Scott, whatever gets the job done the best is the way to go in putting. With that said, the normal golf grip (Vardon overlapping) is usually not a good putter grip to promote consistency in a stroke. For this reason, the most popular putter grip used today is the reverse overlap grip. So, with the Vardon grip you overlap the little finger of the right hand between the first and second finger of the left hand (right handed golfer). With the reverse overlap putter grip, you simply reverse the role of the little finger. In other words, all the fingers of the right hand are wrapped around the grip itself and now the first finger of the left hand is overlapping the little finger and the one next to it on the right hand. Probably would have been easier with a picture, but give this a try to see if you like it.
Putting: Is It Art or Science?
There is a certain non-definable intuitiveness to learned skills in sports that we like to refer to as art. Throughout golf history there have been documented great putters who had strokes that no one would emulate today and certainly no one would use their putters. Modern experts who analyze the past say that the great putters developed a high degree of skill in the art of putting and they seemed to be able to “will” the ball into the hole. I really believe this to be true.
Maximum results will never happen unless putter properties are mechanically correct.
Let’s talk about the modern great putters, the successful tour players. Through almost infinite hours of practice they develop a feel for the speed of the greens and the proper break. They get to know the different grasses around the country and around the world as though it is second nature to putt on them. The putter itself becomes a comfortable extension of their arms and mentally they feel they are in total control and feel they can sink any and every putt. The art of putting is certainly real, but is there more to it?
There is a way to go beyond the art aspect to help everyone’s putting from the new beginner to the finest putters in the world. First of all you can not separate out the science part from the art part and say that either one will get you to where you want to be. It takes both to be a great putter. Also, there is no definable mix of the two that is just right to putt better.
What it takes is this: There are many mechanical aspects of the entire putter as well as mass and dimensional qualities of the putter head that can easily cause a golfer to be swimming uphill, no matter how skilled in the art he or she is. If these putter properties are not mechanically correct and they are not the proper qualities for the individual golfer, maximum results will never happen. Maximum results in putting (beyond the art) occur when all the other technical and scientific variables that negatively affect the putt are eliminated or minimized.
More specifically, the lie needs to be exactly correct for best directional control, the loft needs to raise the ball slightly to minimize skid and maximize roll, the length needs to position the golfer properly for an accurate repeating stroke, and the swingweight needs to be in the correct range for proper feel and best distance and directional control.
Not to be overlooked is the importance of selecting a putter head design that complements the golfer’s skill level. Regarding the proper putter design, the Maltby Putter Playability Factor is a major advancement in helping golfers putt better, because it takes into account the player’s ability to impact the ball on or near the putter head’s center of gravity and recommends putters that work best. The proper putter design is paramount in achieving best distance and directional control.
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Article Discussion
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12:39PM - Jul 29, 2007RE: Putting: Is It Art or Science?
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Report ThisRalph Maltby
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12:16PM - Jul 29, 2007RE: Putting: Is It Art or Science?
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Report Thisscott johnson
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I was wondering about the putter grip, I normally use the same grip I use with my other clubs. I’m usually a good putter. I wasn’t sure if it made a difference.
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1:05PM - Jun 24, 2007RE: Putting: Is It Art or Science?
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Report ThisRalph Maltby
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GWB, I agree with you. I always prefer to putt with a line up line to see if there is any wobbling of the line caused by a difference in putter face angle and path. I show an example of the line up lines in the ball balancing video on this site.
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7:19AM - Jun 24, 2007RE: Putting: Is It Art or Science?
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Report ThisGWB
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I’m a believer in the one ball, no two putts the same practice. You don’t get “Do-Over’s” on the course so don’t take them in practice. It also helps to mark your practice ball with a straight line and practice your stroke until you can get the line to “stay straight” during your putts rather than wobbling.
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10:35AM - Apr 23, 2007RE: Putting: Is It Art or Science?
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Report ThisRalph Maltby
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Jeremy, Crissy and Guest have good suggestions to try with more practice being the key. However, you need to check a few things regarding your stroke that will affect the distance of a putt.. First, if you are a mostly a wrist putter, get a lesson from a PGA pro and change to a pendulum putter stroke which is basically a pivot of the shoulders with no wrist break. Be sure your putter has a minimum of C-8 or preferably a higher swingweight. This is a good check to see if you have the minimum head weight on your putter. Also check to see if your putter is too long for you. Finally, my favorite putting drill for distance and directional control is this; Block out 15 to 30 minute sessions (your chioce on session length) and using only one ball, putt different length and different break putts. No two should be the same. Your goal is to never 3 putt in the session. If you do 3 putt, either begin all over or simply keep track of how many you had during the session and try to lower this amount next time..Be sure to take your time and read each putt.
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9:15AM - Apr 23, 2007RE: Putting: Is It Art or Science?
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Report ThisCrissy
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Place tape every three feet down a long hallway. Hit to the first piece until you can make it. Then move to the next piece. Also, I learned that if you need to make a three foot putt, take the putter back three inches. If you need to make a six foot putt, take the putter back six inches, and so forth. Good Luck….Practice is the Key!!
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1:01PM - Mar 8, 2007RE: Putting: Is It Art or Science?
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Report ThisGuest
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Practice, Make sure you repeat the same line up each time.
put until you can hit 10 3 ft. putts from the same spot, in a row. Putt 3 then retrieve and putt 3 and so on. keep backing up, gradually.
Find a fairly level area to putt on, put a ball at 10. 15, and 20 ft. put each distance randomly.
Be positive.
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6:43AM - Mar 2, 2007RE: Putting: Is It Art or Science?
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Report ThisJeremy
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My first time on this site – cool! I’m a terrible putter and can’t control my distance…can anyone help me?