==================================================== Newsletter - Issue 100 Date 06/07/09 ==================================================== ==================================================== Equipment - Books - DVD's - Instruction ==================================================== I have been experimenting with a face on putting style with a long putter - not because my putting has been bad, it's been quite good actually with my trusty two ball putter. I'm doing it because as a teacher I wanted to experience the stroke firsthand, and because it just makes sense to me. I've played 36 holes with that stroke, for 27 of them I was facing and looking at the hole during the stroke for every putt, for the last 9 I looked at the ball during the stroke. Looking at the ball was much better for me, shot 37 for that 9, notice that I'm not mentioning what I shot for the other 27...... Right after the last round I went into my putter fitting area at BCC and cut 3 inches off the 51 inch putter, and it feels a lot better. I just read a great book that actually talks about the face on putting style, but more than that it's a must read for any golfer. It's called "Golf's Sacred Journey - Seven Days At The Links of Utopia" by David L. Cook, Ph.D. It's a fantastic book about golf and life, read it - it's one of those books that will be front and center on your bookshelf for life. Two thumbs up and the coveted TCT Guarantee for enjoyability. ==================================================== TCT Quick Tips - Study The Game ==================================================== I have always been a fan of motivational books and tapes, and Earl Nightingale a recognized motivational expert said: "If you will spend an extra hour each day of study in your chosen field, you will be a national expert in that field in five years or less." Now I don't know if you would be a national expert at golf if you did that, but for sure you would get better. Is it worth a try? ==================================================== Golf Tip: Testing Putters or Styles ==================================================== When you want to compare your ability with two different putters, or even compare two putting styles to each other, use this two-part test to help you decide which one you should use on the golf course. For example, as I noted earlier, I have a couple of long putters I'm testing with variations of eye positions for a face-on stroke, and this test works perfectly. In the notebook, A /B will be either putter A or B, or style A or B with the same putter. Bring a little pocket-notebook to the practice green to keep notes and scores for later comparison. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part 1: Makeable Putts Fan Drill ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Put tees down every 3 feet, starting at 3 feet and ending at 30 feet from the hole. You will need 10 balls so you can putt one ball from each tee position, don't run the tees in a straight line, rather fan them in one direction or another. Do the Fan drill four times: first, with Putter A, next with Putter B, then Putter B again, and lastly with Putter A (40 putts total). Each time you complete the drill with one putter, record how many putts you made out of 10. Record the results in your notepad as follows: Number of makes: A - B - B - A - High number wins ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part 2: Lag Putt Drill ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Using 10 golf balls, place three balls at 14 long paces, four balls at 17 long paces, and three balls at 20 long paces from the hole. Place a golf tee at each of these distances, as you will be doing the Lag putt drill four times. Starting with Putter A, putt three balls from the 17 pace tee, then three balls from the 14 pace tee, then three balls from the 20 pace tee, and lastly, the final ball from the 17 foot tee again. Go to the hole and pace off your cumulative leave-distance for all ten balls. The leave-distance for any one putt is simply how far away from the hole in long paces the ball is. Record your cumulative leave distance. Repeat this test with Putter B. Then repeat this test again with Putter B. Lastly, repeat the test again with Putter A. Record the results in your notepad: Cumulative leave distance (number of normal paces): A - B - B - A - Low distance wins Analysis: This is a very good snap-shot your performance with each putter or style. Do this test on several different days, altering which putter is A and which is B to get more conclusive data. Also, review the notes you made throughout the testing to review your thoughts regarding the comfort and feel of each putter. These thoughts are important, but the data rules. The putter that makes the most makable putts and produces the shortest leave-distances on lag putts is the putter ( or stroke) you should use on the golf course. Enjoy, Tom