Tip Of The Month

By John Pallot
Director of Instruction

January 09: Buy Putters For Dough

January brings optimism and new years resolutions. For golfers it's the start of the PGA Tour season and the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. All the new drivers, irons, hybrids, wedges and putters are showcased in the world's largest golf shop.Although attendence was off by an estimated 7 percent, I noticed many golfers browsing through aisles and miles of training aids, golf apparel, exercise equipment, golf carts and more putters than you could shake a putter at.

Despite the economy, one small segment of the golf industry, upstart putter companies, is out to ring up a new twist to the old aphorism, "........." putt for dough." They may be positioned to benefit from the recession.Here's why.

With inventory of premium woods and irons mounting on retail shelves and in pro shops, it seems buyers are,at this time,unwilling to spending $599 for a new driver or $1800 for a new set of irons.Standalone putter companies are hoping golfers will go for new putters that embody new technology and cost in the $100- $300 range as the must-have to appease an addiction for something new in the bag."Golfers always have to spoil themselves in some way, shape or form with some new technology that will help their game." said Matt Molloy, the president of Rife putters, a company that took over as the No.1 brand on the Champions Tour in just three years."They may hold off on that new driver for the year, but they are going to step up for something. We think a $100-to-$200 putter will fit right into the wheelhouse."

The older, established club-makers like Odessey, Ping, Scotty Cameron and TaylorMade are still top of the leaderboard, but by focusing on putters, younger makers like Rife, Heavy Putter, and a born-again Slotline have made the cut and are working their way up the leaderboard of sales.

Standing in front of the Heavy Putter booth, Stephen Boccieri, president and ceo of the company said,"I design putters that work for golfers from tour pros to high handicappers."The original heavy putter weighed about two pounds, almost twice the weight of standard putters.That technology resonated with golfers.However,he's not satisfied with his 4% market share and plans to increase this by introducing a line of mid-weight putters.

Jim Grundberg, the owner of See More Putters had this to say. "Putting really is the one category where average golfers can look at the best players in the world and aspire to be close to as good as these players are," he said. "What we do with the technology in our putters is to give average players a system where they can be confident they are set up properly and lock in precisely on the target."As a golf instructor, I say if it works it sounds good to me.

Some top pros have picked up on Boccieri's theory that the heavier putter mass engages the body's larger muscles creating a more consistent stroke. To get the same feel of engaging only larger muscles without needing to spend $300 bucks on a heavy putter is the intent of this month's tip.Have a friend place a pen or sharpie between your forearms(up near the elbow). Now take a few practice strokes. In order to keep the pen between your arms you must use big muscles, your arms and shoulders. Excessive hand/wrist action or lower body movement when making your stroke will cause the pen to dislodge from your arms. Now try a few putts and maintain that feel when practicing or playing.

Previous Golf Tips

2009 : January | August | September | October |

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