Utilizing a Counterbalanced Putter

There was some discussion between the TV pundits on the merits or otherwise of the counterbalanced putter during the Memorial Tournament.

The conversation came about while they were assessing the putting style of Keegan Bradley. He has had his soon to be illegal belly putter shortened, so that it does not come into contact with his stomach, which would be in breach of the new rule 14-1-b which prohibits the use of anchoring. This rule will come into effect on the 1^st January 2016.

Mike Davis from the U.S.G.A. has made this statement concerning the use of long putters;

We believe a player should hold the club away from his body and swing it freely; whether it’s a putt, a chip, a pitch, a bunker shot, an iron shot, a recovery shot or a shot played from the teeing ground. We think this is integral to the traditions of the game. Golf is a game of skill and challenge, and we think that’s an important part of it.

Keegan’s view is reported thus;

I feel like the USGA has really put an X on our back. When we started putting with it, they were legal, and they still are. It’s a sticky situation.

Sir Nick Faldo, when assessing Keegan’s putting stroke at the Memorial was critical of his stance, the long putter forces him to stand too far away from the ball. As all purists agree that when addressing the ball with the putter, your eyes should be directly over the ball.

Standing back, as Keegan does, leads the player to swing the putter in an arc, when the best results are from swinging the putter straight back and swinging through the ball, keeping the putter head square at impact, and then following through straight, keeping the putter face moving on a line to the hole.

This is called the pendulum motion, just like an old clock movement.

Keegan has added weight to the grip end of his shortened putter, which has been named as counterbalancing by some manufacturers. This type of putter goes totally against the pendulum swing which good putting requires.

Imagine putting weights at the top of your clock motion, that would stop the pendulum swing entirely.

White Dragon Golf strongly believes in the smooth pendulum swing to realise your potential in putting. Standing tall, eyes over ball, and stroking the ball into the cup.

Play Well,

Pete Robbins

(Cover Photo Credit)