tsped83
Tour Winner
Ingenius. This is where i've being going wrong with my putting woes. Put it in the hole! I feel like an idiot. Thank you for solving my problems in one fell swoop. Hero.
Practice makes permanent - not necessarily perfect!
Perfect practise makes perfect.
@OP I hope the session goes well. When are you going?
Session has now been brought forward to 8.30am tomorrow morning! Excited!
The Sam putting lab will give you lots of data.
It will show you stuff like the angle off attack, the speed, the direction of the swing, where you make contact on the putter face etc etc
In other words, you will discover what you do well and what you dont.
Using different putters may give you better results in some areas and and worse in others.
You pay your money, you take your choice
At the end of the day, it's about the direction of the stroke, the speed of the stroke and the confidence your putter gives and if a new putter gives you more confidence then pay the dosh.
Money well spent then. ping do a putting cradle and a app for i phones
Well, had the session this morning and it was very informative. Dave Padgett the pro at Pannal was very friendly and delivered some straight forward hints/tips/critiques on my putting stroke.
Without boring everyone with statistics, the summary of my stroke and overall putting technique from the SAM technology and Dave's professional opinion was as follows;
* Good setup position with face in neutral position.
* Backswing too short.
* Face at impact on average between 2 and 3 degrees open.
* Come across the ball at impact, so putter path goes out to in, missing puts right.
* Despite the above, I have a consistent stroke.
So, from the data delivered by SAM and the pro's observations, he gave me some points to improve my putting. The main change was my grip on the putter, particularly in relation to my left hand and trying to keep the back of it pointing at target throughout the stroke, and also trying to maintain a consistent relationship between the angle of my forearm and putter shaft. This was quite difficult to master in the session, but using a mirror helps to check the setup position.
In addition, my stance was widened and set back a little further away from the ball, with a view to getting my eyes on the right line, on or just inside the line of the ball. Currently I stand too close to the ball, with my eyes outside the line of the ball.
So, we finished the session with some suggested drills and practice work (mirror, mirror, mirror) when I piped up with asking about putter types/lengths and what was the best thing for me to use. Dave suggested that a face balanced model would perhaps suit and help me to reduce the open face angle at impact. He also emphasised finding a putter you like the look of to inspire confidence.
I didn't get fitted for a putter there and then, with Dave's advice being to practice the drills first and try and put them in to play (maybe find a face balanced putter to try out) and see how I get on. Then, when I'm more settled with the changes, come back for another session to check my progress.
Overall, I was happy with the session and did find it very informative with all the data available. That said, I think I benefited more from the pro's advice than the actual numbers generated by SAM. So, a putting lesson, yes, HIGHLY recommended. A SAM putting session, maybe, but good sound professional advice will take you further.
Cheers
My putting in the two comps directly after the lesson (lesson on Saturday, rounds the same day and Sunday) was the best it's ever been. In my matchplay I had three single putt holes in a row, all from over 8 or so feet! Then I peaked.
My putting is certainly better since the lesson and it's something I'm working on with practice, but the initial success has been tempered slightl, still can 3 putt with the best of them.
As for a new putter, I still have the steel Ping Anser 2 in the bag, but always on the look out. I'd like an Anser Milled, but they seem like rocking horse poo to get hold of at a reasonable price.
Hoe about you Darth? SAM on the cards?