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off ding putting method

• 1,866 Posts

  Thu, Oct 1 2015 11:39 AM

  Jimbog1964:

  WoodenHands:

  Hey Jim, I wouldn't move the aimer for that. The only time I move the aimer is if the break is too severe that missing the ding by  the maximum is still not enough. It's by no means a scientific method, pretty much do it by feel (guesswork) but it's still better for me than trying to putt 'properly'

  Hmmm...Thanks for that.  I will remark some use it better than I supposed possible, but will note that person had the Rossa.  Cheers

  I do it the same way as Doug (Woody). It really has to be an extreme break for me to even touch the marker. Of course, when putting off ding you'd need to use more power (Cpt. Obvious, lol). Best not to use putters with more than 3 dots of forgiveness, cause with more forgiving ones the clicking point gets farther away from the ding, therefore making some breaks impossible to overcome without moving the marker. That's why I'm still using the L35 Ghost, works better than any Nike for this style of putting.

   

  P.S. @ the OP. I know I'm not a great player (just changed tiers so my avg is still real, lol), so no need pointing it out ;-)

   

• 11BC2 555 Posts

  Fri, Oct 2 2015 9:08 AM

  Fmagnets and Poldimier are predominently Ding putters and they are sitting at 68.5 and 68.8% One Putt %.  To be fair, Poldimier is probably a better putter because his average distance to pin is longer than Fmagnets.

  While off-Ding putting can produce nice results (especially on severe breaking putts) Imo it's best to save this technique for a select few putts.  Anytime you off-Ding you're throwing more variables into each putt which effects total roll-out as well as left and right potential.

  I'm sure there are several (maybe even dozens) of players out there who have 65% Plus One putt %'s with low 30% Two Putts and extremely low 3 putt %'s but imo, if they switched to predominently Dinging they'd still improve.

  If someone made some computers play the game and one of them hit the Ding 100% of the time and the other used an off-Ding method I have no doubt the 100% Ding computer would sink far more putts.

   

• AceHoler26 349 Posts

  Mon, Apr 4 2016 3:43 AM

  Here is my theory as to why I use the "off the ding" method....

  I am Champion Tier with a 58.17 average currently.....so I consider myself a very good WGT player though certainly not in the elite class of players on here.

  The ding method

  You need to do 3 things correctly using this method.

  1) Distance

  2) Where you move the arrow

  3) Hit the ding

  The off ding method

  You only need to do 2 things correctly using this method

  1) Distance

  2) Stop the meter at the right spot to compensate for the break

  Now, while there really is no mathematical algorithm to calculate where to stop the ding, you also don't have to stop the meter at an EXACT location.  I believe there is a range where the meter can be stopped in that will correctly compensate for the break off the putt.  So there is some margin for error.

  So how do you know where to stop the meter to find that successful range ?  It's mostly just a feel that is gained from experience and practice.  Since I believe that WGT tweaks the greens at cyclical times and that the successful range on the meter can change, you probably should do a few practice holes to determine how much play area you have with that day's meter.

  For example, unless the dots are moving very fast or very slow, on my first putt of the day I will use the mid-point of the hitting area of the meter to compensate for the break.  If the putt goes in or comes very close to dropping, then I know I pretty much have a little before and after the mid-point to have a good chance to have the putt drop when the dots are moving at what I consider to be normal speed.

  If the dots are moving slower or faster than that I will compensate by stopping the meter sooner or later than the mid-point to compensate for more or less break.

  Of course there are some putts that I will have to move the arrow off the hole simply because there is not enough meter hitting area to compensate for the crazy break.

  I'm sure that's all clear as mud....lol

• alosso 21,088 Posts

  Mon, Apr 4 2016 4:18 AM

  AceHoler26:

  The ding method

  You need to do 3 things correctly using this method.

  1) Distance

  2) Where you move the arrow

  3) Hit the ding

  The off ding method

  You only need to do 2 things correctly using this method[...]

  IBTD: It needs at least as much, even more for off ding putting:

  1) Distance

  1a) Distance compensation due to off-dinging (it will usually stay shorter, and more on stronger deviations),

  2) Decide about the margin of missing,

  2a) Add arrow movement when this ain't enough (severe side slopes on slippery greens)

  3) stop the meter at the desired off-ding point which needs the same clicking precision and is more difficult due to the variance.

  Also, off ding putting limits to a few putters only - too much forgiveness kills the off ding! (One reason why I'm still on the Rossa)

  Thus, I'd strongly recommend any beginner to consider ding putting - it's more versatile and probably easier in the end.

  That said, I'm still an off ding putter, but don't look at my stats - probably shabby!

• Tigerpaw509 1,285 Posts

  Mon, Apr 4 2016 6:04 AM

  hatcojack:

  curious how many great players( say, mid 50's avg) use the off ding putting method?

  This question coming from a Quitter.

• duffputt 314 Posts

  Mon, Apr 4 2016 6:08 AM

  Ding putter here.

  It is THE way to putt.

  Use Ding and Tekoma's putting technique and you are well equipped.

  You may suffer with inconsistent distance control by off-dinging.

  On severe breaks miss the ding only to the high side.

  On putts ranging 25-50 feet bendy at first half of putting line but rather flat near hole, use full shot type for increased hole-outs

• Beryman 9,099 Posts

  Mon, Apr 4 2016 7:25 AM

  duffputt:

  You may suffer with inconsistent distance control by off-dinging.

  those of us that use the off ding method are well aware of this and throw it into the equation

• ZioMio 4,680 Posts

  Mon, Apr 4 2016 8:30 AM

  Off ding putting is an acquired taste ... I like it but do not always use it. Like a quick snack, it is the go to for those short ones under 10 feet.

• AceHoler26 349 Posts

  Mon, Apr 4 2016 9:19 AM

  I differ with Alosso.......I know you can stop the meter with LESS precision than when you are trying to hit an exact ding.

  Don't believe me ?

  If I practice a putt from say 10 feet with a decent break, there is an area on the meter that I can stop the meter at which will cause the putt to fall.  So there is a range of the meter not an exact location on the meter that I have to stop it on.

  The other things Alosso wrote also do not come heavily into play.  There are very few putts that I have to move the arrow on.  And I don't not find much of a difference in distance whether I hit the ding or go off ding with the putter.  I will use more meter if I want to hit harder to reduce break, that's about it.

  I will grant that it's harder to be a good off ding putter than moving the arrow.  I think it takes more practice.  But once you get it down I think it's a great way to putt.

  By the way, the forgiveness thing is a non factor.  I have both the Rossa and the Versa.  I was using the Rossa for quite awhile, but I find I am putting better with the Versa even though the Versa has much a much higher forgiveness rating.  So you can throw that right out the window :)

• alosso 21,088 Posts

  Mon, Apr 4 2016 9:46 PM

  My point was, it's not only just two items to think about when puting off ding, but more than three. I'm glad that you agree to my argumentation.

  You actually agree to 1a), "not much" being more than none. Also, "very few putts" is a few putts (concerning 2a), and "more practice" adds to my point.

  OTOH, your observations concerning the forgiveness are new to me. I'm gonna accept it for now, though it's hard to believe that more forgiveness wouldn't lead to straighter putts and less off ding effects.

  Enjoy the game!