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Decisions, decisions!
After I decided to stop using my Ping Valor putter, that I was using in a semi arm lock (side saddle stance) fashion, I saw a Arm Lock putter for sale at just over $100 ( Wilson Staff). so I thought why not give it a try. I had $80 in my pocket with the exchange.
While I was waiting for the Wilson putter to arrive ( snail mail to the sticks = weeks) I went back to using my Gravity Golf Arc Master, but this time using it side saddle stance / weigh on the right foot( trail) and grip down the 42″ shaft using arm lock method with my right hand low. To me it feels like under arm bowling down the line. It is a toe hang putter. If you have been reading my reports my putting has improved a lot using this putter. I have a slight arc in my stroke with it, but it runs pretty well on target. If I miss it isn’t a big miss anymore.
Today the Wilson putter arrived ( face balanced) so I took it out to the practice green and gave it a try. Using the same stance it was pretty good. The sound from the milled face is a metallic ” ponk” and it feels good. Lag putts and short putts, uphill and downhill, side hill all worked well. Immediately after that I used the Arc Master, which felt a little softer sound wise, but performance was similar. The AM will definitely be my scrapes putter.
So how to decide which putter to use? I was thinking that I should use the putters for 5 games each and then see which one I scored better with on average maybe? Advice anyone?
Doesnt hurt to have 2 putters, it tends to keep the gamer honest otherwise it will be resting in car boot instead of being in the bag.
also if feel is different maybe can have one for fast summer greens and another for slow winter greens (or Sand Scrapes)
from your Arcoss data above seems like long putting (resulting in 3 putts is issue, so test putters from 5m & 10m to see which one gets ball closerI’m a tad confused, but that is easily done these days, but;
If the weight of the putter is the same. If the length of the putter is the same. If the pace of the green is the same. Isn’t it the person stroking the ball that makes the difference in the length and roll of the ball?
If any of the above 3 are different, would not the person stroking the ball be the one to adapt to the difference?
Today I played at Portland with a group pf low handicappers ( all off 7) . It wasn’t very windy and the ground although soft wasn’t soggy. We teed off at 8:47 the first group of the morning.
On the first 9 holes I putt my tee shot into play 8/9 times and the miss right wasn’t a disaster. I just had to play army golf until I got a shot at the green. Score 41/ 19 points.
Although I missed 4 tee shots ( 3 went left and a par 3 hybrid shot went a bit right) I still managed to score on each hole on the back 9 . 46 shots / 14 points.I hit 5 GIR and 4/9 up and downs (i.e. better) . I hit 37 putts in total, but 4 of them were from off the green. I was trying to see if I was any good at the Texas wedge, roll the ball on method ( I suck). Normally I would have chipped those 4 on with the 8 i. Next game I will try the SL hybrid and see if that works better. SO I am calling it at 33 putts for this game for putter comparison purposes.
I lost my mojo on the back 9 with three doubles. Two of them started with poor tee shots that put me under pressure. The other one was a poorly struck 7W shot that left me a 30 m chip onto the front of the green. I hit a 9 iron chip, about 25% power and it landed exactly on my target spot and pugged in the soft verge. Not even a metre of run; nothing! That left me with a long uphill 1st putt that I hit too hard and I missed the downhill putt by ” that much”. Such is golf!
Two steps forward
1) Approach shots worked well . Average distance was 120 m.
2) Chipping; I got it close a lot today.One Step back.
1) Texas wedge shot isn’t for me. A chip-putt with 8i works better for distance control.
2) 7W needs work. I think it is the loft that puts me off at address! I did hit the 4W very well today. ( 170 m for a few shots )Arccos still tells me I suck off the tee. I hit 8/14 fairways, but in reality my TSIP was out on 4 holes ( needed to chip back into play). I was often 20-30 m shorter off the tee than the other players. My best tee shot went 194m today.
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If the weight of the putter is the same. If the length of the putter is the same. If the pace of the green is the same. Isn’t it the person stroking the ball that makes the difference in the length and roll of the ball?
Break80’s theory is along the lines of a lighter putter for fast greens – less weight equals less force needed because you don’t have to hit it as hard, conversely, a heavier putter with more guts should make the ball go further with the same stroke on slower greens… In saying that, it’s always up to you to whack it the right hardness for the length and speed of the putt.
I’ve only had two putters for near on 15 years, but I’m a simple fellow.1 user liked this post.
I still have my original putter. It is like grandpa’s axe though, fitted with a new longer shaft and grip. Semi toe hang mini mallet.
My next putter was the Arc Master (still using it) toe hang style long shaft at 42″
Then I tried a face balanced Rife mallet that I gave to Adriano’s brother in Brazil ( he liked it).
Then the face balanced 36″ Ping Valor ( sold)
Next is the arm lock Wilson Staff 42 ” shafted face balanced.More than likely I could have used any of them better, knowing what I know now.
If the weight of the putter is the same. If the length of the putter is the same. If the pace of the green is the same. Isn’t it the person stroking the ball that makes the difference in the length and roll of the ball?
Break80’s theory is along the lines of a lighter putter for fast greens – less weight equals less force needed because you don’t have to hit it as hard, conversely, a heavier putter with more guts should make the ball go further with the same stroke on slower greens… In saying that, it’s always up to you to whack it the right hardness for the length and speed of the putt.
I’ve only had two putters for near on 15 years, but I’m a simple fellow.You are about as simple as Archimedes. I understand what CB was intimating, but no matter what is in your hand as a putter, YOU control what happens. I have two putters as well. Each belongs with it’s own set of clubs. I know the weight, lie angle and length of each, but I do not putt the same with both because of the slight weight difference. I just didn’t get the summer/winter stuff. Does the putter know what season it is??
Oh, and for those that are saying it at home….. Yes, I do putt equally as bad with both.?
If the weight of the putter is the same. If the length of the putter is the same. If the pace of the green is the same. Isn’t it the person stroking the ball that makes the difference in the length and roll of the ball?
Break80’s theory is along the lines of a lighter putter for fast greens – less weight equals less force needed because you don’t have to hit it as hard, conversely, a heavier putter with more guts should make the ball go further with the same stroke on slower greens… In saying that, it’s always up to you to whack it the right hardness for the length and speed of the putt.
I’ve only had two putters for near on 15 years, but I’m a simple fellow.You are about as simple as Archimedes. I understand what CB was intimating, but no matter what is in your hand as a putter, YOU control what happens. I have two putters as well. Each belongs with it’s own set of clubs. I know the weight, lie angle and length of each, but I do not putt the same with both because of the slight weight difference. I just didn’t get the summer/winter stuff. Does the putter know what season it is??
Oh, and for those that are saying it at home….. Yes, I do putt equally as bad with both.?
I’d say it only matters for those who have a real winter.
Real winter struck last night. We had a downpour of rain and there are puddles everywhere. I am expecting that carts will be banned from the course for a while.
Time of day the game is played is also a factor. Morning dew on the grass can really slow down the ball. I generally like to play early so I can do other things in the afternoon. On a windy day the grass can dry out by half way through the game, making the greens a little quicker. I can use that as an excuse why my putting gets worse on the back 9!
So far we have only been abandoned one game because we had so much rain, the water flowing over the green stopped the ball from running . Playing in soggy gear isn’t fun anyway.
Well my handicap is back into the 12’s now again after the 87 result last game.
I was there a few months ago, but went off track.
Now the big question is can I avoid making dumb errors and make it to my target of 11, or will winter stall my progress?Reviewing the game on Arccos I didn’t play all that well in the long game area. I missed 4 fairways, needing a compromised second shot to progress towards the hole, plus my fairway woods are not giving me the carry distance. I will need to work on strike to become more reliable with them. A good shot I am getting 175 m with the 5 wood and 165m with the 7 wood, but more often than not it is more like 145m. Inside 120 m I am doing O.K. but winter is making my favourite bump and run approach shots variable. I will have to launch my pitch shots onto the green.
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My next game will be at the Parklands course in Hamilton as part of the SW Vets circuit on Monday. From previous years experience, I will wear my thermals and take my buggy with waterproof blinds to stave of hypothermia. It is another scrapes course, so last weeks game should put me in a good position to master the scrapes putting. The Parklands course is holding the VVGA sand scrapes championship in August. I am not sure that I can take the 3 days off to compete.
My next game will be at the Parklands course in Hamilton as part of the SW Vets circuit on Monday. From previous years experience, I will wear my thermals and take my buggy with waterproof blinds to stave of hypothermia. It is another scrapes course, so last weeks game should put me in a good position to master the scrapes putting. The Parklands course is holding the VVGA sand scrapes championship in August. I am not sure that I can take the 3 days off to compete.
I have VVGA sand scrape championship at Parklands on my tour schedule.
hence i await your feedback on the course.My next game will be at the Parklands course in Hamilton as part of the SW Vets circuit on Monday. From previous years experience, I will wear my thermals and take my buggy with waterproof blinds to stave of hypothermia. It is another scrapes course, so last weeks game should put me in a good position to master the scrapes putting. The Parklands course is holding the VVGA sand scrapes championship in August. I am not sure that I can take the 3 days off to compete.
Will you be using the summer putter and hitting it firmer, or the winter putter and not using as much effort. Asking for CB, he seems to have a thought process for such things.??.
My next game will be at the Parklands course in Hamilton as part of the SW Vets circuit on Monday. From previous years experience, I will wear my thermals and take my buggy with waterproof blinds to stave of hypothermia. It is another scrapes course, so last weeks game should put me in a good position to master the scrapes putting. The Parklands course is holding the VVGA sand scrapes championship in August. I am not sure that I can take the 3 days off to compete.
Will you be using the summer putter and hitting it firmer, or the winter putter and not using as much effort. Asking for CB, he seems to have a thought process for such things.??.
I had some success with the Arc Master on the scrapes. Strangely I think they are both pretty heavy, but just for you I will measure them !
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I had no time for golf this weekend. I did slipped out for a 30 minute practice hit with my new TS2 7 Wood however . At first it was erratic, until I tried the Eureka set up that I use for my Driver shots. Much better! I was getting a nice tight draw with 155m +/- 5m depending on strike quality.
KISS
I still have my original putter. It is like grandpa’s axe though, fitted with a new longer shaft and grip. Semi toe hang mini mallet.
My next putter was the Arc Master (still using it) toe hang style long shaft at 42″
Then I tried a face balanced Rife mallet that I gave to Adriano’s brother in Brazil ( he liked it).
Then the face balanced 36″ Ping Valor ( sold)
Next is the arm lock Wilson Staff 42 ” shafted face balanced.More than likely I could have used any of them better, knowing what I know now.
1 user liked this post.
Today’s Vets game was at Hamilton Parklands scrapes course. It was 1 degree when we left Portland and headed inland after scraping the frost off the windshield. It didn’t really warm up much at all during the match.
There was a field of 41 players who braved the elements. Scoring in general was low. I played with another player at 11 handicap which made it more interesting. Today my tee shots went well in distance and directional control. I used the 4W and 7W ot good effect, but my game within 100 m left me down. The grass around the scrapes was soft and many of my PW chips, failed to run on to the scrape. Eventually I wised up and used 9i and 8i to chip with. For all but two holes I managed to avoid hitting the scrape full lob. It feels quite foreign deliberately choosing a club so that you will be short or long of the target.
The scrapes were very hard with sparse gritty sand covering, Many of them were a low conical shape. If you hit he putts a bit firmly to get past the hole they kept going. I missed a lot of putts today.my playing partner pipped me with 21 points. I scored 20. Not our finest hours!
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