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| By Chuck Evans
Special Contributor |
Recently I brought out the
trusty video camera to record the effects of ball reaction when struck with
a putter. The results of this test verified what I had originally found years
earlier concerning what happens when the puttter face strikes the golf ball.
Years ago I watched a well known PGA Tour
player demonstrating how he putted. After a few smaller putts he then
decided to show how to lag 30 footers. As he struck the putt I noticed that the
ball appeared to be airborne for about 6 feet! I was shocked to see this and
after his exhibition I went up and asked him if he knew that his putting stroke
produced this "airtime." He didn't and when I showed him - once again on video -
he could not believe it.
If the putter strikes the ball below the center line then the ball
"hops", or gets airborne. On the 10 foot test putt this hop was approximately 2
feet, or 20 percent of the distance. Obviously when the ball finally does hit
the surface there is a change of rotation and diminished speed.
When the putter strikes the ball at the center line then the golf ball skids
before it starts rolling. This is most evident on those early morning rounds
when you see the "rooster tail" effect of the ball on the green.
But when the ball is struck above the center line the ball rolls
pure, with no hops or skids.
The easiest way to strike the ball above the center line is to simply forward
press the putter, without opening the putter face, so that the top edge is out
in front of the bottom edge. As long as you maintain this during the stroke then
the top edge will strike the ball above the center line, and your puts will roll
smooth and pure.
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