Switching from a mallet putter to a blade...

[Valleygolfer]

For quite a few years I have been using a Odyssey Sabertooth putter and I decided to switch to a Ping Anser 5 blade style putter. In the show room I putted great but on the the course I frequently feel like I have no idea how to be comfortable with it and lining up the club face seems impossible. That last part is very awkward and frustrating as well as not very confidence inspiring. I have had some pretty good putting days with it but it is hot and cold.

I installed the grip one the new putter and had the pro at my club look at it but I still feel like it is not lined up...

Anyone else make the switch? I feel like I just need to train my eyes to accept it but I have practiced quite a bit with it and still get those aesthetics of a crooked face.

[saevel25]

Nope, I actually went from a  blade to a more mallet style. 

Time to plug Edel. If you want to not have to worry about buying another putter get fitted for an Edel putter. You will be getting a putter that you are confident you are lining up correctly. 

 

[Valleygolfer]

I don't have a Edel fitter close by. Maybe I am just not as comfortable with a blade verses a mallet style.

I don't have a Edel fitter close by. Maybe I am just not as comfortable with a blade verses a mallet style.

[Rip62]

I feel I control a blade better than a mallet.

[mvmac]

7 hours ago, Valleygolfer said:

Maybe I am just not as comfortable with a blade verses a mallet style.

Finding the right putter head/style is important. Some guys putt and aim better with mallet, some respond better to a blade. 

[boogielicious]

22 hours ago, Valleygolfer said:

For quite a few years I have been using a Odyssey Sabertooth putter and I decided to switch to a Ping Anser 5 blade style putter. In the show room I putted great but on the the course I frequently feel like I have no idea how to be comfortable with it and lining up the club face seems impossible. That last part is very awkward and frustrating as well as not very confidence inspiring. I have had some pretty good putting days with it but it is hot and cold.

I installed the grip one the new putter and had the pro at my club look at it but I still feel like it is not lined up...

Anyone else make the switch? I feel like I just need to train my eyes to accept it but I have practiced quite a bit with it and still get those aesthetics of a crooked face.

Anthony,

Go see Ken Collins at Kustom Clubs in Manchester, NH. He does putter fittings and will adjust your putter to your stroke and make sure your aim is "Dead-on-balls accurate". I got fit there a few years ago. He is a Golf Digest Top 100 fitter.

Not only will your aim be good, but you will have the confidence knowing that from the fitting.

 http://www.kustomclubs.com/

 

[Valleygolfer]

1 hour ago, boogielicious said:

Anthony,

Go see Ken Collins at Kustom Clubs in Manchester, NH. He does putter fittings and will adjust your putter to your stroke and make sure your aim is "Dead-on-balls accurate". I got fit there a few years ago. He is a Golf Digest Top 100 fitter.

Not only will your aim be good, but you will have the confidence knowing that from the fitting.

 http://www.kustomclubs.com/

 

Thanks, Scott. That will be a good winter activity.

7 hours ago, mvmac said:

Finding the right putter head/style is important. Some guys putt and aim better with mallet, some respond better to a blade. 

I am starting to think the blade is not my thing but I also need to get a routine going on it. The new putter is longer than the old one and has a different grip. Maybe I changed too much at once.

[iacas]

7 hours ago, boogielicious said:

Go see Ken Collins at Kustom Clubs in Manchester, NH. He does putter fittings and will adjust your putter to your stroke and make sure your aim is "Dead-on-balls accurate". I got fit there a few years ago. He is a Golf Digest Top 100 fitter.

Unfortunately, he's not listed as an Edel fitter.

That doesn't necessarily mean he can't fit you… but I think it limits his chances or may force him to rely on some tricks.

[boogielicious]

Just now, iacas said:

Unfortunately, he's not listed as an Edel fitter.

That doesn't necessarily mean he can't fit you… but I think it limits his chances or may force him to rely on some tricks.

I wish he was. If I see him again, I will suggest it. 

[vangator]

I don't care for mallet putters.  Usually they are heavier and I don't putt well with them on fast greens.  I have a 8802 style heel putter that I love the feel, but doesn't line up as well.  Right now I have a putter that is an Anser style putter where the shaft appears to line up center shaft and is more upright.  I aim that very well and have good speed control.  My problem is always reading greens.  Putter can't help there.

[ncarlsongolf]

On November 12, 2015 at 9:00:13 PM, mvmac said:

Finding the right putter head/style is important. Some guys putt and aim better with mallet, some respond better to a blade. 

I think finding the right putter is all about feel and different styles lend themselves to different strokes.  If you see putts start going in you will know that you are lined up.  Start with a couple alignment drills, with alignment sticks.

 

https://brianpenn.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/fabulous-putting-drill/

But if you are used to seeing one type of putter it is going to be a while before you adjust to knowing you are aimed correctly.  Secondly, check if your stroke is more of an arc (Which lends itself to blades) or more straight back and straight through (which lends itself to mallets) and that should help you feel more comfortable with the putter you have selected.

[mvmac]

1 hour ago, ncarlsongolf said:

I think finding the right putter is all about feel and different styles lend themselves to different strokes. 

A big part of it is how the putter fits your eye. Check this out.

1 hour ago, ncarlsongolf said:

you see putts start going in you will know that you are lined up.  Start with a couple alignment drills, with alignment sticks.

Not necessarily, it could also mean your timing was good that day or the putter fits your "compensation". In his prime Tiger saw a lot of putts going in but his face was aimed well right of where he thought he was aimed on every putt.

[iacas]

5 hours ago, ncarlsongolf said:

But if you are used to seeing one type of putter it is going to be a while before you adjust to knowing you are aimed correctly.  Secondly, check if your stroke is more of an arc (Which lends itself to blades) or more straight back and straight through (which lends itself to mallets) and that should help you feel more comfortable with the putter you have selected.

That old myth needs to die.

The shape of the putter has next to nothing to do with the type of stroke you make, particularly when you consider that virtually everyone putts on a relatively flat arc.

[MSchott]

Agree about the putter fitting your eye. I used to go through putters like crazy. I finally found an Odyssey that felt right and that fit my eye regarding lining up putts. I've now had it for about 10 years.

[Valleygolfer]

3 hours ago, MSchott said:

Agree about the putter fitting your eye. I used to go through putters like crazy. I finally found an Odyssey that felt right and that fit my eye regarding lining up putts. I've now had it for about 10 years.

I have been using the Sabertooth for about 5 years so it is comfortable to look at. Did some work on set up and back swing, that seemed to help with the stroke some but we shall see.

[ncarlsongolf]

17 hours ago, iacas said:

That old myth needs to die.

The shape of the putter has next to nothing to do with the type of stroke you make, particularly when you consider that virtually everyone putts on a relatively flat arc.

The weighting of the different putters does lend itself to different strokes though.

[iacas]

14 minutes ago, ncarlsongolf said:

The weighting of the different putters does lend itself to different strokes though.

I disagree.

Again, virtually every player on the PGA Tour putts with a slight arc. Yet players will bounce around between center-shafted mallets, heel-shafted blades, etc. The differences in torque between putters with very different weight profiles is incredibly small, and particularly so when you consider that the putter is not swung very fast.

I beat people regularly in putting matches with:

• My putter (a heel-shafted mid-mallet).
• A left-handed blade.
• A left-handed small mallet (the old Tuttle putter) that's 3" too long for me.
• A sand wedge.

"Mallets are better for straighter strokes" (or whatever) is a myth. It's an old crutch.

It's far, far more important to get a putter you can aim properly, and which has the right weight profile (head, shaft, butt end of club) to let you deliver the ball with the proper speed.

[ncarlsongolf]

5 minutes ago, iacas said:

I disagree.

Again, virtually every player on the PGA Tour putts with a slight arc. Yet players will bounce around between center-shafted mallets, heel-shafted blades, etc. The differences in torque between putters with very different weight profiles is incredibly small, and particularly so when you consider that the putter is not swung very fast.

I beat people regularly in putting matches with:

• My putter (a heel-shafted mid-mallet).
• A left-handed blade.
• A left-handed small mallet (the old Tuttle putter) that's 3" too long for me.
• A sand wedge.

"Mallets are better for straighter strokes" (or whatever) is a myth. It's an old crutch.

It's far, far more important to get a putter you can aim properly, and which has the right weight profile (head, shaft, butt end of club) to let you deliver the ball with the proper speed.

I am sorry I disagree.

 

 A toe weighted putter is going to allow a stroke that opens and closes to swing more freely. Its been proven that players like Tiger and Phil who have those type of strokes use those putters because they are designed for their strokes.  Would they still be good players and good putters with a mallet sure, but they wouldn't be using equipment best suited for them.  It would be like a player that uses 2 degree flat clubs buying something off the rack.  Sure, they will hit some good shots but they wouldn't reach their full potential without the clubs made to enhance their game.  

 

 I do agree there is more to putting and picking a putter but picking something face balanced or toe weighted certainly matters and is not outdated old crutch.