I'm a Baaaaad Man!

[golf_junkie27]

Sometimes I think that I can do things like a pro: Hit a great drive, a great sand save, a nice, long putt for birdie, etc. Well, today, I saw something that just put those thoughts in prospective: Ian Poulter playing 8 holes without a putter.

Apparently, his putter was altered and therefore had to be taken out of play. No problem. He used his 8 or 9 iron and did quite well. Two birdies and about a 20 foot par save.

Yup, Ian proved that I'm not . Does anyone think they could play without their putter and do well?

[Dent]

No way In hell, I couldnt do it. Thats mad respect to him for even getting 2 birdies, AND making a 20 ft putt.

I think the only thing I could do is hit my putter off the fairway for a straight approach shot :)

[ERC7.5]

I have played w/o a putter. I was in a 3-club tournament a few years back....decided to take Driver/5 iron/PW. Everyone else seemed to go with 3W/7I/Putter. I putted with my driver. I don't remember what I shot....didn't do too bad considering....but I do remember Zero 3-putts.

Has come in handy since (or not so much).....had a putter break during a league match two seasons ago.....ended up using my driver for the remainder of the round. Didn't fair quite as well.

I still mess around with putting with the driver.....when I'm on the course alone.

[Shindig]

So, I guess someone does know what it's like to be the bad man, Pete Townshend's assertion notwithstanding.

The putting without a putter pops up every now and then. I think Carlos Franco used a 3-iron a few years back in a tournament. Allegedly, some pros will practice putting with their irons, not in case of this happening, but to improve contact, or to keep from some putting fault.

I can't imagine doing it. I'm a bad enough putter with a putter If I find myself in the single digits at some point, I may brave it and give it a try, but not during a round.

[Ceej]

Wouldn't he use his 2 or 3 iron over his 9? Either way that's pretty impressive

[immts007]

I played a one-club, best ball tourney a couple weeks ago - it was a lot of fun. I couldn't believe how well I was putting and chipping with my 5 wood.

[T.J.K.]

Wouldn't he use his 2 or 3 iron over his 9? Either way that's pretty impressive

I would think a pitching wedge would be the easiest to putt with.

[dave39]

Wouldn't he use his 2 or 3 iron over his 9? Either way that's pretty impressive

You aren't chipping it.. so you aren't using the loft on the club for this. You are blading the ball with the leading edge of whatever club you use. I can putt all day with my SW if I have to (but have never HAD to). Not that hard with a little practice. Ian likes his 8 iron for this purpose but most guys will use a wedge. Shorter shaft (like a putter) and the leading edge gets the ball moving pretty decent.

[hawkeye]

I use a sandwedge when practicing.

Take 5 balls from 6 feet, flat straight putt. Use a wedge or an iron and "blade" the ball into the hole. Ask yourself what are you thinking about doing? If your answer is "i was trying to hit the centre of the ball with the centre of the club and not sway the putterhead - have a good rhythm and smooth stroke" then you are ready to try the same exercise with a putter. Ask yourself....."what am I thinking?" When you've mastered 6 feet, try 12. Then alternate - wedge, putter, wedge, putter, wedge.

I saw the interview with Poults on Sky Sports - he said he dropped the putter on the path (with maybe an ounce of anger!) and the dynamics of the putter changed.

Mind over matter - he did quite exceptional with the 9-iron.

[Borf]

The fourth player on my high school golf team played the first nine holes and shot 57, he was so upset with himself he broke his putter somehow, was crying on the 10th tee bench.

NO MORE PUTTER

guess what he shot on the back 9 - without a putter

EVEN - 36 - remarkable to me, putted with the driver I remember he told me

shot 93 with an even par back 9 without a putter!! unreal

[obsessedgolfer]

i somtimes use the leading edge of my sandwedge to practice it actaully roles the ball pretty well

[Jeepthrills]

A few years ago I had to play 2 holes without mine. It was somehow broken over my knee when i left a 20 foot putt 10 feet short. I used my 3 iron.

[bigboom]

a lot of times when my putter isn't working for me on the course ill take a hole and jsut use my 56*. I find that it makes me focus on the contact and path a little more so that when i pull out the putter on the next hole im not as lazy with it.

[Eore]

A few years ago I had to play 2 holes without mine. It was somehow broken over my knee when i left a 20 foot putt 10 feet short. I used my 3 iron.

you broke your putter because you left a putt ten feet short?!? i do that all the time!!!