You CAN Achieve Putting Excellence!
Putting Excellence CAN be achieved, with the proper combination of putter fitting and putting instruction.
October 11 was an exceptionally satisfying day. We recently purchased a Science and Motion Sports (SAM) PuttLab, the "cadillac" of putting analysis and putting training systems. Fourteen golfers – including myself – had their putting strokes analyzed by Glen Coombe, "The Putting Doctor," using the SAM. Glen helped each golfer with ways they can improve their putting. Each golfer learned information they never knew about their putting strokes. How does it get any better than that in terms of helping golfers lower their scores!
During the day, Glen said that "Putting is the only area in golf where any golfer can become as good as a PGA professional." Some might argue that, but I think there is a lot of truth in that statement. And since putting accounts for 40% of all golf strokes taken in a round of golf, becoming a great putter can have a huge impact on how well a golfer scores.
So – with that said – what are the appropriate roles of Putter Fitting and Putting Instruction in helping golfers become Superior Putters? Is one more important than the other? Certainly the easy answer is that both are important to Putting Excellence. But my thoughts on this are that they need to be "dished out" in the proper sequence and with the proper amount of attention. Here are my present thoughts on the importance of each:
1. Every golfer who wants to be an Excellent Putter needs to be taught some key Putting Fundamentals at the start. The proper role of the shoulders and hands in the putting stroke, how to create an appropriate putter path, putting grip, etc.
2. Then though – and VERY QUICKLY if a golfer wants to become an Excellent Putter – the golfer needs to be Custom Fit for a putter than he can Aim Well and that has the Right Weight Distribution for good Speed Control. This includes a putter that has the right lie angle and length and an appropriate putter loft. Golfers have an AMAZING ability to attempt to compensate for putters they cannot Aim and putters that do not have the right Weighting for them. The sooner they can get a Well Fit Putter into their hands, the better. NO SELF FITTING OF PUTTERS!
3. Then – once they have a Well Fit Putter and reasonably good Putting Fundamentals, they need to learn what they REALLY do when they are putting. This is the value of a tool like the SAM PuttLab. It shows you what you do rather than what you THINK you do.
4. Once you know what you are actually doing in your stroke, you can work with a Putting Coach to develop an Improvement Plan that will take you to a Level of Excellence in Putting. If you can execute this Improvement Plan – with feedback on how you are doing in the process – you can develop a consistent stroke, great aim, great speed control, confidence that you can hit the golf ball where you choose to.
A lot of steps? But MAYBE less effort than continually buying Self FIt Putters, and not knowing what you Actually Do When You Putt – and hoping you will get good!
HOW ABOUT YOU – do you agree with this proposed process to achieve Putting Excellence? – if you have thoughts please comment.
The Fit Is IT!!
Tony
