| Without any doubt
whatsoever, putting is the most critical golf skill that needs
to be acquired to become not only proficient in putting, but to
be a good/low handicapper. Yet, after all is said and done, all
the articles written, usage endorsements paid to pros, putting
is the most elusive skill for a golfer to acquire.
Confidence in your golf game is built from understanding the
correct techniques and how these lead to improved putting. Of
course, as Gary Player is fond of saying, “the harder one
practices, the luckier one gets”.
While there are many types of putters, golfers should not overlook
many additional options to improve their putting by trying different
types and grip configurations such as the belly putter, the tall
putter, putting left-handed, switch putting, or any of many types
of grip options, such as the cross-handed style, the claw, ten-fingered
grip, reverse overlap, or split-handed. Take advantage of all
the new technical breakthroughs in materials and designs for putters.
Find out what works for you, then enjoy the great game of golf
to its fullest.
As mental coaches often explain to PGA Tour players, nowhere
in the principles of putting and/or rules of golf does the word
“right” appear. So why in the world is right-handed
the only option that is offered by a majority of golf teachers?
It is because golf is such a traditional game. Some of the definitions
in Webster’s Dictionary for “traditionalism”
are: “an inherited pattern of thought or action”,
“the doctrines or practices of those who FOLLOW OR ACCEPT
tradition”, and “the beliefs of those opposed to Modernism,
liberalism, or even radicalism”. So if you are struggling
with your putting, just remember that it takes courage to be different,
but the rewards are worth the effort.
Golf is more fun when you are the best putter that you can be,
whatever the technique employed and the putter used.
Recently we reviewed three putters that can improve both one’s
putting and enjoyment in a remarkably short time:
TaylorMade’s Mezza Putter
 Both
Sergio’s victories (also using the TaylorMade new R7 Driver)
at the Byron Nelson Classic and Buick Classic in 2004, further
solidified what is turning out to be another banner year for the
top ranked driver and fairway woods company. Following on the
heels of their remarkably well-accepted line of Rossa putters,
TaylorMade has introduced their Mezza putter.
Truly a work of art, the visual charisma, sleek and eloquent
lines of this aluminum putter are second to none! The deep trapezoidal-shaped
mallet style of this putter, together with its superlative alignment
guide, exudes confidence. The Mezza’s linear alignment system
is made possible by the putter’s trapezoidal shape, into
which is installed a pair of Tungsten-Titallium CGB (center of
gravity back) pipes that are positioned perpendicular to the clubface
and bisected by a white sight-line.
Due to these pipes’ length and weighting, a massive shift
of more than 100 grams is moved from the front of the putter head
to the rear. This shift of weight transfers the CG (center of
gravity) well towards the back of the head, which in turn positively
alters launch conditions by increasing the launch angle slightly
while reducing backspin. The result is a smooth, nearly bounceless
roll right off the putter face.
Additionally, these elements work together to provide a vivid
and powerful optical tool that helps the player build a clear
image of the target-line, and assists a player to consistently
1) aim the putter face correctly, and 2) swing the putter head
down the target-line, consequently rolling the ball with precision
and accuracy.
The Mezza is precision-forged of high-strength, 6061 aluminum
and finished in a rich gold color via a precision anodizing process
that enhances durability and cosmetic appeal. Included is a distinctive-looking
red-and-black Medallist grip with Diamond traction, made by Winn,
and a new Mezza red-and-black head cover.
The Mezza will be a godsend to those golfers who simply cannot
use the Odyssey 2 Ball putter due to that putter’s alignment
system. The Mezza will especially be exciting to those golfers
who truly benefit from linear alignment. Moreover, both the set
up and the feel, derived from the Rossa’s proven soft-yet-solid
Titallium insert, are superb. The Mezza is a good option for those
who prefer a slightly smaller oversized putter (15% shorter from
heel to toe from the original Monza putter), smaller in address
size than its competitors such as the Odyssey2-Ball, Bettinardi
Big Ben, Futura and the Amazing Grace putters.
MSRP: $189.00 www.rossaputters.com
Titleist’s Red X2 Putter by Scotty Cameron
 The
new Red X2 has been a concept that Scotty has been working on
for over the past year or two with numerous PGA Tour players and
which came to fruition in early 2004. The Red X2 putter, precision
milled from a block of steel, is without a doubt, one of the most
beautiful, performance oriented mallet designs to come to market.
More impressive is the detail involved in producing this “deadly
weapon from ten feet in”.
The stainless steel body encapsulates a premium precision milled
German stainless steel (GSS) insert that has an elastomer border,
which helps achieve the proper sound. The body, insert and sole
plate will go through several processes to get to the point where
they can all be assembled together. The body is milled to an exact
weight, edges rolled and shaped, the face insert is cut and finished
and the sole plate, milled from a solid piece of aluminum, is
engraved and painted. The sole plate is attached to the body and
the face is assembled using an elastomer insert and stainless
steel screws, both of which imbue the putter with a distinct sound
and feel. The Red X2 has a straight, no offset shaft that is positioned
just back of center and features three red dots behind the shaft
to get into the proper position at address. When the dots are
hidden by the shaft it means the shaft is at 90 degrees and the
putter can perform properly with 4 degrees of loft.
The Red X2 has a sister model, the Red X, distinctive in its
shaft configuration and absence of the three red dots for alignment.
MSRP: $269.99 www.scottycameron.com
Testing by our group of 25 testers, 10 low handicappers and 15
high handicappers, found all of the putters to perform exceptionally
well. As in the case of the Mezza and Red X2, the majority of
the testers found that their vision of how the face was aligned
and the direction they thought they were aiming simply was not
the case. After about an hour of use, many of the testers began
sinking putts consistently and their attitudes towards putting
changed considerably. Both the Mezza and Red X2 putters also very
easily double as a teaching and training aid for all levels of
golfers and should find their way into many golf schools in the
near future.
DeLaCruz Golf
 Veteran
club designer Dick DeLaCruz, whose name now sits above his own
golf company, invented the DeLaCruz CP Putter Line, consisting
of the CP1 and CP2 Ti models and the Bolero 1 and Bolero2 models.
The two CP models have “Wolfrum 90” inserts and Titanium
bodies and are, in fact, the first 100% commercially pure milled
titanium putters.
The Bolero models are made from Stainless Steel with a “Micro
Alloy” insert and two “Wolfrum 90” counter weights.
All of these classic designed putters create exact weight, loft,
engraving and many other characteristics from one putter to the
next.
Both putter models use Wolfrum 90, which when combined with the
CP and Bolero models, creates the largest concentration of mass
available on a putter and places the center of the mass right
on the ball, no matter where you strike the putter on the shiny
stuff. Wolfrum 90, for all you metallurgy buffs, is a gray-white
heavy high-melting ductile hard polyvalent metallic element that
resembles chromium and molybdenum in many of its properties and
is used especially for electrical purposes and in hardening alloys.
Because of its high density, it can only be polished with diamonds
to create a mirror finish.
The feel, touch, and distance control of this putter will be
sure to bring many smiles to putting artistes’ faces –
this putter plays as good as it looks!
MSRP: CP Models: $249.99 Bolero Models:
$139.99 Right Handed only. 760.727.3900 www.delacruzgolf.net
Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D. is the director of
the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America. He is also
a member of the Golf Writers Association of America and the California
Golf Writers Association and a Mediator for the golf industry.
He is a contributing writer to numerous national magazines. He
can be reached at drlotz@cbsgolf.net |
