Coming back from the Heavy Putter?

[Cman13]

Always had challenges with short putting (got too wristy)...went to the heavy putter (B-3M) about 4 or 5 years ago.  The putter did the trick and my short putting stabilized quite nicely so my putting wasn't a liability.  However, I was a 22 hndcp at the time and have managed to get down to a 8.9 and am thinking of changing the putter...it is good on short putts but has no real feel to it and lag putting is always a challenge (especially on slow greens).  Just a little worried about the transition of going from the weight of the B-3M to a regular putter...has anyone made this change...is there any coming back from the heavy putter?

[fairwayguy2]

I went to a Heavy Putter for the same reason as you and had an identical experiance.  What I wound up doing was going back to my Osyssey White hot but started pulling short puts.  I then put an oversized putter grip on it and that seem to work.  I would suggest trying it with any old puttter you have that you have confidence in before you sink a whole lot of money into a new putter.  Worst case your out 10 bucks for a grip.

[The Tin Man]

Buy whatever putter (that has feel) you like and go back and forth between them.

Or load down the new one with lead and wean yourself pulling off layers.

0r carry two putters.  One for short shots and another for lagging.

[JimP]

Had the same problem (wristy) and went to the same model Heavy Putter, which I used for about a year.  Going back to the mallet shape (that I prefer for alignment) wasn't a worry,  A couple of rounds (can't be bothered practising) was all I needed to adapt.  The heavy putter certainly was a good move for a while, and will probably need to come back into the bag sometime in the future.

[Bryan SD2]

I would avoid a larger grip, unless you have large hands or have used a large grip in the past. Why??  Increasing the weight of the club in the grip end reduces the feel of weight of the head, changes the feel of the stroke quite a bit, and DECREASES swingweight.

A better option in my mind is to put lead tape on the head of the new putter.  You can put it on the bottom of most putters easily, and hide it so that you do not see it at address if that is an issue for you.  Or you can stick it all over the place... up to you.

Experiment with different amounts of tape first.  It is quite sticky, so apply it in various amounts with a little scotch tape or masking tape FIRST --- without removing the backing and usng the adhesive on the lead tape itself.  Hit a few putts in the house, or at the practice green.  Add another piece, take a piece off, etc. until you get what feels right for you.

Then remove the backing from the lead tape and apply it.  Good luck!

[gjsuicide]

I hope everyone knows that with the Heavy Putter, the weight is under the grip, not in the head.

[jmcmb]

There definitely is coming back from the Heavy Putter, Ive actually tried a few of the heavy putters, and find they work pretty well, when my putting is weak i will occasionally play the heavy to force me to grove my stroke.  Off topic, a few friends and I have found that on very closely cut fairways, you can knock the heavy putter quite a few yards quite accurately, theyre also great out of the rough right around the green... Back on topic, I would recomend getting to the practice green with a more standard putter, if a friend or golf buddy has one you could borrow in a head shape you are interested in that would help, after a while practicing, you will become more comfortable with a lighter putter, and the conrol you developed with the heavy putter will prove to be a help more than a hinderance, but like anything else in the game of golf, if you want to move forward, you gotta put in the time and effort. After you're comfortable with a lighter putter, go get fit for a new putter, alot of putters can be custom weighted, and what works best for you may still be something that plays heavier than the norm.  Based on everything I hear and read, I would recomend Edel putters, they seem to do a fantastic job of matching you to the perfect putter for you through the fitting, and every last detail can be made custom to your exact specs, and they will eliminate your aim bias, as a matter of fact, sometime in the next week or two I'm goin to get fit for a custom Edel.  Hope this helps.

Jay

[max power]

Nope.  It's both.

Originally Posted by gjsuicide

I hope everyone knows that with the Heavy Putter, the weight is under the grip, not in the head.

[Cman13]

Thanks for the suggestions...will look for a regular weight mallet putter w/oversize grip (I have gib hands) and see how it goes.  Just to clarify the heavy putter is weighted in both the head and under the grip.

[Bryan SD2]

Originally Posted by gjsuicide

I hope everyone knows that with the Heavy Putter, the weight is under the grip, not in the head.

That's the internet equivalent of the three-putt....

[jamo]

Nope.  It's both.

This. There is added head-weight and added counter-weight.

[gjsuicide]

Originally Posted by Bryan SD2

That's the internet equivalent of the three-putt....

My comment was aimed toward those suggesting to add weight to the head of a normal putter to "wean" off the heavy putter. Like you said.  The reason why a heavy putter works is because its balanced by the weight in the shaft.  Yet you suggest to people to add a bunch of weight to the head of a normal putter, so it will be far out of balance and a poor tool for training/performing a proper stroke.  I'm guessing that could cause a lot of three putts on the golf course, maybe that's what you were referring to?

[Bryan SD2]

Originally Posted by gjsuicide

My comment was aimed toward those suggesting to add weight to the head of a normal putter to "wean" off the heavy putter. Like you said.  The reason why a heavy putter works is because its balanced by the weight in the shaft.  Yet you suggest to people to add a bunch of weight to the head of a normal putter, so it will be far out of balance and a poor tool for training/performing a proper stroke.  I'm guessing that could cause a lot of three putts on the golf course, maybe that's what you were referring to?

Now you have four putted!

I never suggested anyone add a bunch of weight.  Your suggestion that experimenting with lead tape on a putter (which THOUSANDS of PGA Touring Pros have done in competition) will make a putter "far out of balance and a poor tool" is ludicrous.

The guy wants something IN BETWEEN a heavy putter and a standard putter.  It's really quite simple.

I putted with lead tape on my putter for 20 years.  Made it down to a 4 cap, was a walk on at a Division I school, won High School Tournaments.  When I changed to my current Scotty Cameron, the putter was HEAVIER, but the swingweight was different than my previous putter.  Solution?  Lighter grip (the lightest Cameron grip there is, the Studio Design), therfore changing the swingweight, putting the feeling of more weight back into the putter head.  Felt a lot like my previous putter.

You may work in a Tour Van and know your stuff... if so, enlighten us.