Putters That Roll
The Ball
"The Putting Doctor" Joe Bermel states very clearly that
putting is 40 percent of the total golf game.
PGA professionals we have talked with firmly state that
golfers can't score well without putting adequately and that it's generally
accepted that you're a bad putter only if you use more than the allotted 36
putts per 18 holes of golf which comes down to 2 putts per green.
Along with the putting game itself is the technology and
design of putters. We outlined in detail a number of weeks ago information about
the belly and long putters.
Today we bring you information about a putting design we
found at the Somerset NJ North Coast Golf Show this past spring.
We met and talked in detail with Rick Monroe, CEO/Founder of
the R&B Putters company in Lockport, IL. with Rick noting that his company
is the maker of the brand name "High Five Putters" and all the putters are
designed with a 0.8400" radius, the exact radius of a golf ball which "creates
perfect forward roll and eliminates all hop and skid."
Monroe pointed out that "the radius face of these putters is
height matched to strike the ball on or slightly above the equator of the golf
ball."
We asked Rick what the advantage if there was any of this
style of putter and he explaned, "every golfer, no matter what handicap you are,
has experienced the golf ball hop after striking their putt and that this hop is
frequently the reason for putts not tracking the intended line."
He added, "a putt that hops or skids just one-quarter of an
inch off line will create an error of two and one-half inches on a 10 foot putt
and that this is over half the width of the cup."
We asked about the "golf ball hop" and Rick pointed out
"that the hop is due to the fact that most putters have at least a 3 degree loft
on the face but that his putters eliminate the hop and skid on your
putts."
Rick in explaining to us what his "Radius-Roll Technology is
said, "when one round object is struck by another round object of the same
radius, the first object will immediately begin a forward roll without any
skid......the lack of skid creates a very true track to the putt and the ball
will continue on the line in which it started."
According to Monroe the success of these style putters is
that "because of the perfect forward roll there is no friction as the golf ball
leaves the face of the putter and the lack of friction eliminated any vibration
and creates a very solid sweet feeling putter."
The explanation sounded good to me so as I lined up a
15-foot putt with one of the R&B putters I also remembered the putting
teaching lessons of "The Putting Doctor" Joe Bermel, took my time, got
comfortable in my stance, put Bermel's putter grip tip on the putter, got a good
look at the cup and followed through with my stroke......success folks the golf
ball ended up solidly in the cup.
All R&B putters conform with USGA rules.
Two local golf professionals, Tarry Bray's Glenn
Sonnenschein and Swan Lake Golf & Country Club's Bob Menges both admitted
they have never tried this technology and were not familiar with these type of
putters.
Sonnenschein said, "I'm not familiar with this type of
putter," and Menges noted "I have never tried this technology and I believe
anyway you can limit the amount of air underneath the ball when you first strike
a putt will help you keep the putts on line better."
Seeking the reason for new technology in our great game of
golf taught us and I hope everyone that reads this the importance of learning
and exploring the new ideas our great game offers.
Ed's
Outlook
This is our Golfing Highlights wrap up column for the local
2012 Sullivan County Golf season. Our sincere thanks to everyone who took the
time to provide us with local golfing information, scores, tournaments, league
standings, personal interviews, golf course information etc. etc.
There is plenty of good weather ahead so enjoy fall golf and
we will, God willing and the creek doesn't rise, return with Golfing Highlights
next spring.
We will be back next week with our Bowling Highlights
Column.
Rory McIIroy stole the show at Kiaway Island, where he
captured hig second major title, the PGA Championship.
McIIroy won by eight strokes....the same margin of victory
he had at the 2011 U.S. Open. It came after an up and down summer that saw him
miss four cuts and have his desire questioned.
At the age of 23 he achieved his second major quicker than
Tiger Woods did in terms of age....although Woods needed fewer majors as a
pro.
Such comparisons are inevitable. And they will continue as
long as McIIroy continues to win majors t anything approaching a Tiger
pace.
The
Golfing Tip
By
Robert Menges
Buried Bunker Lies
To blast the ball out of the sand, your club needs to swing
more up then down to create a steeper angle of attack.
To help illustrate, have someone stand several fee behind
the ball. In the backswing, hinge your wrists early to get the club up more,
avoiding the person.
Also make note of the length of the backswing. It should
almost be a full swing. In order to create enough speed and energy to blast the
ball out of the sand, avoid taking a short and/or low backswing.
From this position, you will be able to swing the club into
the sand on the downswing. It's imperative that you strike down into the sand 1
to 2 inches behind the ball and finish with the club low to the
ground.
Amateur golfers often try to scoop or help life the ball out
of the sand. This usually results in the club hittig the sand too far behind the
ball or missing it completely or taking too much sand and leaving the ball in
the bunker. The club can also miss the sand and strikes the top of the ball,
resulting in a topped shot that can go anywhere.
Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the
Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hpe Road, Swan Lake. He is available for
private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he
can be reached by phone at 845-292-0323 or via email at
menges@hughes.net
Putting Tip
By
Joe Bermel
Here is one of the best putting drills.
A Quadrant Drill.
1. Take 1 golf ball.
2. On practice green, establish on one hole at four foot
distance only.
3. First putt straight uphill.
4. Second putt straight downhill.
5. Third putt right edge slight right to left.
6. Fourth putt left edge slight left to right.
Every golfer has these four putts many times every round. Do
this drill again and again.
Make yourself make three consecutive putts at each
quadrant.
This will make you a better two putt per hole
average.
IDENTIFICATION OF ABOVE PHOTOS
R&B Putters Corporate Officers at the North Coast Somerset
New Jersey Golf Show included, from the left, CEO/Founder Rick Monroe, COO Bob
Hand, President Frank Horn and Distributor Wright Smith.
The 0.8400 inch radius rounded face of the R&B
putter.
