Comments on: The Art of Reading Greens http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/ My Quest to Become a Golf Pro Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:20:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Double Eagle http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/comment-page-1/#comment-11798 Double Eagle Tue, 14 Sep 2010 02:54:20 +0000 http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/#comment-11798 Gary, You'll hear a lot of people say that a face-balanced putter is best suited for a square stroke and a toe-weighted putter is better suited for an arced putting stroke, but my belief is, if you groove a repeatable putting stroke and work had on making solid contact each and every time, then you will see success with either kind of putter. I don't have scientific evidence to back that up (i.e. does the opposite putter for the given stroke actually do harm to a person's stroke), but people's putting woes can normally be traced to some flawed fundamentals or lack of practice. Maybe it's more important at high levels, but I can't see that issue being a big deal for the vast majority of players. Though, if you want to be safe, then conventional wisdom says that if you use the square stroke, then a face-balance putter is the best bet. Gary,

You’ll hear a lot of people say that a face-balanced putter is best suited for a square stroke and a toe-weighted putter is better suited for an arced putting stroke, but my belief is, if you groove a repeatable putting stroke and work had on making solid contact each and every time, then you will see success with either kind of putter.

I don’t have scientific evidence to back that up (i.e. does the opposite putter for the given stroke actually do harm to a person’s stroke), but people’s putting woes can normally be traced to some flawed fundamentals or lack of practice.

Maybe it’s more important at high levels, but I can’t see that issue being a big deal for the vast majority of players. Though, if you want to be safe, then conventional wisdom says that if you use the square stroke, then a face-balance putter is the best bet.

]]> By: Gary http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/comment-page-1/#comment-11797 Gary Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:31:04 +0000 http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/#comment-11797 Does the pendulum stroke work with toe weighted putters or only face balanced putters..and if it does, what is the advantage of using a toe weighted putter over a face balanced putter...thank you Does the pendulum stroke work with toe weighted putters or only face balanced putters..and if it does, what is the advantage of using a toe weighted putter over a face balanced putter…thank you

]]> By: Brian http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/comment-page-1/#comment-4816 Brian Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:30:58 +0000 http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/#comment-4816 I essentially agree with most of this basic summary, but i think a few things deserve mention; one is the importance of finding the natural fall-line of your putt. This is why I tend to look at a putt from different angles. Most pros do the same. Once you find where a ball will naturally break towards the hole (not in absolute degrees but from observation which is scientific), you can more easily roll the ball to that point. The feel or 'art' part of putting is knowing how hard to hit the putt to make it go the desired distance. That comes from practice, especially on the practice green at the course before you start your round. Another thing is hitting the putt hard enough. So many people come up short, which is far less desirable than hitting it past the hole. First, the ball has no chance of going in if it doesn't get there. Second, if it goes past the hole, you can watch how the ball breaks, making the come back putt easier. (Of course, blasting it waaaayyy past is no good, but I'd rather be 5 feet past the hole than 5 feet short!) Cheers! I essentially agree with most of this basic summary, but i think a few things deserve mention;
one is the importance of finding the natural fall-line of your putt. This is why I tend to look at a putt from different angles. Most pros do the same. Once you find where a ball will naturally break towards the hole (not in absolute degrees but from observation which is scientific), you can more easily roll the ball to that point.
The feel or ‘art’ part of putting is knowing how hard to hit the putt to make it go the desired distance. That comes from practice, especially on the practice green at the course before you start your round.
Another thing is hitting the putt hard enough. So many people come up short, which is far less desirable than hitting it past the hole. First, the ball has no chance of going in if it doesn’t get there. Second, if it goes past the hole, you can watch how the ball breaks, making the come back putt easier. (Of course, blasting it waaaayyy past is no good, but I’d rather be 5 feet past the hole than 5 feet short!)

Cheers!

]]> By: Mike Gray http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/comment-page-1/#comment-697 Mike Gray Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:54:11 +0000 http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/#comment-697 I see where you're coming from, FZ, but at the same time, if you don't have any way of taking measurements, then the art has to take over. For instance, if you're lining up a putt, you can't just calculate variables and come up with a heading of 10 degrees for the putt. You're forced to do it instinctively. Maybe it's 10 degrees. Maybe it's 5 or even 20. It doesn't matter what you call it, because you have to see it in your mind. There's not much science in that, other than the awareness of basic geometry and physics. I see where you’re coming from, FZ, but at the same time, if you don’t have any way of taking measurements, then the art has to take over.

For instance, if you’re lining up a putt, you can’t just calculate variables and come up with a heading of 10 degrees for the putt. You’re forced to do it instinctively.

Maybe it’s 10 degrees. Maybe it’s 5 or even 20. It doesn’t matter what you call it, because you have to see it in your mind. There’s not much science in that, other than the awareness of basic geometry and physics.

]]> By: Financial Zone http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/comment-page-1/#comment-696 Financial Zone Wed, 10 Oct 2007 05:11:58 +0000 http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/#comment-696 I agree and disagree. I think its mainly scientific, but if you have a natural skill for it, it turns into an art. Instinctively using all of the scientific methods (such as letting the grass blow in the wind) makes it an art...when your not really thinking about it from a scientific perspective. What I just said probably wont make sense to some ppl, but it will to others. =D I agree and disagree.

I think its mainly scientific, but if you have a natural skill for it, it turns into an art.

Instinctively using all of the scientific methods (such as letting the grass blow in the wind) makes it an art…when your not really thinking about it from a scientific perspective.

What I just said probably wont make sense to some ppl, but it will to others.

=D

]]> By: Double Eagle http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/comment-page-1/#comment-678 Double Eagle Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:03:41 +0000 http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/#comment-678 Thanks, Greg! That's an excellent tip. I completely agree. Thanks, Greg!

That’s an excellent tip. I completely agree.

]]> By: Greg B. http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/comment-page-1/#comment-677 Greg B. Sun, 07 Oct 2007 13:48:21 +0000 http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/#comment-677 Great summary Mike! I play with a lot of beginners (at Green Caye) and I frequently pass on a great tip the I got from a good player when I was just starting out: "Not all people who take up golf can become good ball strikers; however, <i>all</i> people who take up golf can become good putters". -Greg Great summary Mike!

I play with a lot of beginners (at Green Caye) and I frequently pass on a great tip the I got from a good player when I was just starting out: “Not all people who take up golf can become good ball strikers; however, all people who take up golf can become good putters”.

-Greg

]]> By: Double Eagle http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/comment-page-1/#comment-676 Double Eagle Sun, 07 Oct 2007 04:08:21 +0000 http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/#comment-676 You never know, Mike! At the same time though, you might be considering a lot of the important factors subconsciously. I know I'm a big fan of keeping putting simple. A good, consistent stroke will go a long, long way in putting. You never know, Mike!

At the same time though, you might be considering a lot of the important factors subconsciously.

I know I’m a big fan of keeping putting simple. A good, consistent stroke will go a long, long way in putting.

]]> By: Mike Pedersen Golf http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/comment-page-1/#comment-674 Mike Pedersen Golf Sun, 07 Oct 2007 01:47:42 +0000 http://www.lifeintherough.com/2007/10/06/the-art-of-reading-greens/#comment-674 Mike, all of these tips are great, but I have to laugh at myself. I play to a 6.4 handicap and only give the line a quick look and that's it. Maybe I could be a scratch if I applied some of your tips :)!! Mike, all of these tips are great, but I have to laugh at myself. I play to a 6.4 handicap and only give the line a quick look and that’s it. Maybe I could be a scratch if I applied some of your tips :) !!

]]>