Calling all Scotty Owners

[nike_golf]

Thanks for the tip. Any thoughts on adding loft to the putter?

And why do you want to add loft to the putter? I think you're over thinking this whole thing. I know you want to get a good putt and a good sound out of that Scotty everytime. Believe me, I know. I was in your spot not terribly long ago. But really, it comes down to having a good, solid stroke that gets the "meat" part of that face on the ball consistently. Like I said, you're not going to get a perfect strike everytime, especially when you're working on your putting stroke.

You must also know that the Scotty is a one of a kind of putter that if and when you mis hit that ball a quarter of an inch, it will let you know. I've never hit a putter that is as "fussy" as hitting it "right" (ie - perfectly) as a Scotty. And really, that's one reason why we get them. So, keep in mind that the Scotty is the toughest putter to hit "correctly" (ie - perfectly), so don't get too discouraged. As a change of pace type of putter, I got my Spider a couple of years ago. I like that putter. I really like that putter. But, it doesn't compare to my Scotty as far as giving me feedback on a mis hit ball. No putter does. I'll hit some balls w/ the Spider and they are feeling good. I'm thinking I'm having a good night stroking the ball. I will pick up my Scotty and I'll hear the "off" kind of click (and feel) once in a while. I go from feeling great on every stroke w/ one premium putter to having slight mis hits w/ the Scotty. Nothing changed w/ my stroke. It's just the Scotty's way of reminding me that if I'm not perfect, it will subtly let me know.

[timastyle]

And why do you want to add loft to the putter? I think you're over thinking this whole thing. I know you want to get a good putt and a good sound out of that Scotty everytime. Believe me, I know. I was in your spot not terribly long ago. But really, it comes down to having a good, solid stroke that gets the "meat" part of that face on the ball consistently. Like I said, you're not going to get a perfect strike everytime, especially when you're working on your putting stroke.

Well it goes back to Stan Utley's The Art of Putting. he basically states that enough loft is needed in order to get the ball up and rolling from the slight depression it is in. He says that he believes that most people don't have enough loft which causes a lot of problems in their stroke and that the natural inclination of most people is to hit up on the ball to get the ball rolling which is hard to do consistently. Saying that with a higher loft (he personally using a little over 5 1/4 degree loft that he says works well with his forward press) that you will not try to hit up on the ball therefore having a more pure roll.

Funny you should mention the Spider...I actually had that putter and really enjoyed it for a while before I got a Scotty. Now it feels like I'm trying to reach my Eleanor (reference to the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds"). I can't put my finger on what I do when I get hit the sweet spot because I feel like I'm putting the same stroke with each putt. If there was only a way to lock down exactly where the sweet spot was, I would gerry rig something to enforce that I was making contact there with each stroke. Any thoughts?

[jpalermo]

I don't understand this forward press to "deloft" the putter then adding more loft. Wouldn't you to some degree be back where you started? I trust the research. Even though I don't use a Scotty you can't argue with the man when it comes to putting, thats his thing and am not going to debate putter facts with that guy.

[nike_golf]

Funny you should mention the Spider...I actually had that putter and really enjoyed it for a while before I got a Scotty. Now it feels like I'm trying to reach my Eleanor (reference to the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds"). I can't put my finger on what I do when I get hit the sweet spot because I feel like I'm putting the same stroke with each putt. If there was only a way to lock down exactly where the sweet spot was, I would gerry rig something to enforce that I was making contact there with each stroke. Any thoughts?

Have you ever seen a slow motion close up view of a rolled ball coming off of a properly hit putter? It's kind of neat. There is the initial "hop" off of the putter, then two quick successive shorter hops, and as the ball is making more contact w/ the ground, it's starting it's straight, true roll towards your target.

I make it a point to watch my ball as I putt do that kind of action. You can see it if you're watching closely. My ball is coming off that way w/ my forward press and all. As for getting the sweet spot down. You should know by the aiming line or dot where the center of the sweet spot is. You say you put the same stroke on every putt, but w/ different results. Well, it might feel like you are, but obviously, you're not. By the sound and/or feel, I usually know how I mis hit the Scotty. Either a slight toe or heel hit. Or if I hit the ball w/ the bottom part of the face. After much practice w/ my Scotty, I can tell these things and thus am able to focus on correcting my mistake and not repeating it. Really though, there is no substitute for having a correct putting stroke altogether. I would worry about getting a good, solid stroke down before I would worry about the sweet spot on a Scotty Cameron putter. I guess all I'm saying is practice and give it time. Like I said, I was in your spot at one time too. Today, on MOST days, the putter is my strongest club in the bag.

[nike_golf]

One more thing. Since you seem enamored w/ Mr. Utley's teachings, allow me to suggest Dave Stockton. I think that guy is the man when it comes to putting. Very informative and knowledgable. He's the one who I would look up for advice and/or anything to try dealing w/ putting.

I'll do some digging for you on the forward press, among other things, and maybe post a video or two.

[nike_golf]

Dave on his actual putting stroke. Forward press and the reasons for it. Oh, and he has to have a minimum of 5* on his putter.

[timastyle]

This is exactly what Stan Utley says about the added loft although in the video it appears as though Dave has an inside to outside putting stroke. Is that what he advocates or was it from the camera angle and where he was actually aiming? Maybe I will look into getting his book for some added help.

I know I need to practice more and I've been putting for about 15-30 minutes in a day for a weeks now and my distance control has gotten much better, but I still have the occasion pulls (most of my misses are this way). I guess where my main issue is with putting is knowing what I was doing wrong and what the causes are for certain misses (i.e. pulling putts, pushing putts, hitting it on the toe or heel, and most of all catching it with the bottom of the face) and how to fix those mistakes. I have also recently been dealing with hitting fat putts where my putterface hits the grass a few inches before even getting to the ball. I believe I realized that this is mainly caused by decelerating on my follow through therefore dropping the club.

[msd3075]

I don't understand this forward press to "deloft" the putter then adding more loft. Wouldn't you to some degree be back where you started? I trust the research. Even though I don't use a Scotty you can't argue with the man when it comes to putting, thats his thing and am not going to debate putter facts with that guy.

Yes, the loft will be the same between forward press/more loft and a standard "press"/loft. The reason for adding loft though is so that you can do a forward press while still maintaining the amount of loft you need and not reducing it to less than desired.

[msd3075]

But, to me, and this may seem simplistic, Scotty Cameron has researched and determined the best loft and lie, so who am I to change it?

As has been stated a million times before, putting is one of the most personal aspects of the game of golf. There is nothign "standard" about it. What Scotty Cameron has done is found a "best fit" set of putter specs that he believes fit the majority of golfers in a majority of situations. That does not mean his putter specs are the end-all, be-all for every golfer; it just means that fit most golfers much better than other brands. If you look at the specs of other putters on the market, many only have 2* of loft and steeper lie angles. Also, we need to remember than the optimum loft of the putter changes depending on the putting surface you are playing on. If you are on lightning-quick bent grass greens, you won't need as much loft since the ball won't be in as deep of a depression; on thicker/slower bermuda grass greens, you'll need significantly more loft to get the ball up out of the depression.

[timastyle]

Also, we need to remember than the optimum loft of the putter changes depending on the putting surface you are playing on. If you are on lightning-quick bent grass greens, you won't need as much loft since the ball won't be in as deep of a depression; on thicker/slower bermuda grass greens, you'll need significantly more loft to get the ball up out of the depression.

I see you have a couple different Scotty putters. Do you have different lofts on each putter to suit the conditions you're playing in?

[msd3075]

I see you have a couple different Scotty putters. Do you have different lofts on each putter to suit the conditions you're playing in?

The Studio Design putter is still all standard (4* loft, 71* lie) because I just bought it used from a golf shop here in AR a couple weeks ago. The TeI3 that is at the Custom Shop right now is having the loft changed to 5* and the lie flattened to 70* (original is 71*). I'm adding loft mainly because the greens I play on when I'm in Houston are slower Bermuda grass (ie. need more loft) and I also use a

slight forward press. The greens here in AR are bent grass, but I'm hesitant to decrease loft lower than 4*. When I get my TeI3 back from the Custom Shop (should be in the next week or two), I'll post on here about any differences in playability that I notice in the loft/lie setup.

[timastyle]

The Studio Design putter is still all standard (4* loft, 71* lie) because I just bought it used from a golf shop here in AR a couple weeks ago. The TeI3 that is at the Custom Shop right now is having the loft changed to 5* and the lie flattened to 70* (original is 71*). I'm adding loft mainly because the greens I play on when I'm in Houston are slower Bermuda grass (ie. need more loft) and I also use a

Thanks. That would be great. I'm curious to see what differences you see in the 5 degree loft vs the 4 degree.

[kpaulhus]

Question: When I get my Scotty I already know Im going to have the lie adjusted, but do I have to send it into the custom shop, or can edwin watts make that change?

[msd3075]

Question: When I get my Scotty I already know Im going to have the lie adjusted, but do I have to send it into the custom shop, or can edwin watts make that change?

Anyone can make the adjustments granted they know what they are doing. If your SC putter is your gamer and you don't care about complete authenticity/resale value, it really doesn't make sense to send it in to the Custom Shop to have a few minor changes taken care of. I know a lot of SC loyalists will disagree with me about this, but anyone that can adjust another brand putter can adjust a Scotty Cameron. The only reason I sent my SC putter in to the Custom Shop was because I had them do a complete restoration (restore the finish, new shaft/grip/headcover/paintfill/etc.), and while it was there I had the adjustments made as well.

[timastyle]

Question: When I get my Scotty I already know Im going to have the lie adjusted, but do I have to send it into the custom shop, or can edwin watts make that change?

As msd3075 said, anyone can do it ASSUMING they know what they're doing. I personally don't trust golf shops to do that kind of stuff, at least not correctly. If it was a cheap putter, I really wouldn't care, but to have them screwing around with an expensive putter, I would be hesitant to put it in their hands. I am also planning on sending my putter to the Custom Shop for restoration so I will have the custom shop take care of the loft, lie, length adjustments I need along with the cosmetic stuff...

[timastyle]

I have a question about getting the putter lengthened. Right now, I have a 34" and in adjusting my putting grip and stance, I'm feeling that it's a bit shorter than what I need. According to the Custom Shop, adding more than 1/2" to a putter would mess with the balance and swingweight. My question is how much would it mess with the balance if I went from a 34" to a 35". I have the Pro Platinum Newport.

[Elvisliveson]

I have a question about getting the putter lengthened. Right now, I have a 34" and in adjusting my putting grip and stance, I'm feeling that it's a bit shorter than what I need. According to the Custom Shop, adding more than 1/2" to a putter would mess with the balance and swingweight. My question is how much would it mess with the balance if I went from a 34" to a 35". I have the Pro Platinum Newport.

I would sell the 34" and buy a used 35" on EBAY. I have done that.

I have never been a big believer of changing the length of a putter after it's left the factory. The putterhead weight is matched to the shaft length at that time and shouldn't be messed with, IMHO.

[timastyle]

I would sell the 34" and buy a used 35" on EBAY. I have done that.

I tend to agree with that and have been looking into doing that as well. I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of each as we speak...