Is a scoring improvement with a new putter just temporary?

[MiniBlueDragon]

I had a heavy toe-hang putter (Ping Anser iWi) which felt like it tended to push everything to the right unless I adopted a different ball position. I swapped that for a face-balanced Ping 1/2 WackE and that tended to pull everything to the left for me. I swapped that out for a mid-toe hang Mizuno BC2 and had excellent results with it for a long time as it allowed me to play my preferred ball position on each putt. I then decided to change my putting grip to a Runyan style grip and found that the mid-toe hang started pushing things to the right again so I swapped back to face-balanced and it was perfect. I now use a Mizuno MP A305 and I can't see myself ever wanting to swap it. Honeymoon period forever!

[sjduffers]

I had a heavy toe-hang putter (Ping Anser iWi) which felt like it tended to push everything to the right unless I adopted a different ball position. I swapped that for a face-balanced Ping 1/2 WackE and that tended to pull everything to the left for me. I swapped that out for a mid-toe hang Mizuno BC2 and had excellent results with it for a long time as it allowed me to play my preferred ball position on each putt. I then decided to change my putting grip to a Runyan style grip and found that the mid-toe hang started pushing things to the right again so I swapped back to face-balanced and it was perfect. I now use a Mizuno MP A305 and I can't see myself ever wanting to swap it. Honeymoon period forever!

Good to see that you were able to:

1) analyze what was going on (i.e. pushes, pulls)

2) find a solution that works instead of just blaming your stroke.

I couldn't clearly see my misses as they were not predominantly on one side or the other and I kept fidgeting with my stroke, ball position, weight distribution, etc...

I see that you are a full-on Mizuno guy. How do you like the JPX 850 clubs?  I have their predecessors, the JPX 825 Pro... and love them.

[MiniBlueDragon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiniBlueDragon

I had a heavy toe-hang putter (Ping Anser iWi) which felt like it tended to push everything to the right unless I adopted a different ball position. I swapped that for a face-balanced Ping 1/2 WackE and that tended to pull everything to the left for me. I swapped that out for a mid-toe hang Mizuno BC2 and had excellent results with it for a long time as it allowed me to play my preferred ball position on each putt. I then decided to change my putting grip to a Runyan style grip and found that the mid-toe hang started pushing things to the right again so I swapped back to face-balanced and it was perfect. I now use a Mizuno MP A305 and I can't see myself ever wanting to swap it. Honeymoon period forever!

Good to see that you were able to:

1) analyze what was going on (i.e. pushes, pulls)

2) find a solution that works instead of just blaming your stroke.

I couldn't clearly see my misses as they were not predominantly on one side or the other and I kept fidgeting with my stroke, ball position, weight distribution, etc...

I see that you are a full-on Mizuno guy. How do you like the JPX 850 clubs?  I have their predecessors, the JPX 825 Pro... and love them.

It was mainly a case of playing and figuring out that there was a problem. Then I spent a bit of time on a straight, level surface with the ball in my preferred position making putt after putt and noting the percentage of shots that started offline and which direction and it was a high figure like 80%ish. I think it was actually on TST that I saw there was a difference between putter closure rates so from there it was trial and error with different styles until I found one that worked (and even then as soon as I changed my stroke it stopped working! lol)

I had the 825 Pro's before these and loved them too but as I've improved my swing and deliberately slowed down my swing speed to correct my sequencing the shaft (KBS Tour) started to not feel right any more. I'd have happily stuck with the 825 Pros if it was financially worth swapping the shafts in those but with the amount I was offered for the exchange it made more sense to trade-up and get the 850 Forged. If you get a chance try the 850's and I'll bet you any money you'll see a big improvement; I know I have. :)

[WUTiger]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Now that your lesson is over, please send me $50 via PayPal.

[sjduffers]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Now that your lesson is over, please send me $50 via PayPal.

Ah!

But you'd have to define "sometimes" for the lesson to be valuable.  Until then, it's probably not even worth 50c.  More like the typical 2c that is the going rate for an opinion... Just sayin'!

Btw, another round in, with 28 putts (including a 3-putt), and another birdie from about 30ft.  I did miss a few shorter birdie putts though... Still, I am happy.