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It's time for a new putter

• spam48 97 Posts

  Wed, Apr 11 2012 6:00 AM

  I've become a little more efficient with approach shots (now that I've upgraded my wedges) but am losing birdie opportunities with HORRIBLE putting.

  I feel pretty comfortable with distance control and reading the break but am unable to consistently "hit the ding" and have been missing some opportunities to drop strokes.

  In researching putters there really is no clear explanation for what changes in Precision, Forgiveness and Balance do to affect the shot.

  Knowing what my problem is, what attribute do you think I need to improve to become more consistent?

   

  Thanks!!

   

• Spammage 694 Posts

  Wed, Apr 11 2012 9:43 AM

  The upgraded putters will allow you to make the occasional putt with a missed "ding" (and some people actually intentionally miss the "ding" when playing) but they will certainly keep the actual line more closely than that of the standard putter.  I have found even with the Level 77+ Nike putter that if I miss the ding on a 10ft plus putt that I will usually skirt the edge of the cup or lip out instead of making it so forgiveness is a little overstated.  Hitting the ding is the most important part of putting in my opinion.

  From what I have read precision is accuracy - meaning that there is less deviation in where the ball will travel to where you intended it to travel on a "dinged" putt.  Balance has created some interesting discussion but I'm not sure if anybody actually knows what this statistic represents.  Forgiveness is just what you expect it to be but don't expect it to be a crutch that you can count on - learn to hit the "ding" with your putting and your scores will drop dramatically.

• ETVKPProductions 24 Posts

  Wed, Apr 11 2012 10:26 AM

  I haven't been here for long yet but on the masters weekend I tried out the TM Rossa putter in comparison with the Ping Redwood putter I have at the moment. When comparing it seemed to me that, although the Rossa is supposed to be better when looking at forgiviness and meter speed, it didn't fit my game well. The Redwood that it less forgiving and has faster meter speed suited me much better. When thinking about it I came to the conclusion that it must be something mental like that I think the Redwood is better because I achieved nice stuff with it. Also I'm used to the Redwood. But then I looked closer and saw a difference between them 2. For me it seems like the Redwood comes off the clubface at a different speed than the Rossa putter, thereby affecting on how the breaks will react and how distance will react. The Redwood speed seems to fit me a lot better, so I went with it.

  In the end it's all about how you putt and just getting used to and getting comfortable with what you have. If you have a few credits to spend I recommend that you first rent 2 or 3 putters and choose the one that suits the best to your game. If you go through a putting slump, just deal with it getting a new putter won't help you (real life expirience :P).

  Hope I could help you.

• spam48 97 Posts

  Wed, Apr 11 2012 12:00 PM

  Thanks for the input.  It would appear then that improving Precision will be what I'm after.

  I'm thinking about the TaylorMade Spider (L19+) although the gain in Precision will only be by 1/2 of a ball (using the 5-ball scale).

  Thanks again.

   

  Spam

• pUGfANmn 436 Posts

  Thu, Apr 12 2012 2:12 AM

  I'm in a similar boat - trying to decide between the Rossa and the Level 66+ Ghost.  I've had the 19+ Spider FOREVER and am starting to feel like I'm missing some precision or forgiveness - I'm reading well, but at the same time, don't feel like I can trust the read with potentially missing the ding.  At times, even a slight miss seems to carry the ball well away from my aiming point.

  I tested the Rossa and had a good feeling with it - I'm thinking it's higher Precision I want rather than more Forgiveness.

  It's a decision as to whether that one ball of Forgiveness with the 66+ Ghost is worth an extra 500 credits...

• spam48 97 Posts

  Thu, Apr 12 2012 12:05 PM

  Well I did it.  I went and bought the L19+ Spider and regret doing so.  Rounds that were -2 to +2 for a round of nine turned into +5 to +7.  The swing meter seems too slow if that's even possible.  Putts roll like they are passing through cement.  I agree with pUGfNmn that the ball carries away from the aiming point.

   

  It's very frustrating to read the break correctly and have the speed of the putt set to land 1 foot beyond the hole only to miss the ding and brush by.

   

  Saving for something else now.  LOL

• Allen63 364 Posts

  Fri, Apr 13 2012 6:20 AM

  You're currently level 40 and I would suggest the level 35 ghost spider. Although your experience with the spider might say otherwise, I seriously doubt your elevated scores are the result of just the putter itself (no offense). The spider really is a better putter than the beginner or even some of the other low level ones, but the Ghost Spider is better yet.

  Get it, stick with it and continually try to improve. You'll get it.

• spam48 97 Posts

  Fri, Apr 13 2012 7:12 AM

  Thanks for your opinion on the Spider Putter.  I certainly don't agree. 

   

  The origin of this thread was to determine what characteristics of a putter (or improvements over the putter-in-hand) were affected by or would improve putts that missed the "ding".  I don't see where you've answered that question.  My follow-up response was to show that I had purchased the L19 Spider thereby increasing Precision. The increase in Precision, however, did not have any improvement in my score but more in the other direction.

   

  All I'm looking for is a putter that can consistently drain 7-10 footers and give me a fighting chance on 15's.  The L19 Spider is a crapshoot from 4 feet and beyond.

   

  Seriously.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Fri, Apr 13 2012 8:11 AM

  Allen63:

  Get it, stick with it and continually try to improve. You'll get it.

  This.^^

  You're not buying putts when you upgrade, you're buying a more accurate way to get those putts. The caveat is you have to learn that putter and that takes time. While that Spider is not a very good putter but does has its comforts, there are Legends that do quite well with. They took the time to learn it and stayed with it.

• lonnieskinner 1,677 Posts

  Fri, Apr 13 2012 9:45 AM

  IMHO. I have tried all the putters except the lvl 92 and for me it comes down to pinging putts. So for me the nike putters is best because its easier to hit the ping more often. Putters are personal preference and what u get use to. get a good one and stick with it. Enjoy!