Tiger's Putting Thought

[jpvegas1]

Listened to Peter Kessler's show on xm the other day and they had an interview with Jim Flick. Flick mentioned that he talked to Tiger about his putting and thoughts while putting.

Tiger mentioned that his sole thought on putting was to imagine he was hitting a high draw or hook using his right hand with his stroke. He felt this produced a better roll on the ball.

Any thoughts from our putting gurus about whether this is legitimate or is Tiger blowing smoke?

For what it's worth people thought that Bobby Locke did hit a draw with his putts.

 

[Steve Hale]

Tiger has talked in the past about "releasing" his putter. For people who block their putts this thought may work but I have a hard time believing it allows him to put a better roll on it unless it improves his effective loft at impact. Only SAM can confirm.

 

[vjsinger]

Under pressure Tiger has said numerous times he "putts to the picture". Earl taught him this when he was a wee little un. As for "releasing the putter", who knows. It might have been something he was working on that day, when he talked to Flick, now it could be less "release",or "hook". I think Tiger works on face control mostly, which makes sense. I've seen him work on his putting by placing 2 tees in the ground a little larger than the width of his putter head. He then swings the putter head through the tees. I've also seen him hit putts with his right arm only, that's about all I've seen or heard of him working on with his stroke.

 

[cal7426]

Practising with the right hand only might fit with the OP. However, I think anything that makes the stroke right hand dominant (for the right-handed) may well end in tears for us mere mortals.

 

[puttmad]

. However, I think anything that makes the stroke right hand dominant (for the right-handed) may well end in tears for us mere mortals.

Sorry cal, I totally disagree with you there....if I tell you to roll a ball to the hole, how would you do it?.....

 

[mgranato]

The Cat is a right aimer, and by a pretty good bit. He also has in the neighborhood of 22 degrees of rotation meaning he opens the face a bunch going back and slams it closed going through (by comparison, the average on Tour is about 11 degrees of face rotation). Combine his bias to aim (the putter face) well right and open the face roughly 11 degrees going back - well, if he didn't feel like he hit draws/hooks he wouldn't be the man, the myth, the legend we know today. He'd most likely be a Florida Stater - WIDE RIGHT.

Putts roll end over end. They don't have hook or draw spin Jim's better than that, right?

 

[Kevin Shields]

Ive watched Tiger on numerous occasions doing a bizarre drill which looked like he was hitting upswing hooks with his right hand only so i would say he's not blowing smoke.

 

[Richie3Jack]

Had a friend that played some mini-tours with that was taught a similar method and he was putting a nice roll on the ball as well. I never asked about it. I would probably ask a physicist or Mr. Mangum about it.



3JACK

 

[needham]

you know this makes me wonder........can you have axis tilt while putting..........I have played around with this the last few rounds and kinda like it


feel free to move this if it hi-jacks

 

[matt kluck]

Tiger Puting

Ive watched Tiger on numerous occasions doing a bizarre drill which looked like he was hitting upswing hooks with his right hand only so i would say he's not blowing smoke.

Absolutely! Filmed him at the open and it coresponds to the optimal launch angle for putting.

 

[Damon Lucas]

Absolutely! Filmed him at the open and it coresponds to the optimal launch angle for putting.

What is the optimal launch angle, Matt?
Is the move Tiger makes worth the potential trade off in clubface control FOR THE AVERAGE AMATEUR?
Btw, thoroughly enjoyed your company in Ohio, as always.

 

[vjsinger]

The Cat is a right aimer, and by a pretty good bit. He also has in the neighborhood of 22 degrees of rotation meaning he opens the face a bunch going back and slams it closed going through (by comparison, the average on Tour is about 11 degrees of face rotation). Combine his bias to aim (the putter face) well right and open the face roughly 11 degrees going back - well, if he didn't feel like he hit draws/hooks he wouldn't be the man, the myth, the legend we know today. He'd most likely be a Florida Stater - WIDE RIGHT.

Putts roll end over end. They don't have hook or draw spin Jim's better than that, right?

Where do you guys get these numbers..seriously. How do I get this stuff??

 

[mgranato]

Where do you guys get these numbers..seriously. How do I get this stuff??

Spend way too much time researching and talking to different Sam Techs. Only then can you obtain such trite info, BUT you will have something trivial to add to a 'Tiger putting' thread .

 

[matt kluck]

Some Interesting Data

The Cat is a right aimer, and by a pretty good bit. He also has in the neighborhood of 22 degrees of rotation meaning he opens the face a bunch going back and slams it closed going through (by comparison, the average on Tour is about 11 degrees of face rotation). Combine his bias to aim (the putter face) well right and open the face roughly 11 degrees going back - well, if he didn't feel like he hit draws/hooks he wouldn't be the man, the myth, the legend we know today. He'd most likely be a Florida Stater - WIDE RIGHT.

Putts roll end over end. They don't have hook or draw spin Jim's better than that, right?

Alignment at Address .5 open to .5 closed
Path at Impact 0.7-3.0 degrees in/to out
Shaft Angle 1.0-3.0 degrees
Stroke Rotation 5-12 degrees total forward rotation
Face at Impact 0.7 closed to 0.5 open
Backswing Time 0.7 seconds avg.
B/S to Impact time 0.33 seconds avg.
Impact Spot Centered
Ideal Arcing 0.4 degrees/inch
This is some reliable data that has been gathered from both the european and US tours.
MK
P.S. Some one very close to the lead at the PGA is 1* closed at address.

 

[vjsinger]

Tiger's Putting Thought: The picture, the picture, alignment, yep got it, the picture....hoooo, breath ...let it go...GOOD. I'm the man, another major.

That's my guess, probably something similar to that. See, feel, do. The only thing Faldo says on network coverage worth a damn.

 

[needham]

Tiger's Putting Thought: The picture, the picture, alignment, yep got it, the picture....hoooo, breath ...let it go...GOOD. I'm the man, another major.

That's my guess, probably something similar to that. See, feel, do. The only thing Faldo says on network coverage worth a damn.

yeah but on thurs. he said he didnt make any putts??????? shot the 67. tiger is almost a joke when he said stupid stuff like that.

I guess the 2 30 foot bombs he had along with the 4-5 6footers he made for clutch pars and the 3 other birdies do not count as "putts"

 

[vjsinger]

yeah but on thurs. he said he didnt make any putts??????? shot the 67. tiger is almost a joke when he said stupid stuff like that.

I guess the 2 30 foot bombs he had along with the 4-5 6footers he made for clutch pars and the 3 other birdies do not count as "putts"

What exactly is your point? He has a much different standard than you, sorry to disappoint you He will win this championship, you watch. Then you can dog on the fact that he says F#$% Yeah I won...

 

[needham]

vj, that tournament was over Thurs.

simply saying, maybe he didnt realize he DID make putts.

 

[Kamloops]

I think I understand that high draw reference at the beginning of the thread. It's just a though to encourage finishing the putt and releasing the toe. Brian says something a bit similar in the video for the Sheriff when he when he talks about using the right amount of "toss" for his putting stroke.

 

[birdie_man]

I make my stroke with my right hand. Left goes along for ride. (and maybe senses clubface)

Have been fooling with something similar. (a "full roll that stops short of full")

I too wonder if it rolls it better.