After making the decision that putters should be exempt from the Obsolete List, we quickly received confirmation that we had made the right call. All it took was listening to Scott Verplank.
"I really don't know much about the technology that went into this club," says Verplank, describing the Ping Anser (circa 1984) putter he has used almost exclusively since swiping it from his college coach at Oklahoma State. "It just works. I've tried a few others, but I always come back to this one. It has a lot of good memories in it."
Five PGA Tour wins for Verplank, and his two times as a member of the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams, serve as evidence. They also support our premise that any putter that gives you confidence on the greens is OK to keep in the bag. Even if the grip is wrapped in gauze tape, like Verplank's.
Nevertheless, Verplank is open to change, just as you should be. "If I find a putter I like better, I'll switch," he says. That statement makes Verplank, who has used a modern putter in competition on occasion, sound more like someone who plays for fun on the weekend than a man who has made almost $25 million playing golf. But it doesn't make him obsolete.
Think of BillyBerue from Caddy Shack!
Read More http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equipment/2010-05/obsolete-list#ixzz0nkm8lHgC
Showing posts with label golf putters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label golf putters. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Hybrids: Make the big Leap!
The evolution of the hybrid is similar to that of snowboards: an offbeat, intriguing, even necessary idea with early shortcomings that eventually changed the sport. In 2004, the Darrell Survey Company polled golfers and found that fewer than 1 in 12 carried a hybrid club; but today 1 in 2 golfers carry a hybrid.
Although the first hybrids were admirable as a solution to hard-to-hit long irons, the latest versions have made fundamental advancements in playability. Designers are now able to create a large face and still save weight (about double that of five years ago), which can help position the center of gravity lower and deeper to optimize ball flight. Freeing weight leads to design ideas that couldn't be implemented previously. For example, the soles on early hybrids often were flat and ineffective, but today's leading edges and sole-bounce angles allow the clubs to move through the turf more easily. Another advancement is the ability to individually adjust head shape and size as lofts change. That makes high-lofted hybrids easier to maneuver and low-lofted ones more forgiving.
These improvements have made the hybrid golf's must-have club.
HOW MUCH LIFE IS LEFT?
There are grades of obsolescence. Our four judges, after consulting with members of our academic and retail panel to help determine what keeps a club relevant, assigned a level of "life remaining" to each club. None of the battery icons is completely full. Only current products might achieve that. Three-quarters full, and you're still OK. Half full means it's time to at least start looking. One-quarter full, and you'd better be buying. The red light on? Don't play with these again. Ever.
By Mike Stachura, Golf Digest April, 2010
Read More http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equipment/2010-05/obsolete-list-hybrids#ixzz0mW5tE000
Although the first hybrids were admirable as a solution to hard-to-hit long irons, the latest versions have made fundamental advancements in playability. Designers are now able to create a large face and still save weight (about double that of five years ago), which can help position the center of gravity lower and deeper to optimize ball flight. Freeing weight leads to design ideas that couldn't be implemented previously. For example, the soles on early hybrids often were flat and ineffective, but today's leading edges and sole-bounce angles allow the clubs to move through the turf more easily. Another advancement is the ability to individually adjust head shape and size as lofts change. That makes high-lofted hybrids easier to maneuver and low-lofted ones more forgiving.
These improvements have made the hybrid golf's must-have club.
HOW MUCH LIFE IS LEFT?
There are grades of obsolescence. Our four judges, after consulting with members of our academic and retail panel to help determine what keeps a club relevant, assigned a level of "life remaining" to each club. None of the battery icons is completely full. Only current products might achieve that. Three-quarters full, and you're still OK. Half full means it's time to at least start looking. One-quarter full, and you'd better be buying. The red light on? Don't play with these again. Ever.
By Mike Stachura, Golf Digest April, 2010
Read More http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equipment/2010-05/obsolete-list-hybrids#ixzz0mW5tE000
Monday, April 19, 2010
Are your golf clubs obsolete?
For seven years Golf Digest has produced the Hot List of golf clubs with one purpose: to increase your enjoyment of the game through equipment. The Obsolete List is a project with the same goal but a different path. Instead of recommending the equipment you should put in your bag, the Obsolete List is all about what you should take out.
Oversize drivers, game-changing hybrids, and irons designed for every swing type are readily available, but a staggering number of golfers continue to play with outdated equipment--irons and woods that with each year become increasingly ill-suited to helping them hit the ball farther down the fairway and closer to the hole.
Those using obsolete clubs do so for various reasons, and it's not necessarily because they don't realize their equipment is out of date. Some don't want to spend money on new clubs. But better equipment doesn't have to cost a lot. For starters, your old equipment is a gift card because almost any club can be traded in. Like cars, some bring a better return than others, but no matter how much money you receive, you get a head start on buying a new set.
Still, most of the time finances are not the main consideration. The issue is more intangible than that. It's hard to part with clubs you've become fond of, that you're comfortable playing and that, in many ways, you've come to rely on. It's a sense that your obsolete clubs are "good enough." Except they're not. They're thieves--blatantly stealing strokes-and enjoyment from your game.
Andrew Han's--on the following pages.
The Obsolete List isn't strictly about a club's age. It's about its relevance. How does the technology compare to what's available in the market today? To be sure, there are degrees of obsolescence. The battery icons that accompany our list help define how much "juice" the clubs that appear on the Obsolete List have left. Any clubs that were on our Hot List in 2009 and this year are not, in our minds, obsolete.
You'll find zero putters on the Obsolete List. We acknowledge that today's putters are technologically superior (face treatments, high moments of inertia, enhanced optics) than ones from the past. But we also know that there can be a greater emotional attachment to putters. So our conclusion is, if you're still making 10-footers with your putter, we're willing to give you a pass no matter how outdated it might be.
There are no wedges on our list, either, but for a different reason. Their life span declines more rapidly than that of other clubs. If you play more than 50 rounds a year and practice a lot, especially from the sand, you should replace your wedges during the off-season. In other words, any old, worn wedge is obsolete.
The Obsolete List is a call to evaluate the equipment in your bag. We're not saying your clubs aren't useful. We're saying you can do better--in some cases, a lot better. If your clubs are on this list--or are too old to have been considered--investigate today's technology, and take advantage of it. After all, you don't really want to be obsolete, do you?
STAY TUNED TO OUR BLOG FOR A CLUB BY CLUB BREAKDOWN ON THE OBSOLETE LIST OR GO TO:
Exerpted from Golf Digest article by W. Michael Johnson
Photos by Jim Herity
Read More http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equipment/2010-05/obsolete-list#ixzz0lZ7GO3WL
Oversize drivers, game-changing hybrids, and irons designed for every swing type are readily available, but a staggering number of golfers continue to play with outdated equipment--irons and woods that with each year become increasingly ill-suited to helping them hit the ball farther down the fairway and closer to the hole.
Those using obsolete clubs do so for various reasons, and it's not necessarily because they don't realize their equipment is out of date. Some don't want to spend money on new clubs. But better equipment doesn't have to cost a lot. For starters, your old equipment is a gift card because almost any club can be traded in. Like cars, some bring a better return than others, but no matter how much money you receive, you get a head start on buying a new set.
Still, most of the time finances are not the main consideration. The issue is more intangible than that. It's hard to part with clubs you've become fond of, that you're comfortable playing and that, in many ways, you've come to rely on. It's a sense that your obsolete clubs are "good enough." Except they're not. They're thieves--blatantly stealing strokes-and enjoyment from your game.
Andrew Han's--on the following pages.
The Obsolete List isn't strictly about a club's age. It's about its relevance. How does the technology compare to what's available in the market today? To be sure, there are degrees of obsolescence. The battery icons that accompany our list help define how much "juice" the clubs that appear on the Obsolete List have left. Any clubs that were on our Hot List in 2009 and this year are not, in our minds, obsolete.
You'll find zero putters on the Obsolete List. We acknowledge that today's putters are technologically superior (face treatments, high moments of inertia, enhanced optics) than ones from the past. But we also know that there can be a greater emotional attachment to putters. So our conclusion is, if you're still making 10-footers with your putter, we're willing to give you a pass no matter how outdated it might be.
There are no wedges on our list, either, but for a different reason. Their life span declines more rapidly than that of other clubs. If you play more than 50 rounds a year and practice a lot, especially from the sand, you should replace your wedges during the off-season. In other words, any old, worn wedge is obsolete.
The Obsolete List is a call to evaluate the equipment in your bag. We're not saying your clubs aren't useful. We're saying you can do better--in some cases, a lot better. If your clubs are on this list--or are too old to have been considered--investigate today's technology, and take advantage of it. After all, you don't really want to be obsolete, do you?
STAY TUNED TO OUR BLOG FOR A CLUB BY CLUB BREAKDOWN ON THE OBSOLETE LIST OR GO TO:
Exerpted from Golf Digest article by W. Michael Johnson
Photos by Jim Herity
Read More http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equipment/2010-05/obsolete-list#ixzz0lZ7GO3WL
Thursday, January 21, 2010
How to Beat the Breaks.
This story is for you if...
1. You always read your putts from behind the ball...
2. ...even on severely sloping greens
The Fault
You're missing badly on breaking putts, which leads to fewer birdies and pars and more bogeys. The simple reason for your struggle is poor green-reading technique and alignment.
The Fix
If you want to get a proper read, you need to look at the putt from behind the line you plan to start the ball on, rather than the one that runs directly from the ball to the hole. To do so, pick a spot where you think the apex of the putt (maximum break) will be and examine the putt by looking from behind your ball to that spot. Set the putterhead square to the chosen target line and then walk into your setup, always keeping in mind that your actual target is the apex of the break, not the hole. Stroke the putt to this spot without being distracted by the actual hole. Use this technique consistently, and your green-reading — as well as your results on breaking putts — will improve dramatically.
Align Design
Finding your ball-to-apex line is only half the battle — you must also be able to align your putterface square to it. Any good putter will feature effective aiming lines. If yours doesn't, consider purchasing a new model. I designed a line of Coutour putters with a large arrow on the back end to help you point your putter easily and consistently. For more info, visit coutourgolf.com.
Post by Todd Sones
GolfMagazine.com
1. You always read your putts from behind the ball...
2. ...even on severely sloping greens
The Fault
You're missing badly on breaking putts, which leads to fewer birdies and pars and more bogeys. The simple reason for your struggle is poor green-reading technique and alignment.
The Fix
If you want to get a proper read, you need to look at the putt from behind the line you plan to start the ball on, rather than the one that runs directly from the ball to the hole. To do so, pick a spot where you think the apex of the putt (maximum break) will be and examine the putt by looking from behind your ball to that spot. Set the putterhead square to the chosen target line and then walk into your setup, always keeping in mind that your actual target is the apex of the break, not the hole. Stroke the putt to this spot without being distracted by the actual hole. Use this technique consistently, and your green-reading — as well as your results on breaking putts — will improve dramatically.
Align Design
Finding your ball-to-apex line is only half the battle — you must also be able to align your putterface square to it. Any good putter will feature effective aiming lines. If yours doesn't, consider purchasing a new model. I designed a line of Coutour putters with a large arrow on the back end to help you point your putter easily and consistently. For more info, visit coutourgolf.com.
Post by Todd Sones
GolfMagazine.com
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Golf Equipment: Selecting The Right Golf Putter For Your Golf Game.
Buying a golf putter that’s right for you isn’t easy. You need to do your homework to find one that fits both your golf budget and your golf game, which means learning the different types of golf putters and golf clubheads available and their advantages. But doing your homework is worth it because having a good golf putter, as I often say in my golf lessons, shaves strokes off your golf handicap.
The key considerations when looking for a golf putter are price, quality, type, golf clubhead, and alignment system. Face insert, loft, and hosel are additional considerations. I’ve talked about these considerations in my golf tips, but here’s some additional information about them.
Price/Quality
Prices for golf putters range from $30 to $250 or more. Usually, the higher the price, the better the quality. While buying quality is nice, you don’t have to overspend to find the right golf putter. Consider putters from all price ranges before investing, but look for one that feels right to you and fits your budget. That can take time, but if you look hard enough, you just might find a good but inexpensive golf putter that will work as well as an expensive one.
Type
Golf putter types include traditional, belly, and long. Most players use a traditional golf putter, which allows for the best blend of feel and mechanical precision. Traditional putters demand “quiet” wrists, a big hurdle for some. They also affect golfers with bad backs. Hence, the increased use of the belly and the long putters. Nevertheless, they’re easier to master than the belly or long putters, which is why I cover them in my golf lessons.
The belly golf putter provides a third point of contact - the abdomen— between the putter and the player, the other two being your hands. This golf putter adds stability and balance to your golf stroke. The belly putter enables a golfer to control his wrist action and assume a near perfect position for golf putting, but the club’s longer shaft and generally thicker grip inhibits feel and feed back. Distance control is also a problem.
Long golf putters provide a stroke with a true pendulum arc, are great for players with bad backs, and completely eliminate wrist action, but they inhibit feel, feed back, and distance control even more than belly putters. Many players consider them the “last refuge” for players with highly active wrists, but you’ll often see them used by pros on the tour who are having trouble with their golf putting.
Clubhead
Golf putters come with blade, cavity back, and mallet clubheads. A blade has the clubhead’s weight distributed to the heel or bottom of the putter, leaving a thin top line to view when addressing the ball. It is harder to control than a cavity back or a mallet. A cavity back features a hollow area in the middle of the club- the golf clubhead’s back, creating a larger sweet spot. A golf mallet putter is bigger than traditional putter’s clubhead but its shape varies widely. Also check out the face-balanced and the heel-toe-weighted mallets, which promote a straight stroke and minimize mishits.
Alignment System
Aligning the golf putter to the hole is critical to sinking the putt, as I emphasize in my golf lessons. If the putter isn’t lined up properly, the ball won’t go in regardless of how well it’s hit. Try finding a golf putter with a visual aid to help you line up the club with the hole, one that you feel comfortable and confident with. There’s no research showing that one alignment system is better than another, so choose one that feels right to you. But make sure you buy a golf putter that has one.
Additional Considerations
Face inserts are available in a variety of materials including metal, rubber, ceramic, plastic, glass, and wood. They provide more feel and feedback, better define a club’s sweet spot, and increase heel-toe weighting. They are nice but not necessary, which I’ve often mentioned in my golf tips.
Believe it or not, golf putters come with about 4 degrees of loft, which keeps the golf ball from bouncing when struck. Most golfers use a putter with standard loft because their hands are vertical to the ball at impact. Loft can be added or taken away depending on where your hands are when you hit the ball.
A golf putter with an offset shaft or hosel appeals to many recreational golfers. The offset helps them address the ball with their forward eye over the ball and a good line of sight to the hole. More importantly, the offset helps them keep their hands ahead of the ball when putting, increasing accuracy.
Golf instruction aside, a good golf putter is critical to improving your golf handicap. But choosing a putter is mostly a matter of feel, so look for one that feels comfortable. If you find a golf putter you think fits your game, try it before purchasing it. Some golf stores have small putting greens that allow you to test a putter. Others will let you take the putter home to test. By all means, do so. It’s the only way to really know.
Putting Secrets Revealed $37.00
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book “How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros.” He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction.
Article Source: Adapted from http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Moorehouse
The key considerations when looking for a golf putter are price, quality, type, golf clubhead, and alignment system. Face insert, loft, and hosel are additional considerations. I’ve talked about these considerations in my golf tips, but here’s some additional information about them.
Price/Quality
Prices for golf putters range from $30 to $250 or more. Usually, the higher the price, the better the quality. While buying quality is nice, you don’t have to overspend to find the right golf putter. Consider putters from all price ranges before investing, but look for one that feels right to you and fits your budget. That can take time, but if you look hard enough, you just might find a good but inexpensive golf putter that will work as well as an expensive one.
Type
Golf putter types include traditional, belly, and long. Most players use a traditional golf putter, which allows for the best blend of feel and mechanical precision. Traditional putters demand “quiet” wrists, a big hurdle for some. They also affect golfers with bad backs. Hence, the increased use of the belly and the long putters. Nevertheless, they’re easier to master than the belly or long putters, which is why I cover them in my golf lessons.
The belly golf putter provides a third point of contact - the abdomen— between the putter and the player, the other two being your hands. This golf putter adds stability and balance to your golf stroke. The belly putter enables a golfer to control his wrist action and assume a near perfect position for golf putting, but the club’s longer shaft and generally thicker grip inhibits feel and feed back. Distance control is also a problem.
Long golf putters provide a stroke with a true pendulum arc, are great for players with bad backs, and completely eliminate wrist action, but they inhibit feel, feed back, and distance control even more than belly putters. Many players consider them the “last refuge” for players with highly active wrists, but you’ll often see them used by pros on the tour who are having trouble with their golf putting.
Clubhead
Golf putters come with blade, cavity back, and mallet clubheads. A blade has the clubhead’s weight distributed to the heel or bottom of the putter, leaving a thin top line to view when addressing the ball. It is harder to control than a cavity back or a mallet. A cavity back features a hollow area in the middle of the club- the golf clubhead’s back, creating a larger sweet spot. A golf mallet putter is bigger than traditional putter’s clubhead but its shape varies widely. Also check out the face-balanced and the heel-toe-weighted mallets, which promote a straight stroke and minimize mishits.
Alignment System
Aligning the golf putter to the hole is critical to sinking the putt, as I emphasize in my golf lessons. If the putter isn’t lined up properly, the ball won’t go in regardless of how well it’s hit. Try finding a golf putter with a visual aid to help you line up the club with the hole, one that you feel comfortable and confident with. There’s no research showing that one alignment system is better than another, so choose one that feels right to you. But make sure you buy a golf putter that has one.
Additional Considerations
Face inserts are available in a variety of materials including metal, rubber, ceramic, plastic, glass, and wood. They provide more feel and feedback, better define a club’s sweet spot, and increase heel-toe weighting. They are nice but not necessary, which I’ve often mentioned in my golf tips.
Believe it or not, golf putters come with about 4 degrees of loft, which keeps the golf ball from bouncing when struck. Most golfers use a putter with standard loft because their hands are vertical to the ball at impact. Loft can be added or taken away depending on where your hands are when you hit the ball.
A golf putter with an offset shaft or hosel appeals to many recreational golfers. The offset helps them address the ball with their forward eye over the ball and a good line of sight to the hole. More importantly, the offset helps them keep their hands ahead of the ball when putting, increasing accuracy.
Golf instruction aside, a good golf putter is critical to improving your golf handicap. But choosing a putter is mostly a matter of feel, so look for one that feels comfortable. If you find a golf putter you think fits your game, try it before purchasing it. Some golf stores have small putting greens that allow you to test a putter. Others will let you take the putter home to test. By all means, do so. It’s the only way to really know.
Putting Secrets Revealed $37.00
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book “How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros.” He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction.
Article Source: Adapted from http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Moorehouse
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