Putter Maladies

[Alex B]

Putter Maladies

As I have previously mentioned in this forum, I putt with an ancient Zebra (the original model) from the late 1970s. The club was my great-grandfather's; in addition to its obvious sentimental value, the putter has stayed in my bag because of my good performance with it. I used to routinely average under 30 putts a round; now my average is about 34. Part of this, I suspect, is due to my better wedge play: I used to pitch the ball so poorly that I often wouldn't even hit the green, but rather get up-and-down easily from the fringe. Now, although my pitching is still suspect, I at least can hit the green (usually). Another reason is my increased performance in iron play; my average GIR per round have risen from 2 to 6, leaving me with many more longer putts than in the past.

I have always been a streaky putter. I've made five 20- to 30-footers in a row on the practice green (it was freakish), and one-putted the first ten greens of the best round of my life. On the eleventh hole that day, I burned the edge on a 40-footer that stopped a foot by the hole, and I was livid. Now, I can barely get a 40-footer within six feet of the hole.

Why, you may ask, does this thread belong in the "Golf Equipment" section? The answer is that I believe much of my difficulties on the green stem from outdated putter. I am certainly not blaming the club for all my problems; my mental inhibitions over short putts have become laughable in recent days. (A chuckle was all I could muster when I left a two-footer short last week.) Nevertheless, I think that the club causes many of my putting woes. I list some reasons why.

1. The putter is far lighter than those of today; my close friends often implore me after another debacle to "get a heavier putter," as the club can easily drift off line. In addition, a firmer (i.e., longer) stroke is required to strike the ball; the longer the stroke, the more chance of a mishit. (The club comes with a removable soleplate so that one can insert weight in the putter, but one of the screws is stuck in this plate; if anyone knows a method to get this screw out, let me know.)

2. The club does not have a center stripe or another mark in the center of the club. Just like the newer model of Zebras, my club has about ten parallel stripes on the top of the face; unlike the newer model, however, the center stripe is not painted white. I've counted the stripes before and its very difficult to tell what what is in the center; the center actually may be located between two of them.

3. The club naturally aims right! My coaches noticed this at the season's beginning, which may explain why I miss most putts to the right. If one does not guide the club with a firm grip, it will open.

4. The technology isn't that good. Quite simply, the newer putters are far better than my Zebra, which severely punished a ball hit off-center. In addition, the ball gets way to much airtime on really long putts, so that distance control becomes erratic. (Honestly, my biggest problem with the Zebra comes on long putts; my stroke becomes way longer than it would with a newer putter, and it's quite difficult to hit the ball solidly or judge speed. My short-putting issues result mostly from the fact that I'm a f#$&ing; choker.)

There are other smaller things, like a plethora of small dings on the face and a worn grip, but I don't think they are as big a deal. (I would fix the grip, except I like the ancient one I have: it is completely circular, which is uncommon for putters these days.)


So, what should I do?

1. Stick with the Zebra as it is. I've putted well with it before, and it's only a matter of time before the good form comes around again.

2. Somehow get the soleplate off and add weight to the Zebra. The biggest problem (the club's lack of weight) will be solved, and I can keep playing with the same putter I've used all my life.

3. Ditch the Zebra and get a Odyssey or a Scotty. The club's the issue... get rid of it, and I'll be fine.

4. Get a Z-Factor (which I may do anyway). It's not the club... it's my stroke.

5. Something else. You tell me!

[GaijinGolfer]

I think Id seriously consider upgrading to a new putter. You mentioned that its hard to get it lined up correctly and that the face tends to open of you dont hold it with a firm grip.
I think that at least part of your problem with the mental part of your putting are stemming from a lack of confidence in your putter.
I think that if you got a better putter, one that was much easier to line up with the ball and that did open on you, you would be more confident and would sink more putts.
No doubt those things go through your mind when you are getting ready to putt and that could at least partially be why your putting kinda comes and goes.

[TigerCurtis333]

I'd buy a Yes! or a Scotty Cameron. You can find a barely used, great looking Yes! putter for just over 100 bucks. If you go from the technology on yours and then look at the Yes! putters...it's truly unbelivable.

But keep your putter, obviously - just maybe get a new putter and stash your current oldie in storage.

[GaijinGolfer]

I agree, definetly keep the old putter for it's sentimental value. Perhaps you could hang it over the fireplace...

[Soup Fan]

If you think that your putter might be your problem, then your putter is your problem. That doesn't mean that your putter is inadequate, because if you have performed well with it before you should be able to still, but if you have lost confidence in the club itself then the easiest thing to do is try some new putters.

I want a new putter. After trying Odysseys and Taylor Mades and Clevelands and Titleists I tried two different putters that felt *almost* as good as sex. The only problem is that the two putters in question (Ping Redwood ZB and Yes! Valerie) are extraordinarily out of my price range. So I went and gathered up every putter in my Dad's garage that I could find and spent an hour putting around the living room with 4 or 5 different styles and companies. After my little experiment, it turned out my old putter, which is dinged and ugly and old and cheap still felt better than all the others.

My suggestion is to just set up a pre-putt routine. Try to repeat the exact same set up when you address the ball. The more repeatable your approach, the more repeatable your stroke will become.

[chingali]

1. The putter is far lighter than those of today; my close friends often implore me after another debacle to "get a heavier putter," as the club can easily drift off line. In addition, a firmer (i.e., longer) stroke is required to strike the ball; the longer the stroke, the more chance of a mishit. (The club comes with a removable soleplate so that one can insert weight in the putter, but one of the screws is stuck in this plate; if anyone knows a method to get this screw out, let me know.)

Drill it out. Secure the putter in a vice (use an old towel to prevent marking the putterhead). With a sharp drill bit slightly smaller than the diameter of the screwhead drill directly downward until the screwhead pops off the rest of the screw. Remove the other screws from the soleplate and then you can grab the remaining piece of the screw sans head in a pair of multigrips and remove it. If it is is stuck in tight apply a bit of heat, sometmes the screws are stuck in with a bit of epoxy to stop them working loose and a small amount of heat will generally break the bond.

You can add weight using thicker washers, once you get the solplate off you will see what I mean.

2. The club does not have a center stripe or another mark in the center of the club. Just like the newer model of Zebras, my club has about ten parallel stripes on the top of the face; unlike the newer model, however, the center stripe is not painted white. I've counted the stripes before and its very difficult to tell what what is in the center; the center actually may be located between two of them.

I used one of these for years (still have it) and you will find that the center is the 6th black stripe if you count from the toe across.

3. The club naturally aims right! My coaches noticed this at the season's beginning, which may explain why I miss most putts to the right. If one does not guide the club with a firm grip, it will open.

Mine sits perfectly square. Three things to check

1. is the grip on straight - this can be fixed by removal of the existing grip and then putting it back on square or simply regrip the club
2. Has the shaft been bent near the bottom - take a close look and you'll notice if it has. It can be bent back carefully by applying heat to the shaft and then gently applying pressure. If it breaks bad luck, reshaft it.
3. Is the shaft glued in to the head squarely, you can remove the shaft by applying heat to the point where it joins the head to break the epoxy bond. Then glue it back in and make sure it is in square, use whatever you can find to hold it in square until the epoxy sets.

There are other smaller things, like a plethora of small dings on the face and a worn grip, but I don't think they are as big a deal. (I would fix the grip, except I like the ancient one I have: it is completely circular, which is uncommon for putters these days.)

Mine has the original Zebra pistol style grip. I'm sure you could find a replacement to match the original if you looked around.

[mrgilmore]

I think Id seriously consider upgrading to a new putter. You mentioned that its hard to get it lined up correctly and that the face tends to open of you dont hold it with a firm grip.

Couldn't have said it better myself

[chingali]

So basically what is being said in quite a few posts is that the old guys like Nicklaus, Player and Palmer in his earlier days didn't make a lot of putts, obviously they can't have using those old putters.

Nah, not buying it. Grab a new putter if it makes you feel better, but remember it's the person using it that makes it work!

[Dub]

My two cents worth:

• Do not....under any circumstances...ever....ever sell or trade the putter. You'll regret it one day. That thing is a piece of family heritage.
• Same goes for modifying it in any way, shape or form....don't freaking do it.
• Clean the putter good, especially the grip and then store it somewhere safe for a while.
• Try some new putters. I struggled with alignment for way too long. Both of my current putters help me with this tremendoulsly. The Ping I use is so long that the face is easy to line up. The 2-ball system on the Odysey is wonderful for this two. Both are face balanced which fits my stroke.
• I used a Zebra way back when....good results with it, however there are some big improvements out there if you are willing to take the leap. It's going to be strange for you at first.
• Talked to a guy on the course the other day who just bought a TaylorMade Rossa Monza Spider mallet putter. He said he is in love with it. I tried it on the puttin green.....wow is all I can say. Alignment is so easy and the feel is righteous. It's as large as a battleship, though.

Good luck...there is relief out there if you are brave enough to try a couple.

[joshtpa]

So basically what is being said in quite a few posts is that the old guys like Nicklaus, Player and Palmer in his earlier days didn't make a lot of putts, obviously they can't have using those old putters.

I dont think that is what is being said at all. But technology has changed. SHould we use the same balls and woods that they did as well? Take a look at the courses they were playing in the 70's....One thing I can tell you, is that the greens are harder today, than they have ever been. Technology has made courses become longer and harder.

[michaeljames92]

sometimes changing your putter can bring good luck. hope all goes well mate

[FlopShotArtist]

It sounds like the old Zebra is giving you trouble. You can keep it as a family type-of-thing, and buy a new putter out of pocket. Or, you could sell it, probably a good amount of $$, and then buy a new putter...

Good luck!

[Dent]

It sounds like the old Zebra is giving you trouble. You can keep it as a family type-of-thing, and buy a new putter out of pocket. Or,

For a Zebra? Naw he'll get 10 bucks at most.

[FlopShotArtist]

IDK, just making a guess seeing how it's from the 70's.

[GaijinGolfer]

So basically what is being said in quite a few posts is that the old guys like Nicklaus, Player and Palmer in his earlier days didn't make a lot of putts, obviously they can't have using those old putters.

Thats not what is being said at all. Golf equipment technology has improved by leaps and bounds since the '70s. Putters today are so much more balanced and with the perimiter weighting its so much easier to make good putts than it would be with a vintage putter.

Nicklaus, Player and Palmer definetly sank a lot of putts, but lets be honest hear, in terms of skill and talent, those guys are in the top 1%. The rest of us mere mortals need all the help we can get.

[chingali]

Thats not what is being said at all. Golf equipment technology has improved by leaps and bounds since the '70s. Putters today are so much more balanced and with the perimiter weighting its so much easier to make good putts than it would be with a vintage putter.

Were you playing during the 70's? I was only just - yeah I'm old!

If you have been playing for a long time, you'll realise that putter technology hasn't come along as far as you would have thought. A lot of the "newer" putters available are simply variations on themes that have been around for a long long time. Have a look at the Cameron range of putters as an example, just about every one of them I have seen is a refinement of something that has been around for well over 30 years. Sure I will grant you that some of the newer high MOI putters are a bit different, but then again I can remember older versions of a lot of them as well. When it comes to technology in drivers and fairway woods, I will grant you that they are million times easier to hit than anything available from the pre late 90's. Wedges are better now. Hybrids are a complete revolution for anyone who plays the game. And the ball, that is probably the area where the most advancement has been made, there is no comparison between the modern golf ball and what we used in the early eighties, none whatsoever. But putters? Nah, they are still very similar to what we have been using for a long long time. Like I said, if buying a new putter makes you think that you'll putt better go ahead and buy one - changing putters often does give you a short term confidence boost and does make you putt better. Just remember that it's YOU that has to hole that downhill left to right 5 footer to win the club championship regardless of what you have in your hands.

[Alex B]

Were you playing during the 70's? I was only just - yeah I'm old!

Good stuff. I was not playing in the '70s... I wasn't alive back then. My concern isn't so much the technology as it is the weight and the age. I suppose part of the issue is a cosmetic one: the putter looks strange next to the other 13 clubs in my bag (new this year). I think there is some technological advantage to the newer putters, however. For example, on the practice green today, I hit a long putt off the heel of my club: the Zebra (which is face-balanced) twisted violently in my hands, and the ball came up well short of the hole.

On the other hand, just as I was ready to purchase a new putter, I putted pretty well today; nothing fabulous, but no legitimate 3-putts. (I missed a 2-foot putt because of a poorly cut hole... so did the other two guys in my group. It was ridiculous, so I won't consider it a legitimate 3-putt, although I forced myself to count the miss.)

[GaijinGolfer]

Were you playing during the 70's? I was only just - yeah I'm old!

At 28 years old, obviously I havent been playing since the '70s. However, when I first started playing, I borrowed my neibor's set of clubs, which are '70s era clubs (muscleback blades and woods with wooden heads). It didnt take me long after I bought my own set (cavitybacks and metalwoods) to realize that today's clubs are about a million times better than my neibor's clubs are.

While I wont argue with you that today's putters are variations of classic designs, you cant deny that the different materials and those variations do result in better products. I also agree with you that a new putter isnt going to be a night and day difference. If you suck at putting, a new putter isnt going to make you sink 50' putts all the time. It does make a difference though.