Hi
On the ratings on the clubs, are the more filled in dots always the better? In particular, I am looking at the forgiveness rating on clubs, especially putters. I have a putter with a forgiveness rating of 3 and a half filled in dots and a precision of 4 filled in dots, but if I miss the middle marker (where you get the excellent rating come up) by just a fraction it seems to move my putt a couple of inches past the hole. I would have thought with such a good forgiveness rating, it would be...well, more forgiving. But it doesn't seem to be that way.
I realise that the green speed, break of the green etc plays a part too. But missing the excellent marker on the driver doesn't seem so punishing.
I feel I am getting better, and now getting in good positions to score a fair few birdies, but my putting ends up screwing up, mainly because I just miss that middle marker. I then end up getting pars or on more challenging greens double and triple bogeys. I just completed 18 holes on Merion @ +10. With the exception of 1 hole it was all down to the putting. I feel if my putter had been more forgiving i could have at least halved that and maybe even got it down to 2 or 3 over.
So, my question is, am I reading the ratings properly. Are clubs more forgiving if they have more filled in dots on their ratings? Or the other way round?
Thanks