 or elohman@blackgoldgolf.com. Mastering the art of lag putting By Dave Pelz You might have other issues on the green as well, but improving your lag-putting skills will get you on the fast track to better scores. On average, PGA Tour players three-putt on 3.3 percent of the holes they play, while some high handicappers three-putt six times as often. Better pitching and chipping would solve part of the issue, but you can improve your game significantly with more consistent lag putting. Data also shows that high handicappers typically take eight more putts per round than a PGA Tour player. Part of the reason is that you’re leaving your first putts farther from the hole. From 6 feet and in, amateurs don’t putt that much worse than professionals, but from beyond 6 feet, it’s a much different story. Drill it home for better lags To consistently put your long putts into a makeable zone, try this drill. For four weeks, practice 50-foot lag putts for 30 minutes at least once a week. Putt only 50-footers with a friend, with closest to the hole winning after each time. After you develop a good feel for 50-footers, lagging from other distances will become easier. Your first putts will stop closer to the hole and your number of three-putts per round will drop dramatically. So, too, will your scores. If you want to learn more about lag putting, attend one of our clinics at Calabasas Country Club in Los Angeles. Visit pelzgolf.com for dates and program descriptions. |
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