The Rabbit Hole

[MWLEFTY]

I’ve played with heel shafted putters most of my life. After growing up making do with whatever left handed putter was going, I got hold of a ladies Yonex ADX like my then hero Phil Mickelson, complete with graphite shaft. Putting quickly became the strongest part of my game and has arguably remained as such over the last 25 years. I love putting on the practice green, the living room floor, my putting mat. Anywhere goes. 
In my early 20s I started getting close to breaking 80 so I became a bit of a stat head. I was losing a stroke or two when I had long range putts and didn’t cosy them in close enough. I worked on it a lot and concluded my putter with zero MOI was making the task more difficult that it needed to be. 
I put an Odyssey #9 White Hot in the bag. I putted really well with it. I broke 80. Then once again I was drilling into stats and made the heinous error of mentioning putter woes to family. They were unfounded. The data actually said I needed to chip the ball closer to the hole - not change putters. But I’d mentioned it, hadn’t I? They bought me an Odyssey #1 Versa. I hated it. I did putt  well with it and had some rounds where I drained some absurd putts. But from short range - I missed so many. The plumbers neck just wasn’t for me.  
And then it happened. I found a guy who made custom putters. I got him to draw up a blade similar to one of his existing millings and we made a gorgeous Napa style blade just like my ADX. Only it wasn’t shiny. It wasn’t a ladies putter. It was made to measure. 
I have putted unbelievably well with it. I love it. But once more I am in the rabbit hole looking at where my misses are and once again it’s those longer putts where I wish I was staring down at a big mallet. 
I went and tried a TM Spider Tour with a slant neck. Proper deep end. Opposite lock. On the indoor putting green I couldn’t miss. It was silly. I took one home. Peeling the wrapper I noticed a big chip of paint missing on this brand new putter. I putted with it with my usual practise routine and pulled everything. I took it back for a full refund and took it as an omen never to consider such heinous things again. 
When I got home. There it was. A cheap as chips eBay bargain. A White Hot XG #9. The one Phil used to win the 2006 Masters. 
I am currently comparing it against my Sink Golf 1992 Custom blade. So far, the more familiar blade is edging it. But I haven’t taken it onto the big putting green yet to see how they fair from distance. 
If it remains inconclusive, I’ll just have to start hitting it closer more often! 
 

[MWLEFTY]

Update. 
Cannot get comfortable over the #9. 
Putted great from all ranges with the blade. 
 

[CFreddie]

Thanks for the update - can understand not getting comfortable over that thing

[SFLOrange]

I’m interested to know how you were keeping track of your strokes lost?  Do you journal like Fitzpatrick? I have never really analyzed critically where I am gaining and losing strokes.  

[MWLEFTY]

So I keep a book that tracks every 9 holes. Number relates to the hole. Driver shot shape is included. I put all my scoring data into Golfshake and track any patterns. 
 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2023 by MWLEFTY
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