Bryson DeChambeau's putting style

[agentsunday]

This doesn't surprise me. I'm sure we'll see his caddie with a square bag soon.

[straightshot7]

Sidesaddle or face-on putting can actually be very effective if you do it correctly. I've never seen this grip he's employing, and I prefer looking at the hole if you can, but it does work.

 

http://www.golf.com/...-future-putting

 

I tried it a bit in practice during college and I felt extremely confident from 20 feet, looking at the hole. I didn't have the guts or patience to learn it well enough to employ it in tournaments, but it has promise.

 

You have to get the correct putter and setup and practice the technique so that you can consistently hit the center of the putter face, even while looking at the hole. It's really a more natural motion than the traditional way.

 

If you were asked to roll a ball underhanded to the hole, how would you do it? Would you really stand side ways and look down the way we do when we putt?

 

The stance on the full swing is that way in order to generate power. That isn't required on putting but we continue with that stance anyways.

[Dave230]

When you mix in their All-American looks, DeChambeau and Lexi Thompson are like a team out of a B-list sports underdog movie. 'You can't putt like that?' 'A woman will never win on the men's tour!' Just you wait...

[Jasonic]

He's annoying.

[PowderedToastMan]

The dude's going to get so scientific he may actually cut his arms off and replace them with robotic arms in an attempt to become iron Byron.

[Sun Devil]

Not sure what is worse looking. Broomstick putters or this side saddle croquet looking stroke.

[Mudguard]

Not sure what is worse looking. Broomstick putters or this side saddle croquet looking stroke.

One wonders what the R&A and USGA might decide if he starts winning...

[rockinar]

This is not new. He putted side saddle before and did well with it.

[widow-maker]

When I first saw him as an amateur, I thought putting was the strongest part of his game. It takes an odd duck to change their putting style when it's working to begin with. He'll be interesting to watch as his career unfolds. Can't help but think he's an 80mph accident on the expressway waiting to happen. Maybe he'll surprise.

[4jag]

Love that he's not afraid to experiment. Needs something other then that soup can putter though.

[OnTheRocks]

I would like to hear his comments on why he switched from side-saddle to conventional back to side-saddle. For someone who is 'unconventional', I wonder what drove the switches over the years.

 

I think the concept makes sense and would love to try it sometime...

[Retkram]

A couple of short video clips via link below showing him side saddle putting

http://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/watch-bryson-dechambeaus-side-saddle-putting-change-seems-to-be-working-well/

 

[Santiago Golf]

This is not new. He putted side saddle before and did well with it.

 

Yeah for one college tournament.

[brentflog]

Most golfwrxers that have made the change to side saddle and done so with a commitment to practicing at it say that it is a far better way to putt. myself included. Tradition is hard to break but at one point every field goal kicker kicked straight on and high jumpers did all kinds

.

 

For me side saddle is just an easier way to line up the putt. How often do you play in a scramble in which your team picks out a line to putt on, then nobody on the team lines up their putter face on that line. They think they are, but standing behind them you can clearly see that they aren't. Most of us don't do anything in life that requires precision aiming with our eye line parallel to the aiming line except putting. When you line up a putt you don't stand behind the ball and turn your head sideways so that your eyes are parallel to the line.

 

If golf were never invented and you tried to invent putting, I doubt it would be anyone's natural instinct to turn sideways. Time will tell but i think this has a better chance of catching on than the single length iron.

[thegoomba]

Whatever works, I think Shaq admitted he could have shot over 70 percent from the free throw line underhanded but it did not look cool.

[jslane57]

This stroke/grip looks to make more sense for a right handed golfer than taking the club, resting it on your left arm, then gripping your left arm with your right hand. Probably easier to see the line and everything. I think golf is better with guys like Bryson in it...

[Ping Zings]

He does make sure that he stands out.

[kekoa]

Man, that stroke is just plain distracting. I'd have to just look away evertime he was up to putt.

[Santiago Golf]

I would like to hear his comments on why he switched from side-saddle to conventional back to side-saddle. For someone who is 'unconventional', I wonder what drove the switches over the years.

 

I think the concept makes sense and would love to try it sometime...

 

He said the original side-saddle putter he used was "made" to be side-saddle putter so it tough to get any great success with it, though he did like it.

 

The reason why he is trying all sorts of things with his putting is the following reasons

 

 

1)Driving Distance, 292 (its puts him outside the top 50 on tour and he won't be able to go at alot par 5s in two)

2)Driving Accuracy, 55.83 (outside the top 150, another reason he won't be able to go at par 5s in two and will have tougher shots in to the green on par 4s)

3) Approach Proximity, 37'6", (outside the top 150, due to the fact he is hitting from the rough alot and this will lead to not having many easy birdie opportunities)

4) Strokes Gained Putting, -.302 (outside the top 140)

 

So if you are shorter player, you need to be somewhat accurate and making putts to make a living on tour. Jordan Spieth is good example of player who was not that long (he wasn't short either), but could putt, so he made the birdies when avaliable

 

If Bryson was longer, he could afford to miss some fairways and putt average, because he could two putt for birdie on the par 5s (Dustin Johnson earlier in his career)

 

If Bryson was longer and good putter he would be like a Jason Day (Long, not that accruate but makes a lot of putts)

 

But right now he is not able to attack the par 5s in two and his putter has been (below average), so the only way he can make birdies is if he stuffs close every time, even Zach Johnson and Ryan Moore struggle to do that. Then on par 4s, he isn't long enough to afford to miss the fairway, so he long birdie putts when he hits the green. And then he isn't putting great to begin with so when he misses the green (his short game stats can be misread due to poor putting, similar to Bubba but from accounts of people I know to who have watched/played with him he is tour average at best except for the sand) so he is bringing a good chance of making bogey every time he misses the green.

 

This is why he is trying everything he can with putting. He isn't going to get much longer to make missing fairways affordable, getting straighter with driver would help but it wouldn't cut as fixing his putting would.

 

The thing is though, he is a competitor and golf historian, when comes to major, he is going to play well. I can see struggle or have limited sucess in the grind of week in week out tour life, but have great showings in major championship golf.

 

It will be interesting to see

[Santiago Golf]

Man, that stroke is just plain distracting. I'd have to just look away evertime he was up to putt.

 

When Tiger played with Sergio in US Open at Bethpage when he was going through his 22 waggles problem, Tiger said he just close his eyes and waited to here the impact. Kuchar said a similar thing when he played with Kevin Na during 2012 Players

[Santiago Golf]

Whatever works, I think Shaq admitted he could have shot over 70 percent from the free throw line underhanded but it did not look cool.

 

Watch the 30 for 30 on Shaq and his time at LSU he was a very good free throw shooter for a big man. But then he had one bad game and he was never the same. Look andre drummond of Detroit Pistons. When can't make much either but according many sources he can go 99 for 100 in practice, but in a game he doesn't know what happens

[nbg352]

Is his putter the same length as his 7 iron?

 

Yes it is.

[NevinW]

https://randyhaag.com/2013/01/28/side-saddle-putting-101/

 

Clearly it has worked well for some very good golfers. I don't understand the name-calling here.

[wayupnorth]

Look I am all for doing whatever works, but does he actually think this is going to work?

 

He needs to get out of his own way and just keep it simple

 

actually, i think that he thinks this is simple - a simpler way to putt.

[bscinstnct]

A couple of short video clips via link below showing him side saddle putting

http://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/watch-bryson-dechambeaus-side-saddle-putting-change-seems-to-be-working-well/

 

I saw that, cant argue with those putts.

[cardia10]

So it this style, like his single length irons, are such game changers, why did it take this long? It has been tried unsuccessfully in the past so what all of the sudden makes it better? I'm all for change, but until it is proven under pressure it is hard to justify.

[Chazb]

Look I am all for doing whatever works, but does he actually think this is going to work?

 

He needs to get out of his own way and just keep it simple

Sam Snead would beg to differ.

[rockinar]

So it this style, like his single length irons, are such game changers, why did it take this long? It has been tried unsuccessfully in the past so what all of the sudden makes it better? I'm all for change, but until it is proven under pressure it is hard to justify.

 

 

 

I would not say Sam Snead was "unsuccessful".

 

To each their own. Bernhard whips a** and takes names all day with the broomstick, but nobody on the PGA Tour uses one. Does that mean it "does not work"? Just because guys on the PGA Tour don't do it or use it does not mean it doesn't work.

 

.

[TheGeekGolfer]

Putting side-saddle is fine and makes a fair amount of sense, to me. I have two problems with BD's putting style. Other than the two items below, I wish him luck and enjoy seeing him bring some new ideas to the game. I've played around with these things, too. I'm just not good enough or have the right following to make any noise.

 

1. His grip looks HORRIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE! Having his right hand facing backward towards the hole and then anchoring the grip to his left-hand looks very awkward. I could see it work better, and I've tried it this way, if your right-hand palm is facing the target. This is how you throw a ball and that is one of the main arguments for changing to this putting style.

 

2. He appears to have the putter shaft straight up and down (90* angle). I know the putter must be 10* off of 90* (lie angle 80*), so he puts the putter up on the toe to compensate. If this putter is designed (haven't been able to see close up photos) to have no loft and be used this way, then isn't that illegal in the rules? From what I've read on the putter club rules, you can use it that way, but it can't be 'designed to be used' that way.

[jjr]

It's fun to watch all of the reactions to this. I am from the view of "if you are brave enough to go out in public and try it then more power to you but stand your ground and be confident" . I don't think it would work for me but I also thought the "saw" grip wouldn't either. Well....

 

Golfwrx to me is the biggest group of self righteous, know it all, you can't do that unless we say you can group of people I have ever seen AND I fall into that category a lot as well. We have a "belief" that the golf swing should look like "this" or "that" and if it falls outside of that well then that person is a baffoon and how dare he attempt to do that (granted he is wildly more successful at the game than any of us)...He doesn't have our approval!!!! Same with putting. I remember a time when we all saw the saw grip or any of its variations as a "threat" to the conventional. Now , I bet, a lot of us on this board have attempted one of those grips even if we didn't want to. It's not a bad thing to say all of this or believe it. It's human nature. I know people will reply to this and disagree with me and say "oh I never think that way, I accept anyone and I am not afraid to try anything either. I don't care what anyone thinks about my swing". True, there are people out there who are like that and I have gravitated that way myself which has made me much more successful on the course. What is normal though? I think Bryson is someone who makes decisions based on "data points" and a collection of them to make what to him is the best % approach to attack a specific move or idea if you will. Anyway it does seem odd to watch it done but It may work for him. I will also say that there is a guy who plays in the Carlton Woods Invitational each year ( I think he is from California and in the Senior division) that literally makes every putt inside 10 feet and it is spooky.

 

Well Said,thank you, agree completely. Senior division player is Randy Haag,phenomenal player, has face-on/side saddle putted for 20 years, and yes it is spooky, he's that good!