Putter Head To Shaft Connection: Does It Matter?

Robert, in my golf course improved lies or preferred lies (i.e. ball-in-hand) are also not allowed when the ball lies within a distance of one club from a tree.  Is this the same elsewhere?

James, very cool to hear a report from Scotland and the PPGS being further spead world wide.. Glad to know you had a helpful day at that one day school. Yes it is such an advantage to experience guidance in person. Thanks for sharing your experience and keep us posted on your future progress.
PMG

That is a terrific ad.

The last set of fairway woods I played were Cobra's 2008/9 models. They are now being played by a buddy who loves them. As for me I'm a hybrid guy now.

I am also doing a re-shafting of an old set of the Cobra Hump shaft irons, 6-S/W with a G/W. Still waiting on some ferrules to arrive. It seems I am always tinkering with something. It is my nature. I've done several re-grips lately for friends. I'm so glad I switched to the air method instead of the double sided tape.

I have been playing with a modified putting style on short putts. I have been gripping way down on the shaft, well below the grip and fixing the upper end into my belly, just like a belly putter. I am getting good success and plan on adding a lower grip, just like the longer putters have.

 Marilyn,

If you keep playing with people who are better golfers than you are at the moment, I can say with absolute certainly you will improve. The mind and body thrive on challenges and none better than trying to play as well as or better than those whose company you enjoy!

Tom J.

I recently had the opportunity to putt a few with a legendary..but banned..putter, the "Dude"..It was invented by pro golfer Bod Duden about 50 years ago and became a favorite of Sammy Snead until the PGA banned it. It didn't take long to get used to it..and after I did...the putts were really dropping. If you ever get a chance to experiment with the Dude, by all means do so. It is the most natural approach and stroke to putting yet conceived. No wonder the PGA saw fit to get rid of it.

 Our Tour does it through the green.
Their are times that they will play bunkers as ground under repair if there are a lot of rocks in the bunkers. Does not happen often but has a couple of times. The way the economy is you run a course every once in a while that don't maintain the bunkers.

The Puttinator is born! Congratulations Bob.

Steve, very impressive, can you show us some face-on-shots, as I think this gives a better
view of the relationship between body/club/ball etc.    

Amen on the air compressor. It allows us to quickly change out grips.
Interesting putting method Terry. Maybe you'll cut one real short like Robert Garigus had before he went to a long one. I haven't played or practiced much because of an ailing left shoulder. Sure it's just an "itus". Anyhow, yesterday afternoon we got out and I continued work with mt new broom. Don't let anyone tell you that putting becomes real easy with along putter. I stroked a few good ones but it is going to take lots of practice before I get it down. Soooo different.

Hello Fellow Surge Swingers,

Every Thursday night at the Professional Golfers Career College, we have fellowship night.  It is a lot of fun, there is a free meal, an inspirational message and a big time putting contest.  Guess who has won the last three putting contests along with a nice cash award.  That's right!  Just call me three-peat!

I won with a side on putter like the one in the Movie, "Seven Days in Utopia", again with an Arnold Palmer Replica putter, and last night with a replica of Calamity Jane, (Bobby Jone's putter.)   In the 22 year history of the college, no one has ever won two consecutive putting contests, so I've made my own little piece of history:0)  If I win next week, maybe they'll find a replica of the Morocco Belt for me.  LOL

Hit'em Long and Straight,
Bob

Thanks Tom,  I do play better when I play with better golfers, I don't care that they are better, they should be, most have played many years, just want to learn and get better.

Thanks,
marilyn

Hi Russty,
Yes, I still look at the hole after aligning the putt. We actually had a golf psychology class yesterday and the instructor insisted that everybody try it. He also had guys putting with their eyes closed after aligning and then look at the hole. It was amazing how many putts went in the hole.

The mind is capable of some wild stuff sometimes.

Hit'em Long and Straight,
Bob

w00t! Nice job, Bob!

 You might be able to find a used Ping G15 for cheap. I have hit a number of them and they are terrific. For really old school the Cleveland Launchers have a shorter head toe to heel and feel just as good as the G15. I have a set; 3w, 4w, 5w and 7w to pick from depending on the course. For the mountain courses in N Ariz I go with Cobra Baffler hybrids because they go through the thick and sometimes wet rough like a knife through hot butter.

We never got to see how upset she reallly was. She's thinking , "really funny", NOT! I'll bet she drilled him a new one. I wonder if they're still together...............

A legend in the making , by the sounds of it Bob. Are you still looking at the hole?I have practiced it but not brave enough to play a round that way yet. If you keep this form up you will graduate with honours

Putters...maybe Doc could do a video on putter choices and what to look for when getting fitted by places like Golf Galaxy for proper lengths, lie, etc..

 Congratulations on the putting wizardry, Bob! Keep up the good stroking!

Good opening round today, DJ! Here's to a lot more birdies and maybe an eagle or two tomorrow.

And, good video on putting and various putters, Surge. I had been very bad about my putting practice because the facilities at the courses I go to most often don't have the best greens for a lot of the drills (too much slope, too many other people putting). I've been working it all out on the course (and since I like to play mid-afternoon here in the desert, I can often take my time on a green and hit a bunch of putts). The techniques from Jack Moore are really starting to click in, and the putts are rolling much better now.

Congrat's on the putting wins.

 About 3 weeks ago in a tourny I was playing my cart partner was D3 player nice kid. After 3 holes I had him by 1 shot and he told me that he played in college. I thought to myself that this going to be a good day I am hanging with a college player. The 4th hole was a par 5 he had 210 in for a second shot and hit 5 iron to 5 feet and made eagle that was the end of hanging with him. He shot 73 I shot 82 on a very tough course He won his flight and I lost my flight on a score card play off I made par on 18, boogie on 17 and double on 16.

It generally makes no difference who I play with somebody better or worse I just do my own thing and let do theirs as long as they keep up the pace of play.
 

Thanks Don,
I really appreciated that video and now i have more confidence in my putts :)
all the best!!

 

If you look into our vast archives (too rarely used) you'll see several videos and blogs discussing putters and putting. I will tell you this, the lie is critically important and easy to adjust (or have adjusted). If the head comes through too upright you'll pull your putts, too flat you'll push many putts. If that's not 'fit' for you you'll always be compensating and feeling it must be your method and not the putter.For just your putter, I think Golf Gallaxy does a decent job. For a normal full fitting and full set, a PPGS or certified fitter would still be better. Other factors such as loft  (3/4 degrees most often the recomendation) and length along with the many different types(standard,belly, long) and thicknesses of grips and gripping styles are really subjective. Most are completely based on personal preference and choice. You'll get as many opinions as there are golfers. Most of us learn by experience and practice. That's why most of us have more than one putter in our collection. I keep threatening to get a putting lesson. It is highly recommended.
Of course Don offers two very good lesson videos for putting. I own both.

Thanks Surge,,,,putting????  They can be on line and short, that is what I did today...darn, darn,,,After five years of golfing, most alone and NOT keeping score, I decided to to keep score and put it in the computer at the pro shop.   I started playing with a few differant people and love it!   But, when you are just learning, you feel funny playing with people that are better of course.   Anyway, IM going to get a handicap and will let you know what it is when I have enough scores!!!   Most of the time I get, 45, 46, 49, 42 and so on,   did have a 88, but in order to play in a outing later in August I have to have a handicap. So, we shall see???  For the past two years I have had so much help from the Surge and all of you!!   Thanks,,,,  Now, I play on Monday nights with a few ladies, it is fun.   Golf is so humbling,,,,,,

thanks agin, up the tree and most of me is skipping the rock, under and up!!

marilyn,,,,

Try the Tom Wishon golf website. He makes some of the very best component golf clubs in the world!

Okay I have a question for my fellow golfers. Has any one currently or previously used any of Jessie Ortiz clubs? I am looking for a good low profile fairway club in the 18-23 degree zone (5/7 wood) that is not a hybrid but a fairway wood. There are others I'm looking at but that one along with Maltby's Lady Tech are high in the running. It's for my wife. I have a shaft already so it's about a low centered - get the ball up - head I'm concened about.
This question is asked knowing this does not take into account shaft,grip, and a complete fitting. That said I know most of us still have had success or failure with different models 

Yes, I was really encouraged by DJ's first round 68. His 31 putts was understandable with 78% GIR. He was putting instead of chipping as much. A good sign. Hope he can go low tomorrow :)
Alot of guys are going low there and it looks like the cut may be around 1 or 2 under.

Although a regular reader of the blog and a user of PPGS for over a year i have never posted before.
However I am just home after attending a one day school run by Malcom Rawle the European Director of PPGS at Dalmahoy ,Edinburgh, Scotland.
I thought I was doing quite well with my PPGS but Malcom opened my eyes to numerous faults and misconceptions and I came away determined to apply Malcoms lessons to my game.
I would reccomend these events to anyone interested in using PPGS to maximise their ability as the average teaching Pro just wants to convert us to rotational swingers!!
I am sure this applies throught the world not just in Scotland !!
James Fraser 

Ya, no moving it in the rough. The rough on that course looked brutal.
Just checked the weather there and it looks like continued soft conditions with rain in the early morning and late afternoon. Cut is -1 now and with the early lead at -11 already it may go to -2 by this afternoon. Let's hope DJ goes loooooowwwwww........!!
DJ tees off with Brian Davis and Matt Every at 12:40 Eastern time so he'll be 2/3's done when TV coverage starts. Looks like another shot tracker day:)
GoDJ !!!

http://www.pgatour.com/tournam...

Thanks. Yes I have examined his site many times and have 3 of his books. Great golf mind and clud designer indeed.

 Robert, have you ever looked at the Hireko clubs and components? You would really enjoy their catalog and they have several ladies club head components.. I thought Ortiz was with the Bobby Jones Co. and I didn't know you could get their components. The only Ortiz club I've hit was an old Orlimar Tri Metal driver and it didn't seem to be anything special. I never hit one of his fairway woods. I suppose you have your heart set on building your wife a a club, but you may want to take her to a Golfsmith and let her hit some of their their demos. I've built a number of my own clubs, but after trying a Ping G20 5 wood, I bought one rather than trying to build something similar. It's the sweetest hitting fairway wood I've ever played.

We'll see if the overall scores are as low tomorrow. I understand that today, because of conditions or potential conditions, they played ball-in-hand. (For those less familiar with jargon, that means the players could lift, clean, and place the ball on the fairway as well as on the green; also, I believe, in the rough, though of course not in hazards or bunkers.)

Thanks Robert. I posted the above before I went to the archives (dummy me) and looked at several postings. I already have the PPGS Putting System video and plan on purchasing the the recent one Don did on the putting secrets of E. Harvey Ward. I have a full set of clubs that I was fitted for, except the putter. I, like you, and most other golfers have several putters. Most of them Standard Odyssey's (blade, and 2 mallet styles of varying lengths) and one Holloway. None of them are fitted and bought off the rack or at a yard sale. I was curious if GG did a good job of fitting since there is a GG about 50 miles from me and what questions I should be asking about in a putter fitting.

Love that Phil M. ad where he keeps a player honest and puts the ball back behind the big rock. "Still watching"....

Right you are. My set is composed of mostly Wishon clubs built by an Ohio PPGS cirtified fitter. My favorite are the hybrids, 16*, 20*, and a 26*. I could never hit a hybrid until these ones. I also have 6 irons and a driver from Wishon. They are quality componets.

Thanks. I also re-build established clubs so I look at both component sites and whole clubs. Your right, as far as I know Ortiz does not sell components. I was going to re- build it with a chosen shaft. I have looked at Hireko Anderson have purchased several times from Golfsmith and Golf works and others. I appreciate your suggestions. I always do several weeks of research and comparisons before buying. I hit various clubs at Golf Galaxy occasionally but that is still a limited test.
Whether its attached to a shaft or not is not paramount, heck I may end up liking the shaft, if not I will put on a shaft. In my wifes case we have found shafts that fit. Looking for a more playable head.
BTW I have consider Ping G20's. They do look good.