Harrington's putting practice methods

[ryetronics]

I attended the Masters practice round yesterday, and on the 4th green, watched Padraig Harrington use a level (as in a construction level with the little bubbles of liquid to show if something is parallel with the ground) on the green. He would set the level on the green, then walk around it for a minute or two, writing notes in his yardage book, then hit a few puts at the level from 10 feet away, then move to another part of the green and repeat. He must have been there 20 minutes analyzing the putting surface, while a group behind him waited.

Does anyone have any clue what he was doing exactly? I've been playing golf for 30 years and have never seen anything like it.

[joeyshot]

I used to be a junior in Stackstown GC where Harrington started playing and I remember seeing him on the practice green with this device that poured out a little chalk line from where he was putting to the cup. He'd mark out the line of the putt in chalk then practice hitting it along that line with a few balls. That was about 16/17 years ago so maybe he's found other DIY tools he can use now!

[alf174]

Must have been a carpenter in a previous life.

[iacas]

Does anyone have any clue what he was doing exactly? I've been playing golf for 30 years and have never seen anything like it.

Mapping the breaks of the greens.

[jamo]

Paddy has signed with Aimpoint Technologies golf , and they use levels to read greens.

[Shindig]

I see something like that at the check out place at the golf shop. It's a little bubble, and looks like the thing you use to hang a picture. It has Butch Harmon on the box, endorsing it. Maybe I should get one at the hardware store and use it to map my home course's greens, or at least for the 2-3 greens that consistently confuse me. Maybe it will make me a better putter. But there's no way it's legal for tournament play, or even handicapping play.

[The_ Astronaut]

Must have been a carpenter in a previous life.

haha.

It sounds like it could be helpful. I'm not sure I'd ever do it.