andyson:ShadyShank, If you haven't already seen bhoese's Putter Precision tests, check out his thread
I had not seen that, Andy, and thank you for it.
My take on the many 'misreads' is, as some have said, the dot increments being messed with, as well as green speeds not being quite what they should be. For example, I see no noticeable difference between a 12 & 13 rated green. Very little difference unless you miss one DH of course.
Now, 13 to 14 I can see a difference, and because I play mainly by feel (even use the Original Meter) I doubt I could give a very good explanation on the differences. I also think it is possible that, with wgt making so many alterations to, almost, the whole site, the greens have been changing on a weekly basis. Maybe just slightly, but it seems to me it has been going on for1-2 months now. Or, since the 14 greens were introduced.
I'm sticking with the 94 Nike. Oh, I did want to comment on the 'ding' & 'miss ding' putting styles. Not long ago, if you missed the ding slightly with the Method, likely you would not be hurt by it. I could also putt effectively using ding & miss ding styles with the Method.
Now, even with a dinged putt correctly read & struck, you just never know. I hit a putt at SA yesterday & was going to save it & now wish I had. It was that Uh putt at #3 and I was more to the right of the hole than usual when I hit there. This putt was so dead on line, & it broke down to the center of the cup, but even with the green starting to go back DH at the cup, the ball stopped, amazingly, on the lip for a 2 inch par.
I'm sure we've all had ones like this, but when the cam switched to reverse, I had no doubt it was in for birdie. My 2 pennies. Oh, I've probably hit that same putt, or close to it, over 100 times easily I would think.