Interesting putting practice aid?

[darthfader]

Not sure if this was the right place to post this, but does anyone know what the device shown here is called:

http://www2008.clevelandgolf.fr/inde...tid=2274708001

I know that looks like a bogus link, but it links to a video of Kent Jones (PGA Tour) practicing with a putting aid. It involves a small platform, a couple of small metal spheres.... see for yourself.

Doesn't seem all that impressive, since Kent makes it look pretty easy (of course). But I was at the Wachovia in 2007 and saw Vijay using this same device. Vijay played pretty well that week, but I watched him hit over 20 putts using this device, and he booted nearly all of them!!

Anyway... thought somebody would know, or one of you mini-tour guys would have seen it.

[Ben]

I saw a buddy of mine Sam using one once. I think its too technical personally. I prescribe to Bob Rotella's theory that making putts is more about believing a putt will go than the actual stroke that gets it there. When I play and practice I think nothing of the stroke itself, just where I want to hit it.

[VOX]

Here it is at Pelzgolf.com http://www.pelzgolf.com/proshop/pros...oshopid=ptutor

[darthfader]

I saw a buddy of mine Sam using one once. I think its too technical personally. I prescribe to Bob Rotella's theory that making putts is more about believing a putt will go than the actual stroke that gets it there. When I play and practice I think nothing of the stroke itself, just where I want to hit it.

No offense, but spoken like a guy who probably has a mechanically-sound putting stroke.

Rotella's theory has merit. It is nearly impossible to hole putts if you believe that whatever you do, the putt will miss. But the converse definitely is not true. You're not going to magically start making putts simply just because you believe you will. At some level (different for every golfer) it is a matter of technique (physical and mental), and the application of that technique. At the moment, my technique is poor. I'm trying to improve that technique. Maybe some day I will arrive at where you are, where my technique is sound and consistent. Would be nice!

[darthfader]

Here it is at Pelzgolf.com

THANKS!!! Happy Holidays!

[Ben]

No offense, but spoken like a guy who probably has a mechanically-sound putting stroke.

None taken. My stroke maybe be sound, but it is by no means consistent. I often see myself taking it back on a terrible line. But, I just stopped caring so much about that. Now I feel more comfortable over putts.

I did actually try this Putting Tutor aid when my buddy broke it out one day. It's just too little room for error if you put the balls on the most narrow setting. It made me more tense about taking a stroke, rather than relaxed and natural feeling. After trying this aid for myself I had no desire to buy one. However, I ended up having to buying a replacement copy of Putting Out of Your Mind for Shindig after I highlighted to death the book he lent me.

[darthfader]

None taken. My stroke maybe be sound, but it is by no means consistent.

Hey Ben, I give credit where credit is due. Your index is nearly +2. That tells me that you're doing something right, most of the time.

Me... it was pretty obvious I was doing something wrong, nearly ALL the time.

It's just too little room for error if you put the balls on the most narrow setting.

I'll take your word for it. Watching Vijay on the practice green that day was PAINFUL. He'd hit a putt... and knock one of the marbles off. And again, and again, and again. His caddie had the job of replacing the golf ball and the little marble. Quite a sight.

For me, its a decelleration and a push. I get lined up, I visualize the ball going in, I relax, I make what feels like a good stroke..... and I miss a straight 4-footer by an inch or two, wide right. I realize now that I don't release the putter correctly, therefore the putt never starts on line. So I'm trying to fix the stroke, and having a little tool like this one the practice greens would allow me to see the direction the ball is starting. Drawing a line on the ball does the same thing, except I'd need to line up every single ball.... a bit tedious. I guess one could argue, "Well Dummy... why don't you just practice 4-footers?" Good point, except I'm not really concerned about the 4-footers right now. I'm trying to hone the stroke, and get it as clean as I can. The cup is wide and forgiving... I can choke in a 4-footer a bunch of different ways... decell+push, lips in on the right, or a hard pull that lips in on the left.... those might help my score, but they don't actually teach me anything. Neither one of those misses started on line, but they somehow went in. Basically teaches me nothing. I want to learn how to make a stroke that feels natural AND starts the ball at my target. Might take some time, and might require a training aid (or five, for my ugly stroke). ;) Thanks for the help. I appreciate someone taking an interest.

[Ben]

No sweat. Thanks for taking my comments as constructive. I really recommend giving that Rotella book a read. It's not that long and did wonders for me...

[Surefire]

I found this interesting with regards to the 'mind v technique'.

In the middle ages most continental european armies used crossbows, but the British used archers - this is golf related slightly, so keep reading!


With crossbows you could look straight down the bolt and fire.

With a long bow, to get the power to pierce armour plate, you would need to pull the string back past your ear. Obviously by doing this you cannot look down the arrow to get a line of sight.

British archers used to spend a long time practising and learning to be able to visualise and feel an arrow to the target.

In the end the bow turned out to be the better weapon only because it was quicker to fire, both weapons were similar in accuracy.

This seems the same for putting. Some people are better just visualising and feeling, and others prefer the more technical based method of having a target and then mechanically hitting that target.

Personally I prefer the feel method, but it is better to find what works for you and stick with it, even if its different from what the guy next door is doing.