Inputt Training Aid

[sirparalot]

Not sure if anyone else has had the opportunity to use this putting training device (https://www.inputtgolf.com) but I thought I would share my initial impression. To start I am a horrible putter... I typically lose at least 3 strokes every round on putts inside 6 feet (last week I missed a 2 foot putt for birdie). I saw the Inputt at the PGA Show and being the desperate putter I am decided to see what it was all about. Jason at Inputt spent 10-15 minutes with me going over the device and working with me on using it properly. For lack of a better description, the Inputt helps groove a square inside to square outside stroke with the goal of starting the ball on the correct line. Jason was very confident that his device would help my sorrowful state on the greens ( I use Aim Point and read greens well but have never been able to groove a stroke that would start the ball on the line I chose consistently in order to take advantage of my green reading skills). I went ahead and purchased one. Since then I have had 2 practice sessions and am pleased with the results. During my Thursday practice I was able to sink 97 out of 100 putts from 3-6 feet using the Inputt and then made 10 in a row from 3 feet without the device. I know that may not mean much to many of you but I would've been lucky to make half of those prior to working with the Inputt. I Played today and my results on course mirrored my practice. I took 31 putts (again for me this is huge), had no 3 putts, and made every putt inside 6 feet, every single one. By the end of the round I knew the 3 footers were going in. Thats a feeling I haven't felt in many years. I highly recommend taking a look at this if you struggle with starting your ball on line.

[seve1972]

Good on ya!...I’ve always been a believer of inside to square putting mechanics....I might give this a try!!

[sirparalot]

I just can't say enough good things about this device. Went out again to practice on Saturday and did not miss a putt inside 6 feet whether it was with the device or without. Hopefully I will soon have a grooved putting movement that will stand up over the long term and round out my game. I am going to focus on one more 3-6 foot session and then start working on longer putts to improve my lag putting as I had several of those not start on line during my last round (pulled a few, my typical old miss). I was able to clean up all of them however as my distance control was good and I was within that 6 foot range that I have been working on. I am playing Monday on a course I never seen before so it will be a good challenge to see if I can continue to start the ball on the lines I choose.

[Swisstrader98]

Just not sure I get the difference between this training aid and a ton of other putting boards out there. Also not sure I understand the need for the little string

[sirparalot]

Just not sure I get the difference between this training aid and a ton of other putting boards out there. Also not sure I understand the need for the little string

 

For some there may not be a difference if you already have found a training aid that truly works for you. For me this is the first putting trainer that hasn't made me feel like I have to manipulate the face to follow the board path(this is not an SBST stroke trainer or an inside down the line stroke trainer as what is typically seen currently). Yes it feels different but not manipulated to me if that makes sense. I have tried many training aids that I could get to work (alter my setup, manipulate the face...etc) but it never translated to a better putting motion on course because I was still making manipulations that I could not accurately reproduce on course vs. ingraining a better stroke. The string is there to ensure you have the device set 100% square on a straight putt. I could take many previous putting aids, set them up and then somehow make the ball go in the hole using the device but in actuality I ended up manipulating the stroke or setup to make the ball react correctly and basically I was really nullifying the device. Then when I pulled the device away the ball never started and ended on the line I chose and I could never figure out why. Now I know it was because I compensated to make the device work. With this you find a straight putt, you setup the string using your putter face (website gives a good video and explanation) and then use the string to set the device parallel. If the putts miss then you know its you and not the setup. When I first used the device at the PGA show with Jason I missed left over and over and I could have easily changed the devices aim to nullify the left miss and walk away thinking it works but in actuality I just compensated and would have been grooving a compensated stroke. He refused to let me do that and we focused on ingraining the right shoulder action to allow the putter head to follow the board without manipulation. From there the putts started going in and they have ever since For me this is the first training aid that has helped me put the ball on the line I choose and it stays on that line for its entire roll (assuming a straight putt) even when I putt without the device. I am sure others who are desperate to improve their putting have had similar experiences so I thought I would share my experience. Golf is just a funny game and what works for some doesn't for others. I found something that works for me and I know there are many others out there like me who haven't found a good solution.

[buckeyefl]

The little string is there to help you set it up correctly in relation to the hole. People not only struggle with alignment but have no clue where they should be lined up in relation to targets.

[sirparalot]

Just thought I would update everyone on my progress using the Inputt. The improvements in my putting continue to stick round to round as I am really grooving a much better stroke. Over the last 15 rounds since using the Inputt I am averaging 33 putts per round vs. 36 and have cut down my 3 putt % by 50%. This improved putting has improved my scrambling % as well which is the biggest opportunity in my game. This week I got up and down 5 times in the first 8 holes with several saves coming from putts over 10 feet (again this is huge for me). My playing partners have definitely noticed a difference and the short putts that they could count on me to miss have now become opportunities for me to put pressure on them and watch them grind over and start to miss putts that use to be meaningless given my poor putting. My game still has lots of opportunities but I really feel like I now have a nice path to follow for my putting.

[fawley]

What’s the rationale for the club path coming from the inside and continuing on to be outside the targe line after impact?

 

Most putting instruction that I’ve seen has been inside to square to inside, or straight back / straight through.

[MMB1500]

How does this differ from something like the Putting Arc, other than the fact it's straight? Seems to do the same thing.

[sirparalot]

In the short time I spent with Jason at the PGA show my understanding is the Inputt does not make you have to create any compensation/manipulation with your arms, hands, or wrists. It teaches you how to properly use your shoulders to create a solid putting stroke. Putting arc, inside down the line, sbst all require some type of manipulation to keep the putter square and moving in the prescribed method of those other training aids. I didnt know that at the time as I mentioned in my original post as I could get them all to appear to work until it was time to take it to the course. This device has allowed me to take the motion I ingrain while practicing with it to the course plain and simple. No other putting aid I have tried has ever done that for me.

[MMB1500]

In the short time I spent with Jason at the PGA show my understanding is the Inputt does not make you have to create any compensation/manipulation with your arms, hands, or wrists. It teaches you how to properly use your shoulders to create a solid putting stroke. Putting arc, inside down the line, sbst all require some type of manipulation to keep the putter square and moving in the prescribed method of those other training aids. I didnt know that at the time as I mentioned in my original post as I could get them all to appear to work until it was time to take it to the course. This device has allowed me to take the motion I ingrain while practicing with it to the course plain and simple. No other putting aid I have tried has ever done that for me.

 

But it's straight isn't it? Unless you're bent over at 90° with your arms hanging straight down then putting in a straight line requires manipulation, no?

[sirparalot]

No, it is not straight. Its inside square to outside square. It follows the natural motion of your shoulders when you learn to rock them properly without the need to manipulate anything. This is what the Inputt teaches and ingrains a proper shoulder motion. Take a look at their website and you can see. It is truly different than any putting rail type aid I have ever seen and used.

[MMB1500]

No, it is not straight. Its inside square to outside square. It follows the natural motion of your shoulders when you learn to rock them properly without the need to manipulate anything. This is what the Inputt teaches and ingrains a proper shoulder motion. Take a look at their website and you can see. It is truly different than any putting rail type aid I have ever seen and used.

 

OK, thanks!