I have spent the last year or so trying hard to improve my putting. I have had a plus handicap over this period but unfortunately been putting like an 8 handicap player missing way too many putts. I have tried every grip and method I could find and really made strides improving my putting.
That was until last Monday at the PGA Southern California Teaching Summit. This was a great conference with great instructors like Chris Como and players like Fred Couples and Brad Faxon.
Mr. Faxon demonstrated a product called blast golf. This tool is about as thick as three quarters and attaches to the grip of your putter. It is amazing how accurate and what it is able to measure.
Quick update, after 10 days of using this device my error rate on rotation is down to about .4 open on average. This is a massive improvement coming from 2 degrees open when I started. I definately feel like this is a great device any serious golfer should be using.
These are some of the measurements.:
Putter: Lie
Measured in degrees, the increase or decrease in Lie (the angle between the club shaft and the ground) between the start of a stroke and impact with the ball.
Putter: Loft
Measured in degrees, the increase or decrease in Loft (the angle of the putter face relative to the vertical plane) between the start of the stroke and impact with the ball.
Putter: Rotation Change
Measured in degrees, the difference in Rotation (the rotation of the putter face around the shaft) between the start of the stroke and impact with the ball.
Putter: Back Stroke Rotation
Measured in degrees, the rotation of the putter face during the Back Stroke.
Putter: Forward Stroke Rotation
Measured in degrees, the rotation of the putter face during the Forward Stroke.
Putter: Tempo
The ratio between Back Stroke time and Forward Stroke time.
Putter: Total Stroke Time
The elapsed time it takes to make a complete putting stroke from the start of the stroke to impact with the ball.
Putter: Back Stroke Time
The elapsed time it takes to complete a Back Stroke.
Putter: Forward Stroke Time
This has been so helpful and improved my putting dramatically in three days. Like many players, my weakness was matching up back and forward rotation of the putter face. If you want to be a good putter it is good to start the ball on the intended target line.
I actually felt that I was closing the putter too much on the backstroke, wrong. I was opening the putter about 8 degrees and closing it about 4 degrees causing a big block. This also explained why I always aimed left.
In my teaching of over 25 years, I have never used a tool more helpful. I am not employed or endorsed by Blast, I purchased my unit. For under $100 you can purchase one on Amazon, see the link below.
This tool also works with the full swing, which I have not tried.
Any player trying to improve their putting should definitely have this product in your toolset. Blast provides you with all the data and audio cues necessary to become a good or great putter.
This connects to your apple or android phone and has a great app that is free. There are too many great functions about this product to cover in a short blog post. Bottom line, go get one and you should improve your putting!!!!!!
https://www.amazon.com/Blast-Analyzer-Designed-Professionals-November/dp/B00UNFHKUK
Jim Hartnett, PGA
