| If you're taking golf lessons to perfect you're putting | | | | rotation and hit the ball on the upstroke. But this |
| stroke, be careful. Trying to develop the perfect | | | | finding is not absolute. In other words, there's plenty |
| putting stroke may hurt your efforts. At least, that's | | | | of room for individual style in putting. The data |
| the conclusion of two researchers-a German | | | | revealed some other surprising findings. |
| neuroscientist and an American golf instructor. Helped | | | | For example, it revealed that PGA pro Brad Faxon |
| by an advanced motion analyzer, they studied the | | | | aims 2 degrees to the right at address. Faxon led the |
| putting strokes of 150 PGA professionals and | | | | tour in putting average three times from 1996 to |
| numerous top amateurs. They concluded that while | | | | 2000. It also revealed that Loren Roberts rotates his |
| putting fundamentals are important consistency is | | | | putterface open against its path. Roberts is also a |
| more critical to putting well and lowering your golf | | | | former Tour putting leader. In all, the data shows |
| handicap. | | | | that 55 percent of PGA pros aimed outside the hole |
| The motion analyzer they used is the most advanced | | | | on a straight 12-foot put. |
| in sports. Originally, Professor Christian Marquardt | | | | The obvious conclusion from all this is simple. While |
| developed it for pharmaceutical research. It involved | | | | the putting fundamentals you learn in golf lessons are |
| studying the effects of gingko biloba on the human | | | | important, they're not more critical than consistency. |
| brain as a potential cure for the "yips." The analyzer | | | | Executing your stroke in the same way over and |
| employs high-tech hardware previously used only in | | | | over again is far more significant. Faxon, for example, |
| medical applications-ultrasonic sensors for measuring | | | | has probably been aiming 2 degrees right for 20 or |
| and monitoring motor behavior. Clipping them to a | | | | 30 years. But his consistency enables him to sink |
| putter shaft enables researchers to measure a | | | | more putts than a golfer more technically sound, yet |
| putting stroke precisely. | | | | not as consistent. |
| Recording Exact Putting Positions | | | | Working On Consistency |
| As the golfer makes a stroke, the sensors record | | | | Marquardt and Suttie's findings don't mean that you |
| the putter's exact position every 15 milliseconds. | | | | should forego golf instruction sessions altogether. |
| They then wirelessly transmit this data to a laptop, | | | | Taking golf lessons can help your putting. But your |
| which Marquardt places at the gofer's feet. The data | | | | main goal when taking them should be to develop |
| tells everything there is to know about the putting | | | | consistency, not perfection. Trying to achieve |
| stroke: aim face angle, putter path, impact spot, rise | | | | perfection can only lead to frustration. In fact, there |
| angle, and timing. The system's accuracy margin is .1 | | | | may not even be a perfect putting stroke. Instead, |
| millimeter. | | | | focus on developing consistency. It'll build more |
| After conducting the research, Marquardt turned the | | | | confidence in yourself and your putting. More |
| device into the SAM Putt Lab. He then began selling it | | | | confidence will, in turn, cut strokes from scores and |
| to teaching academies, fitting centers, and individual | | | | your golf handicap. |
| golfers, like Padraig Harrington. Steve Elkington and | | | | To help, here's a good exercise to achieve |
| Hank Haney, Tiger's teacher, each bought one as | | | | consistency. Called the Five in a Row Drill, you can |
| well. With help from Chicago-based instructor Jim | | | | make it the six, seven, or even eight in a row drill. |
| Suttie, Marquardt turned his device into an effective | | | | Use your pre-shot routine for every putt. |
| teaching tool. Marquardt met Suttie, PGA Teacher of | | | | * Take five golf balls from your bag. |
| the Year in 2000, at the 2005 PGA Merchandise | | | | * Find a fairly flat hole on a practice green. |
| Show. | | | | * Drop the balls about four feet from the hole |
| Interesting Tests, Startling Discoveries | | | | * Set your self up and try to make all five shots |
| Recently, Suttie and Marquardt recorded the strokes | | | | * When you do, back up a foot and repeat. |
| of 150 PGA Tour players and countless top amateurs. | | | | * Then back up another foot and repeat again. |
| The data from this test has led them to conclude | | | | After mastering the flat putt, try side-hill, downhill, |
| that there isn't a perfect putting stroke. In general, | | | | and uphill putts. Keep practicing this way and you'll |
| better putters make shorter strokes with less face | | | | improve your consistency. |