Shaft location?

[curtisj76]

Just wondered if there was a reccomendation for the shaft location on a putter? Looking at purchasing a new putter (2-ball) and was looking at the center and heel shafted versions. Is either better for TGM putting? Thanks

[Yoda]

Just wondered if there was a reccomendation for the shaft location on a putter? Looking at purchasing a new putter (2-ball) and was looking at the center and heel shafted versions. Is either better for TGM putting? Thanks

At Impact, the Shaft of my heel-shafted putter has only the slightest forward lean.

That's because I locate the Ball off my left big toe. And that toe is just behind Low Point -- opposite my left shoulder -- in my Stance. My Head is Centered between my feet.

But then, unlike almost everybody else in the world...

My Left Arm is Straight.

My Left Wrist is Flat.

And my Right Forearm is On Plane.

To accomodate the above alignments, my Clubshaft is only 32" long.

Also, I grip the Clubshaft in the lifeline of my Left Hand. In other words, the Clubshaft is running up the Left Forearm (Zero #3 Angle). This means there is a gap between the last three fingers of the Left Hand and the Clubshaft, and the Club is secured by the fingertips. This is at first uncomfortable, but stay with it: That feeling will go away after you make many Left-Arm Only practice strokes over many days with the Clubshaft buttressing the palm of the hand. Don't use a Ball; just swing the Club back and through continuously nailing down the Feel.

With both Hands together, feel the connections of the #2 Pressure Point (last three fingers of the left hand) and #3 Pressure Point (meaty part of the right forefinger) directly behind the Clubshaft. Put the Right Forearm On Plane and Trace the Line while keeping the Left Wrist Flat and executing your Hinge Action.

KER-PLOP!

[curtisj76]

So does that mean it doesn't matter? Both versions would be compataible with TGM? Sorry for the dumb question, I'm been under the "pelz method" for the past few years. I've been using his putting track but I'm going to try putting with a 2x4 from now on. Didn't know if a center shafted or heel shafted putter would make any difference? Thanks

[Yoda]

So does that mean it doesn't matter? Both versions would be compataible with TGM?

Didn't know if a center shafted or heel shafted putter would make any difference?

Yes, Curtis, both versions are just fine. As is the most extreme case: the Shaft joining the Clubhead at the toe. And the reason is that, no matter where the Shaft joins the Clubhead, you feel and swing the Sweetspot.

[curtisj76]

Thanks Yoda, May the force be with you.........always.

[pluthb]

Any way to get a couple pictures of your putting set-up Yoda or VJ? Facts tell, stories sell and a picture is worth a thousand words!

[Fred Brattain]

So does that mean it doesn't matter? Both versions would be compataible with TGM? Sorry for the dumb question, I'm been under the "pelz method" for the past few years. I've been using his putting track but I'm going to try putting with a 2x4 from now on. Didn't know if a center shafted or heel shafted putter would make any difference? Thanks

Hi Curtis,
the physics of putting would indicate that you are less likely to lose an off center hit (as in there may be a larger sweet spot) with a center shafted putter. Yoda may disagree with this, but a lot of people feel this way. THAT being said, I use a Ping putter that I bought when they first came out back in the dark ages, and it is heel shafted. I have never changed putters in all these years, as it works for me. Chuck Hogan would tell you that the most important characteristic of a putter is not where the shaft is, but whether the putter fits your eyes. In other words, when you are lined up correctly does the putter LOOK lined up correctly, or do you think it is lined up left or right. One of the tests I put people through when they wish to purchase a putter is the same thing that Chuck Hogan does. Take your putter on a 6 foot putt, and standing next to it, as you would when addressing the ball, aim the putter at the target 6 feet away. Then step behind it and see if it's really pointed where you think it is. If it isn't, then you need a different putter. If it is, then you have found one that fits your eye. If you find one like that, then learn to putt with it.

If anyone is interested in how I practice and how I teach people to putt (at the risk of sounding arrogant, which is NOT my intention), I will be happy to post the method. Over the last 15 years of keeping stats, I have averaged 27.4 putts per round of golf. If not, cool

Obi WunPutt

[cometgolfer]

What I wouldn't do to average 27.4!!!!!!!!!

Let's hear it Fred!!

Comet

[birdie_man]

Chuck Hogan would tell you that the most important characteristic of a putter is not where the shaft is, but whether the putter fits your eyes.

I really think that's true.

Almost every putter I've had that I haven't liked has not LOOKED right to me.

It just bothers you....you can't have that disturbance over a putt...it plays with your mind.

[Fred Brattain]

OK, first, this is going to be brief this AM because I am playing Menifee Lakes with BallTurf this morning, and that HAS to take precedence

The first thing you need to do is find a putter that LOOKS right when you are standing over the ball. There is no substitute for believing you are lined up correctly. If the putter doesn't fit your eye, then you will subconsciously make corrections in your putting stroke and miss the putts.

FWIW I NEVER worry about my putting stroke looking "correct" I worry about whether or not the ball starts on line at the proper speed.

Here are the keys. First, if you are right handed, about 25% of all the nerve endings in your body above the waist are in that fleshy pad next to the life line in your right hand. The only thing that makes sense therefore is to putt with your lifeline on the putter. Claw and cross hand, and all of that, are for people who have had their brains played with too much

The feel for distance is the most important aspect of long putting. If you really pay attention most three putts come from hitting the ball the wrong distance on your first putt than anything else. Don't get so hung up on the line of a long putt that you forget to hit it close to the hole. Therefore, practice 30-40 foot putts and try to make them finish within 3 feet of the hole. Leaving yourself 6-8 footers all day long is no way to get to heaven.

The key to great putting is acceleration through the ball. ONLY that will keep the ball on line. You miss short putts because you decelerate the putter, either by looking up, or by simply quitting on it while trying to guide it into the hole. WISHING The ball into the hole is not the same as WILLING it into the hole.

Your backswing should be no more than half your follow-through on ANY putt you hit, I don't care if it is from 3 inches or 50 feet. You MUST accelerate your putter through the ball, ON the line you want the putt to start on.

Here is how you learn to do this.

Start 2 feet from the hole. Place your putter directly behind the ball. Do NOT take a backswing. PUSH the ball into the hole with the putter. This will require a piston like motion with the right arm (Nicklaus used this motion). There are NO wrists involved in this stroke, nor are you rocking with your shoulders. Think of a steam locomotive and the drive wheels and how the pistons move back and forth. That is the motion you want. I don't care if you stand open, closed, or square, whether you play the ball forward, back or center, you MUST be comfortable over the ball. Take a stance that feels GOOD to you. Do this exercise 20 times, then move back to 3 feet and do it 20 more times. This will get your hands and brain used to accelerating through the ball. Then hit 10-20 three foot putts.
Remember ANY putt under 6' in length you never see go in the hole, you only HEAR it, because you are watching the place where the ball WAS, not where it's going.

So, having done this drill with a putter that fits you, what do you practice next? I never practice putts other than 3' and 30+' long. Why? because the pros (and you can putt as well as they do) make about 99% of their 3 footers. However, they only make slightly more that 52% of 6 footers and less than 25 % of 10 footers. WHY PRACTICE MISSING?

Most of putting is believing the ball is going in the hole,and the rest is keeping your head still and accelerating through the putt. I am GENUINELY surprised when any putt I hit doesn't fall. But I am NOT UPSET by it. Even a 3' putt is subject to a certain level of luck. If you hit enough 6' putts some of them will fall. If you hit enough 30' putts, a couple will go in, but the point is to be present in the process, not the result.

The other drill that I use is the following. I will putt to a tee stuck in the green rather than a hole. This sharpens your focus and makes you concentrate more. I will place a tee in the ground where there is some undulation to the green, and get back 30 feet or so and try to 2 putt from there. When you are standing over a 3 footer and trying to hit the tee instead of that HUGE hole, it really helps sharpen your focus. Then, when you are faced with a tricky short putt to save par, and there is a tendency to get out of focus, I "see" a tee next to the hole on the line that I want to putt and putt to the tee. It may be in the center of the front edge of the cup for a straight putt, or 5 inches outside left, or whatever, but I visualize a tee there and putt to it. Your accuracy will improve and you will have less tendency to start short putts off line.

I am re-learning how to apply the same philosophy to the rest of my game......

I will try, when my girlfriend gets out here, to take a video of what I am talking about and post it for everyone.

Anyway, hope this helps. Remember, as Yogi Berra said about hitting a baseball, and it applies to putting "(90% of this is 80% mental)

Play well,


Obi WunPutt