Expensive Lesson

LeGolfAgain

So I'm currently rebuilding a bag after 4 year lay off (sold most of the clubs, not expecting to play again).
Wife begged me to just buy what I need (begged me "not to get into that club-making, shafts/heads etc arriving/leaving in the post nightmare again" etc). Sure, honey....!

Main expense has been the putter. Figured that I play half the shots of a round with that one club (esp when I'm 3-putting), so.....
Spent over an hour in the shop, came out with the ugliest putter (TM Spider with SuperStroke grip), but couldn't miss the hole with it in the shop.
Played one 9-hole round so far, wasn't working quite as well..... So just some practice needed on real greens, right?

Went to the practice this morning, and to compare to the Spider, I dusted off an old Dynacraft thing that cost me a grand total of 20 bucks years ago from an FGI'er. The Dynacraft was easily the most accurate, and best for distance control down and up slope.

Wife when I get back : "Still happy with that expensive putter?"
"Sure honey...."

rsvman

LOL. It ain't the price that matters. It's how it feels to you.

mikeintopeka

rsvman rsvman 8 minutes ago
LOL. It ain't the price that matters. It's how it feels to you.

Adding to your gem of wisdom, "it isn't the bow and arrow, it's what's between the ears of the hunter". LOL

ode

I've found same/similar when putting indoor vs, playing a round......dunno what it is, but rarely does it translate to the course.

ZWExton

Best advice I can give anyone in putting is to find something you believe in (due to technology or whatever else, color, alignment, etc.) then never change it.

I've played a 2ball SRT for the last 8 years, and have a backup 2ball SRT in case something should happen to my #1. Putting is not about the club AT ALL. If you need advanced forgiveness in a putter there's no one that can help you.

Spider is great, 2ball is great, brick glued to a broom stick, whatever. A good putter will be good at putting with everything if given a little time to adjust.

Par4QC

ZWExton Putting is not about the club AT ALL.

'Somewhat' true. It is all about being able to find the correct line, reading the green, but if you do not have the putter that feels comfortable in your hands, you'll never make a putt.

If you cannot swing a putter along a straight line, several times in a row, & without actually guiding it....you got the wrong putter in your hands. Weight and length and shape, matters not.

PA-PLAYA

Weight and feel are the two key things as it relates to what I look for in a putter. I prefer a heavier putter, with a medium-thickness putter grip that helps keep my wrists more neutralized during the stroke.

But putting is mostly about feel and touch... whether it's a 4-footer up the hill, a slippery 3-footer down the hill, or a long lag from 50 feet. If you don't have the touch to stroke the ball at the right force/speed, you're gonna struggle with distance control no matter what brand or style of putter you use. And if you play on grainy greens, speed becomes even more important, especially on those putts from the 3-5 foot range.

My current putter has been in my bag now for 10 seasons. I would be completely lost without it, it is my security blanket.

Bankshot

Just bought a second Ping Craz-e IWI off eBay for about $30 more than I payed for my gamer. Not normal behavior for me, but I putt SO WELL with it that I want a back up just in case something happens to my gamer. I can also keep the back up in my basement for summer practice.

accufitgolf

I have backups for all my clubs. If not full clubs, at least the heads as I have reshafted my clubs.

ronin74

My favorite putter to date is a brass bullseye clone that I trimmed to 33.5" and turned the flat side of the grip to be parallel to the putter face. Now the back of my lead hand is in line with the target line and I just need walk up behind the ball while picking the path, set the club up in right location, set my feet up perpendicular to the putter face, look at the hole, trust my setup and make my stroke. The ball ends up within 2' 15 times a round that way.

I went through an experimenting phase where I tried about everything and only managed to royally screw up my putting. I no longer had confidence. Now I am almost back to where I was before reading in Golf magazines how to drop 5 strokes with better putting, not realizing I was putting less than twice a hole at the time to begin with.

Spuzz

ronin74 My favorite putter to date is a brass bullseye clone that I trimmed to 33.5" and turned the flat side of the grip to be parallel to the putter face

Just a possible FYI, (in case you care) but that might be non-conforming.
Not a rules guy here, btw.

DC300

I agree it's all about the feel/comfort. I like a head heavy putter and a big azz grip. The big grip lets me feel like I'm literally rolling the ball with my hand, makes my touch sooooooo much better than it ever was. I used to be "known for" long drives and shitty putting, now I'm down right adequate with the putter, so as tempting as a new toy is, I just keep rolling with what I have.

ronin74

Thanks for the concern.
I looked up the rules for a putter and mine seems to conform thanks to allowwances and concessions given for putters.