Introducing the "Putter Confidence Index" (PCI)

[BigPete]

Bear with me on this one :)

So I've tried to figure out why I can never settle on any given putter. What makes me swap out putters so much? (about 7 different putters last year - I'm down to 3 now) I decided it was about confidence, ultimately. How could I measure my confidence in a particular putter ? Well I decided to look at it quasi - objectively.
For me confidence is a combination of a number of factors (with their approximate weighting)

- perceived performance 70%
- looks / feel 20%
- desirability 10 %

You'll notice I put is as "perceived performance" meaning it's not based on actual numbers but what I think is going to putt well or not..

Looks / feel is important for me in a putter - no denying it. I've had putters I didn't like the look of but putted well with , but they didn't last long.

Desirability I added to account for the "honeymoon" factor. A shiny new toy always promotes more confidence.

Put all these together and I feel I can give each of my putters a score - or "Putter Confidence Index" (PCI). So how do my current 3 putters pan out?

- Mizuno Bettinardi C06h - 85% - I know I can putt reasonably well with it and it looks and feels good, and being Mizuno / Bettinardi it has a bit of personal caché with me.

- Odyssey White Hot #7 - 75% - I'm struggling to find a good length / weight set up to get it working properly so don't have massive performance confidence. It feels ok but maybe a bit soft. Luke Donald is my favourite player (if I'm honest, it's why I bought it) so it has a bit of "wannabe" factor

- Taylormade Ghost Raylor Daytona - 90% - This is all about "perceived" performance. It's new, I've only played a couple of rounds but early signs are very promising so I believe it will do a good job. It looks and feels great with the insert and white colour. Because it's new and a bit "cutting edge" it'll have a maximum desirability factor.

So at the moment the TM is in the bag with it's winning PCI of 90%. If the desirability drops (honeymoon period wears off) or I have a bad streak, then the perceived performance figure might drop below 85% meaning the Betti will win back it's place.
Of course the ultimate goal is to find a putter giving a PCI of 100%. I guess, for me this would involve some bespoke, custom fit job but my funds won't stretch that far at the moment. I'm quite happy with 90% for the £65 I paid for the TM.

Call me bonkers but this is how I've sorted it out in my head. I guess for other people the weightings might be different but there it is.

Right, I'm off to the copyright office....

[BigPete]

I must say I'm amazed this story hasn't been picked up by the magazines yet. No pm from the publishers either with a view to writing a book?

I'm beginning to think my idea doesn't have legs...

[simpy19]

I am with you in concept and support what you are trying to arrive at. I consider myself VERY much the same...constant putter changer and can often sell myself on why heel shafted blade with thin grip is perfect for me 1 day....and then after a few rounds think a mallet with an oversized grip is where i should be.

Bottom line, I have done TONS of testing, practicing, trying all different styles....but statistically, I am the same putter I have always been. This is why I have finally convinced myself to go putter fitting this spring. I want actual data on a SAM putt lab to guide me, believe in what i see, and go with it for a year.

All that said, you may be interested in this: http://www.butchharmonfloridian.com/2011/12/01/how-to-find-the-putter-of-your-dreams-in-five-minutes-or-less/

[Jodymac]

I agree with Simpy. Getting fitted on SAM is the way to go. I got fitted last week on SAM and the feedback you get is incredible!!! I've been gaming a Rife 2 Bar Hybrid for a few years and I found out that I'm able to aim much better with an Anser style head with no sight lines. Pretty much the exact opposite of what I've been playing In my opinion, instead of buying a new putter every month, I would have a custom putter made for me. Knowing that all the specs are correct for you, should give you the confidence that you are looking for.

[storm3]

This doesn't really make sense because the three criteria you are trying to measure are completely subjective. I guess I don't really see the point of arbitrarily assigning a percentage of how confident you "feel" with a given putter for just one person. Qualitative analysis is not a legitimate form of research by itself, the purpose is more to compliment actual objective/quantitative research.