Who Can Putt Well with Any Putter? Why?

[Murphy76]

On 12/14/2023 at 3:27 PM, jda said:

 

Do we overestimate how much the tool matters and discount the application of the craft?  Is the tool a crutch or an excuse too much of the time?

 

Dear god thank you. 

 

For once my degrees in philosophy/english Lit are paying off !!  Therefore, I present to you:

 

"Are you focusing more on the utility of your construct, ?...... Or more on your on the ontology of your discourse? "

 

 

To be honest......

 

I get a lot of Fat chicks with that line.

 

Edited December 17, 2023 by Murphy76

[Roejye]

I think it comes down to how good you are at making adjustments, combined with how much if a feel player you are, with green reading and speed control mixed in. Something @iacas said to me on another golf forum when I talked about getting a putter fitting, "toe hang, face closure, etc don't matter because you can make adjustments in your grip to counteract that" or something like that.

 

I've had an oversized anser style that had some toe hang, a face balanced mallet, and my fitted Odyssey eleven, and I generally average around 2 putts. Obviously, not an amazing putter, but not terrible. Yes, I may putt slightly better with the fitted putter, but it's not like a day and night difference. I've found my best putting has generally been when I've been playing consistently enough that I have decent touch and lag putt well enough that the next putt is very makeable. 

 

[Nickb333]

43 minutes ago, Murphy76 said:

 

Dear god thank you. 

 

For once my degrees in philosophy/english Lit are paying off !!  Therefore, I present to you:

 

"Are you focusing more on the utility of your construct, ?...... Or more on your on the ontology of your discourse? "

 

 

To be honest......

 

I get a lot of Fat chicks with that line.

 

Are you slump buster Mark Grace? 

[jda]

I don't expect everybody to understand this.

 

While this could be an unpopular opinion around here, this is not even close to unpopular in any other sport.  Look at the shift away from footwork and precision like Peyton Manning to off platform and feel type of passers like Mahomes, Allen, Herbert and now Stroud.  Any good softball or baseball player can pick up the other ball and throw a seed to the glove of another player whereas hacks sail the softball and dirt the baseball.  The list can go on and on.

 

I asked this same question elsewhere.  I think that the conclusion that the answer to my question boils down to athletes that have some sort of a no-excuse background that either want to, or had to, perform when conditions were not idea.  They embraced it and got good at being good.

 

This might be my favorite thread on this board of all time... not because I started it but because of the Mark Grace Slumpbuster (I use to have a T shirt after he said that on Jim Rome) and a Ricky Bobby pissing excellence GIF.

[enfuego]

10 hours ago, Roejye said:

I think it comes down to how good you are at making adjustments, combined with how much if a feel player you are, with green reading and speed control mixed in. Something @iacas said to me on another golf forum when I talked about getting a putter fitting, "toe hang, face closure, etc don't matter because you can make adjustments in your grip to counteract that" or something like that.

 

I've had an oversized anser style that had some toe hang, a face balanced mallet, and my fitted Odyssey eleven, and I generally average around 2 putts. Obviously, not an amazing putter, but not terrible. Yes, I may putt slightly better with the fitted putter, but it's not like a day and night difference. I've found my best putting has generally been when I've been playing consistently enough that I have decent touch and lag putt well enough that the next putt is very makeable. 

 

 

8 minutes ago, jda said:

I don't expect everybody to understand this.

 

While this could be an unpopular opinion around here, this is not even close to unpopular in any other sport.  Look at the shift away from footwork and precision like Peyton Manning to off platform and feel type of passers like Mahomes, Allen, Herbert and now Stroud.  Any good softball or baseball player can pick up the other ball and throw a seed to the glove of another player whereas hacks sail the softball and dirt the baseball.  The list can go on and on.

 

I asked this same question elsewhere.  I think that the conclusion that the answer to my question boils down to athletes that have some sort of a no-excuse background that either want to, or had to, perform when conditions were not idea.  They embraced it and got good at being good.

 

This might be my favorite thread on this board of all time... not because I started it but because of the Mark Grace Slumpbuster (I use to have a T shirt after he said that on Jim Rome) and a Ricky Bobby pissing excellence GIF.

 

This is it. Once you know what different design elements go into clubs or putters and how they will react you can adjust accordingly and play golf/be an athlete. My clubs are extremely specific but I can play good golf with rental clubs or borrowed clubs. Similar to how some people can scramble and still score well. They just know how to get the ball in the hole, that's golf.

[BHI 99]

42 minutes ago, enfuego said:

 

 

This is it. Once you know what different design elements go into clubs or putters and how they will react you can adjust accordingly and play golf/be an athlete. My clubs are extremely specific but I can play good golf with rental clubs or borrowed clubs. Similar to how some people can scramble and still score well. They just know how to get the ball in the hole, that's golf.

Your clubs are specific because you wanted them a certain way. Nobody gives credit to what THEY want. I’ve reconfigured the same 3 putters at least a dozen different ways each. Every time something feels a little different and I either like it or don’t. 
 

when you know, you know. 

[JungleJimbo]

On 12/17/2023 at 1:03 AM, bunta said:

 

 

you dont think ive asked this in the past decade lol ?? trust me man, i've asked, i've begged, i've bribed, i've dug so deep into his brain i couldnt find myself back out. He has told me, and shown me, an infinite amount of times on what he does. His big thing is "relax everything, and rock your shoulders". Cant tell you how many times ive wanted to slap him across two fairways for telling me to "relax and rock your shoulders". B*tch, i am relaxed! and I am rocking my shoulders! Ive came to the conclusion that he just has tremendous FEEL and control with his muscle. And thats it. lol. Ive given up long time ago.

 

His chipping is on another level too. In some ways i feel his chipping is on par with what i see on tour and there isn't an ounce of kid when i say that. It doesn't matter where he is around the green, he'll put it close enough that its an automatic "pick it up you f*ck face" or give himself a very good chance because he rarely misses anything inside 5ft.. Again, its just TREMENDOUS FEEL and control of his short game strokes. And the kicker is he doesnt even practice his short game lol. Ever.

 

I have never came across a player that possesses such a huge disparity and imbalance between their long game and short game. The man carries a +5hdcp around the green, but a 20hdcp off the tee. Its the only reason why i can still tolerate playing with him.

 

 

 

" Be the ball"  😛 

 

 

Edited December 18, 2023 by JungleJimbo

[alexc93]

I've only ever gamed plumbers neck with a blade putter. Maybe i'd putt better with a mid mallet, mallet, or double bend, etc who knows, until you try. 

 

But...in my opinion I think a lot of putting comes down to your ability to read greens, gauge green speeds, and control your distance.

[Ghostwedge]

On 12/15/2023 at 12:24 AM, Nickb333 said:

Well, before my wife actually played golf, she could make putts. And I mean make putts. Over and over from anywhere. Didn’t matter what putter she used because she didn’t even own one. 

 

I didn’t realize her God given talent until she made 5 putts in a row at a fundraiser. No one else, including me, made more than 3. 

She never played sports as a kid. Somehow she can put the ball in the hole. 

 

Funny how that works out...my wife is a former world class swimmer, still very athletic and can't make a putt from 2 feet no matter the circumstances or the putter used. But she can step up and nail her driver 200 yds down the middle with no warm up. Strange stuff this golf thing. ☺

 

[TerryDactyl]

This is my biggest issue. Good with all, none stick out. I think its just confidence, rock solid head, and a feathery light grip. If you're not moving and you're relaxed and in flow you dint even need to read most putts that well. Then again... I would always welcome making one or two more putts!

[Nickb333]

3 hours ago, Ghostwedge said:

Funny how that works out...my wife is a former world class swimmer, still very athletic and can't make a putt from 2 feet no matter the circumstances or the putter used. But she can step up and nail her driver 200 yds down the middle with no warm up. Strange stuff this golf thing. ☺

 

I’m convinced golf is 90% mental, the other half is physical and the rest is witchcraft. 

[mogc60]

Can I putt well with anything, yes. 
I won my first amateur tournament with a bullseye. Set a course record 60 with a double bend mallet Bobby grace. Led the state open through 2 rounds with a Yes Natalie triangle center shaft. Set a course record with a teardrop TD17 bullseye type. Made 12 birdies in a round once with a ping zing. But could I putt consistently with any of them…no. I’ve putted the most consistent in my life with heavier putters, close to face balanced, and mid mallet shapes. It’s what fits my eye best and the feel of more heft helps my tempo day to day. Luckily I’ve always been a very good putter…I see the whole picture well of making putts and reading greens matched to speed. It’s very natural for me but I’m a big believer the putter matters and the better the fit the more consistent the results. Having a hot day can be done with anything however 

[tarrantian]

Great thread - Yes, I'm one of those who can pretty much putt with any sh*t on a stick. However, this doesn't stop me from fantasizing about all putters and when my next change may come LOL. Just love the flat sticks!

 

Why do I do okay with any type of putter? I think putting is the one stroke in golf where it's more instinct over intellect (Did I just call myself stupid??). Seriously, and I'm sure debatable, but it's a fairly easy stroke in comparison to the other aspects of golf, and if you don't overthink, you are blessed with great instinctual hand/eye coordination and feel, the tool just doesn't matter as much as other clubs in the bag.  

 

Yet we ALL keep looking LOL!

 

Happy Holidays everyone!!

 

(PS: Back to the 'stupid' piece, we have a guy in our foursome who shall remain nameless who has zero going on upstairs, we all really wonder how he manages in life when all is said and done he is closing in on being the best player in our group - Inversely, another is 'mensa' level intellectually, and he overthinks walking to the sh*tter, and struggles mightily with the game and is in a constant mental battle within himself about golf. What a game!!)

[BHI 99]

I honestly don’t believe people get too deep into the nuances of it all. Shape, neck, weight, grip, face, balance, alignment. 
 

There’s a lot…but there’s also nothing.