"Natural" putter stroke - myth?

[FairwayDodger]

I was recently on one of those sam putter lab thingies. It analyses my stroke as pretty straight back and through, so recommended a face balanced putter.

That doesn't really surprise me since I was using my own putter at the time and the stroke I was using is what has evolved to be quite effective through many hours of practice with different techniques.

I *want* a blade style putter so currently have one on trial. I'm putting pretty well with it albeit using a slightly different stroke...

So do we really have a dominant putting style or do we just adapt over time to the putter we use?

 

[Titleist3]

Totally agree with yourself mate.

Ive recently switched from a blade to counter balance just because I got it on the free...Taylomade Spider Counterblance.

What I would say is, adaption and hours and hours of practice are key.

I feel confident with it now and believe it is the one for me.

Sometimes I think we worry too much on technology.

 

[USER1999]

I use a long counter balanced half mallet, which promotes a pretty straight back and straight through stroke.

I worry about breaking my putting stroke in the winter, as im not a fan of having to belt the ball on slow greens. So i have swapped to a shorter scotty, anser style.

Im putting pretty well with it, but my stroke is totally different. For me, this is whst i need.

 

[Imurg]

Given the time you can adjust to any putter.
It's feeling comfortable with it and any changes to your stroke that are important.
I've used face balanced putters since about '95.
Ive tried Anser style heads but the feeling of the toe overtaking the heel freaks me out...!
Although it's probably only a slight overtake, it feels to me like the god's going twice the speed of the heel..
Given time I could probably get used to it but why use that time to get used to something new when I can use that time to get better with what I've got..?

 

[Garush34]

Just switched from a toe hang putter to a face balance and I am putting much better. I felt like I was fighting the toe hang in the stroke and prefer trying to go straight back straight through.

 

[Foxholer]

I was recently on one of those sam putter lab thingies. It analyses my stroke as pretty straight back and through, so recommended a face balanced putter.

That doesn't really surprise me since I was using my own putter at the time and the stroke I was using is what has evolved to be quite effective through many hours of practice with different techniques.

I *want* a blade style putter so currently have one on trial. I'm putting pretty well with it albeit using a slightly different stroke...

So do we really have a dominant putting style or do we just adapt over time to the putter we use?

This!

It may be that our 'natural' style is acquired from the putter we 'learnt' to putt with, so might be able to change to another style, but I'd suggest it's not worth the pain (and doubts) of trying to change!

Blades are really 'pretty', especially compared with the likes of the 2-ball of the Baby Bee that I used for 12+ years (and the last couple of rounds). I tried the 'too gorgeous to use' BB2 but it's about as far from a Faced Balanced putter as is possible and I either flap of slice it/leave it open!

However, if you are able to unconsciously adjust - your 'slightly different stroke' - then you may be able to adjust better than I could! During my Betti collecting period, I certainly noticed that the shape/balance affected the results!

Oh and take my comments with a healthy amount of salt! I've generally thought I'm SBST, but PPs have observed that stand open and make an in-to-out push - that is generally short! Chipping apparently looks worse though!

 

[NWJocko]

I hope it is a myth as my "natural" stroke is honking!!

Got fitted for an Edel that sorts out my aim, weighted for consistent distance control etc. It is very different to what I've used and I'm going to have to spend a fair bit of time practising with it. Using my old putter all my faults evened each other out (aiming way right and "pulling" putts effectively) but now the putter is actually aiming where I think I need to iron out closing the face to stop missing left......

At least it's actually motivated me to practice at something golf related when the weather gets better in the spring!!

 

[Tashyboy]

I bought the odyssey two ball putter coz of the principle of how it works is ideal for my level of IQ. Lines up the " three balls" and hit it. Putting is usually my strongest part of my game and if the rest of my game was up to my putting standard I would probably be in single figures. However I bought it coz it was cheap as it had a dink on the top of the putter. It now has many. I cannot ever think I would change that club. But I dropped on with it, it was purely luck. You can change weights in it but half way through my first round with it at Retford, I changed the weight to the lightest possible I have not changed it since. That was four years ago.. Listening to folk on this forum who change putters every year, well I feel for them.

 

[patricks148]

I was recently on one of those sam putter lab thingies. It analyses my stroke as pretty straight back and through, so recommended a face balanced putter.

That doesn't really surprise me since I was using my own putter at the time and the stroke I was using is what has evolved to be quite effective through many hours of practice with different techniques.

I *want* a blade style putter so currently have one on trial. I'm putting pretty well with it albeit using a slightly different stroke...

So do we really have a dominant putting style or do we just adapt over time to the putter we use?

use a blade putter and though i started with a bit of an ark, i'm more straight back and though most of the time...

I would say i was a reasonable putter... can't say its had any adverse effect on my putting

 

[louise_a]

What do all these strange (to me) descriptions mean counterbalance? face balanced? toe hang?

 

[ScienceBoy]

I think of myself as a straight back and through putter but I play a Ping Zing model.

I got my putter before I learnt to putt so we have grown up together.

I will never ever arc a putter stroke intentionally, never been taught to and never want to.

 

[Foxholer]

What do all these strange (to me) descriptions mean counterbalance? face balanced? toe hang?

If you hold your putter in an open palm, with the face pointing to the ceiling, then release your hold, a faced balanced putter would not move - the face would still be horizontal. If the putter had toe hang, then the heavier toe would drop towards the floor - the amount depending on the amount of 'toe hang'.

Face balanced putters are considered more appropriate for Straight back, Straight Through putters, while those who have an arc, whether slight or strong, seem to prefer/benefit from slight or larger toe hangs.

Counter-balanced Putters have more weight on the grip end than non-counterbalanced ones. This is often achieved these days by extending their length to around 38" and having a long, heavy grip.

Some folk are desperate to find solutions for their putting woes!

 

[FairwayDodger]

Some folk are desperate to find solutions for their putting woes!

Some folk aren't?

 

[louise_a]

I have always put my putting problems don't my putting stroke not having the wrong putter.

 

[FairwayDodger]

I bought the odyssey two ball putter coz of the principle of how it works is ideal for my level of IQ. Lines up the " three balls" and hit it. Putting is usually my strongest part of my game and if the rest of my game was up to my putting standard I would probably be in single figures. However I bought it coz it was cheap as it had a dink on the top of the putter. It now has many. I cannot ever think I would change that club. But I dropped on with it, it was purely luck. You can change weights in it but half way through my first round with it at Retford, I changed the weight to the lightest possible I have not changed it since. That was four years ago.. Listening to folk on this forum who change putters every year, well I feel for them.

I've been using a two ball for similar reasons. I'm pretty good at pool so liked the principle for aiming.

I've used that putter for 5 or six years, basically ever since I joined a golf club and ditched my dad's ancient Ray Cook putter. I fancy switching to a blade style for a few reasons but the SAM analysis said stick with a face balanced style.... but it would say that, IMO!

 

[srixon 1]

Putter swing path can be influenced by the length of the shaft.

Too short and you will be stooped over and can sometimes cause the putter head to go away from you when you take it back.

Too long and you will be stood too tall which can make you take the putter head inside too much when you take it back.

I'm sure that I have read somewhere that the perfect stroke goes back very slightly on the inside, followed by the actuAl stroke being very slightly out-square-in. Hopefully being square at the moment of impact whilst travelling towards the intended line of putt and at the bottom of the swing arc or very minutely past it. Get all those things right and you will putt like Jordan Speith.

However, I did forget to mention speed of the green, amount of break, type of grass, wind on certain days, dew or rain on green, uphill or downhill, Pro-v 1 or Topflite. Hand to eye coordination, and just for Delc the size of the hole.

Let's face up to it, putting is the hardest part of the game, and just like the other post, some can do it and some cannot regardless of the type of putter you have.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have been using a half mallet (odyssey milled #9) or a full mallet (odyssey works fang 2 ball) but I've had a hankering for a blade. I was brought up on an Anser and to be honest the Sam Lab I used said my stroke suited it. However, I have worked out how to get the most from the other putters and in my heart I'm more consistent when I ditch the blade. I simply use work on my putting on the practice green without too much thought

 

[Simbo]

I was recently on one of those sam putter lab thingies. It analyses my stroke as pretty straight back and through, so recommended a face balanced putter.

That doesn't really surprise me since I was using my own putter at the time and the stroke I was using is what has evolved to be quite effective through many hours of practice with different techniques.

I *want* a blade style putter so currently have one on trial. I'm putting pretty well with it albeit using a slightly different stroke...

So do we really have a dominant putting style or do we just adapt over time to the putter we use?

As a reasonably good putter I Had the same dilemma a few years ago, had my putting stroke analysed and it came back as pretty much straight back and through. A stroke that I had practiced and pretty much ingrained. Therefor the guy recommended I switched from my ping anser to a face balanced one, so I took his advice and bought the odyssey 2 ball. Persevered with it for a season and a half until I ditched it, I simply hated the way it looked and sat behind the ball, kept feeling like I was pulling all my short putts with it. I like the clear cut lines and shape of an anser style putter so anything other than this just doesn't sit right to my eye and it plays on my head. I still took on board the instructors advice about my stroke being straight back and through and required a face balanced putter and went and bought a scotty cameron squareback, it's the closest scotty do to face balanced in as close to an anser style.
So although it isn't an anser, it's very close and my eye likes it, and although it isn't face balanced is very close. So a slight give and take and iv got the best putter for me. And my "natural" putting stroke is just the ingrained one iv practiced over and over again.

 

[Tashyboy]

I've been using a two ball for similar reasons. I'm pretty good at pool so liked the principle for aiming.

I've used that putter for 5 or six years, basically ever since I joined a golf club and ditched my dad's ancient Ray Cook putter. I fancy switching to a blade style for a few reasons but the SAM analysis said stick with a face balanced style.... but it would say that, IMO!

FD, before you even pick up a putter, the basics of putting are line and length. That's it, length well is length. Line that is down to what you choose, whether you have a line on your ball or not, whether it is toe hung or whatever. The simplicity of two ball helping to pick a line just related to me. I had an issue for a couple of months of pulling three footers. Talking to Will in American golf he asked if a looked at the putts dropping, I did, which caused me to push my right shoulder forward causing me to pull short putts.
Not having an issue with putting I find the next bit, well a bit odd. For me the most important bit of putting is length. On a 20-30 ft putt for eg, I can understand people to be 3-4 ft long or short. But to be 3-4 left or right, I find that a bit odd and would suggest no matter what putter you are using something is seriously wrong.
Another thing I find odd is, with all the complexities of a golf swing be it drive, fairway wood, iron, bunker, pitch, chip. When it comes to putting it could not get any simpler. So I wonder how people struggle.

 

[One Planer]

I've been using a two ball for similar reasons. I'm pretty good at pool so liked the principle for aiming.

I've used that putter for 5 or six years, basically ever since I joined a golf club and ditched my dad's ancient Ray Cook putter. I fancy switching to a blade style for a few reasons but the SAM analysis said stick with a face balanced style.... but it would say that, IMO!

You know you can get face balanced blades don't you Karen?

Ping Anser Milled 5 is one that immediately springs to mind.