Putters...Is it right for me or not?

[shades9323]

  mcgriff said:

I think you missed the spirit of my post entirely. But, I do appreciate your suggestion.

I got it, it was at the end of your post. I was focusing on a different part of your post. That is why I only quoted what I was commenting on. The part about you blaming inserts for not keeping your putt on line.

[mcgriff]

  shades9323 said:

I got it, it was at the end of your post. I was focusing on a different part of your post. That is why I only quoted what I was commenting on. The part about you blaming inserts for not keeping your putt on line.

I hear ya, man. In the end everyone needs to find what works best and minimizes their errors.

BTW, I love the courses in Northern Michigan. I can't recall any course names at the moment, but my favorites were near Gaylord. Been 15 years+ since I have been up that way.

[chrisronline]

Thanks for all the advice.

I went to my local Golf Galaxy and tried a number of different putters and found that I handled the roll of a milled-face putter better than an insert (for whatever reason). I felt I could more easily predict the bounce off the face and coordinate it more with my backswing. I'll admit it's mostly psychological, but whatever works I guess.

I ended up really liking the heel-shafted, small mallet putter like the SC Del Mar and Odyssey Black Series #9. Both of those felt the same, but I liked the cosmetics and over-the-ball appearance of the Odyssey better. After looking around for a deal, I found one for $150 off eBay in mint condition so it should arrive this week and I look forward to practicing more with it and eventually improve my putting (I did an average of my rounds this year and my putts/gir is 2.1 and my putts/round is 34...)

[Fourputt]

  chrisronline said:

Hey all,

Best recommendation.... never by a putter just because you like how it looks. That may help your confidence in the long run if all else is right, but first a putter needs to

feel good. It has to move consistently through the hitting area like an extension of your arms. If it doesn't feel like that first, then how it looks to your eye is meaningless. When I shop for a putter (rarely, as I don't buy unless I know its right for me), I stroke balls with my eyes closed so that the only sensation I get is the feel of the club. I've tried some very good, quite expensive putters that just felt clunky to me when tested like that. I've also tried some expensive putters which felt quite nice, but not any better than a much cheaper one. You just have to try as many as you can get your hands on, and only buy the one that feels the best when you hit balls with it. If the ball doesn't go in the hole, then price and looks just don't matter. If the ball does go in the hole, then price and looks don't really matter either.... think about it.

[TheGeekGolfer]

  chrisronline said:

I've been putting pretty mediocre since June and had a 43 putt round this morning

I'm going to be brutally honest here...43 putts in a round means you need some assistance with your putting stroke, NOT a new putter!

[chrisronline]

  TheGeekGolfer said:

I'm going to be brutally honest here...43 putts in a round means you need some assistance with your putting stroke, NOT a new putter!

I appreciate brutal honesty :)

I'm sure my stroke isn't perfect or consistent, but having so many putts per round plays hard on my mental game and a change of putter, along with a different look and feel, might increase my confidence and allow me to make more consistent strokes. I guess only time will tell if I end up in the same situation with my new one

[mcgriff]

Grats on your new putter.

I am in the same boat as you...can't get inserts to work. Of course it is me, that is why there are hundreds of putters out there. I can't get my old TM driver more than 10 feet off the ground. Should I take lessons to make the club work?

If the shoe doesn't fit, don't cut off your toes

[Koth]

  chrisronline said:

I appreciate brutal honesty :)

Plus, getting a new putter will make you want to get out and practice more with it, which is only a good thing.

[shades9323]

  mcgriff said:

Grats on your new putter.

Yes, you should take lessons. If you can't get a any club more than 10 feet off the ground, something is terribly wrong with your swing. Same with 43 putts, it is not a putter issue it is a puttee issue.

[mcgriff]

  shades9323 said:

Yes, you should take lessons. If you can't get a any club more than 10 feet off the ground, something is terribly wrong with your swing. Same with 43 putts, it is not a putter issue it is a puttee issue.

Club has an x stiff shaft and an 8.5 loft. I used to hit it now it is no longer appropriate for me to try. Wrong fit and all....

Quick edit..I do take biweekly lessons (thought we were talking about gear not lessons)...pretty sure if I showed up with the old TM he'd beat me over the head with it. Sorry for off topic, grats again on the new stick

[chrisronline]

It came in today and I've been putting on the carpet like crazy. I'll be playing a round early tomorrow morning so we'll see how it feels on the course. I'm not expecting to hit less putts in the round, but I'm looking to have a better feel and more consistent stroke while putting (closer to the hole, no three putts I guess)

[chrisronline]

Putter felt nice today. I realize that I have an issue reading the greens but the pace is what I expect and I ended the round with 32 putts (16/16) include two three-putts.

[newtogolf]

  shades9323 said:

It is the putter. I thought that thing was terrible on putts longer than 8 feet or so.

I'm giving up on the Ghost for now. I tried out a SC Studio Style Newport 2 and I felt I had better feel with it. I ordered it yesterday online for $138. I liked the Studio Select version too, but not enough to drop $300 on it. I'm going to hold onto the Ghost for now until I see how the SC works out on a course.