Putter Grooves...How important?

[wrx_junki]

I will let you know once my Method gets here. Although the 2° of loft will probably affect the roll more than the grooves.

[xxsoultonesxx]

I really like my Yes! putter. The grooves played no role in me purchasing it, though. I played with dozens of putters at the store and went with the best feeling (IMO) option within my price range.

[iacas]

They certainly do have a noticeable effect, as demonstrated in that paper linked earlier. What certainly hasn't been established is whether that effect will actually help a golfer hole any more putts.

Here's the thing, Andrew - they have an effect IF and WHEN you make a stroke that maximizes the results they wanted to get for that study.

I've done high-speed video of myself and Dave hitting putts and the ball starts rolling INCREDIBLY quickly. A few inches. In other words, I have no doubt they maximized their results by choosing a certain kind of stroke/hit. Putt a different way and the results will change.

[John105]

Billions of putts have been made with Bullseye putters, Anser putters etc. It ain't the bow, it's the indian behind it!

I guess my counter-point would be that billions of deer have been killed with long bows, but when I go bow hunting, I make sure to bring my new compound bow with me cause I need all the help I can get.

[Stretch]

In other words, I have no doubt they maximized their results by choosing a certain kind of stroke/hit. Putt a different way and the results will change.

I really don't care either way and have no brief for YES! putters other than that I'm currently using one (that doesn't have the c-grooves, must be an older model) I found in the used bin at my course's pro shop. But if you read the description of the study, it's pretty clear there was not the kind of selection bias you are implying. They just went to Euro Tour events and had random pros hit a few putts with their own putter and a similar style of YES! putter.

Thirty male PGA European Tour Golfers performed their typical putting action under both test conditions for this study. A total of 5 out of the 30 subjects finished in the top 10 of the European Order of Merit 2001. All subjects were given a number of practice putts with both their own putter and their selected C-Groove putter to familiarise themselves with the length of putt required (10-11 Stimpmeter). At the time of the experiments none of the thirty golfers participating in this study were familiar with the C-Groove putter. Each subject putted towards a hole positioned twenty feet away in a straight line. Subjects wore their personal golf shoes and attire. The weather conditions during the testing period consisted of nil wind with temperatures of plus 20°C. The trials were carried out over a period of three months during the competitive PGA European Tour 2001 season. The distance of a 20 foot putt was chosen as the test distance because this is the length of a medium to long demanding putt.