Science and Motion Putt Lab

[nosil]

My local Golf Galaxy had a heavy putter demo day today. The added bonus was they were comparing their product to your current putter using teh SAM Puttlab (http://www.scienceandmotion.ca/products.html). I highly recommend you check to see if they are coming to your local store. Since there wasn't anyone waiting to use the system, I was able to get multiple measurements and see how setup changes affected the putts. Normally you can get a printout or PDF of the results. The rep is supposed to be sending me the PDFs once he gets back to his office after the holidays.

 

Here is how it works:

 

First they attach an measuring device to your putter and have you setup to the ball to measure your initial alignment. Then they have you take 5 putts of about 6 feet in length. They system performs numerous calculations during this period and then you can view your results. The results are also compared with 100 European PGA pros to give a reference point to how the pros do.

 

What you can see is:

 

- How many degrees open or closed the putter is at address. It also compares the baseline measurement to each of the 5 putts.

- How many degrees open or closed the putter is at impact over the 5 putts.

- A diagram of length and path for backstroke and forward stroke for the 5 putts and a measurement in degrees off the parallel line to the hole.

- A diagram of the average face angle at various positions in the stroke with the the hitting zone (I think it was 10 cm before and after impact) hightlighted.

- A diagram of where on the face the ball impacts were.

- A diagram of average angle of approach into the ball to see if you are increasing or decreasing the clubs loft.

- A graph of backswing speed for each putt.

- A graph of forward swing speed with impact indicated to show before and after speed.

 

Overall my TP Mills softtail held its own against the heavy putter with minimal improvements shown but we agreed not enough of an impact to change. Overall I setup with the putter slightly open, had a good putter path with a consistent stroke length and a slightly closed face at impact. At impact the loft was increased about 1.6 degrees. Basically it explains my typical miss to the left. Since a putter change couldn't be justified we decided to try moving the ball back in my stance about half a ball. The result was a slightly more open clubface at impact with the same amount of face closure at impact (but closer to square), more centered impact on the face and about .4 degrees of delofting ot the club at impact and a noticeably better roll on the ball.

 

Was a lot of fun and educational. With all the focus on launch monitors for fitting your other clubs, I highly recommend trying this out if you have an opportunity for an optimal putter fitting.

[Mr. Doug]

Here are my stats from Kevin Weeks. (http://www.kevinweeks.com/)

 

 

[Mr. Doug]

It's a VERY cool system, and I highly recommend that if you have someone near by that offers a diagnosis....do it. You'd be amazed at how much you can learn by just seeing your putting stroke.

[Missinglink08]

I've gone through intense putting lessons with SAM lab and other putting devices and it truly helps. It is all very good information and well worth it if you are trying to get your putting better.

[dubbie]

If anyone knows of this service available in the Indianapolis or Pittsburgh area let me know. Seems like it could be of value.

[dubbie]

I just looked on their website and immediately knew it sounded familiar. I read about this in Hank Haney's book, "Fix the Yips Forever". They have one a Leadbetters at Champion's Gate, where I will be on Wednesday. I will try to check it out.

[cbae]

So, Mr. Doug (Hardman) :friends:, what did Kevin Weeks recommend based on these graphs? The SAM PuttLab is great for seeing what you are doing, but interpretation of these results is the real key. I doubt that some guy running the demo at a Golf Galaxy on behalf of Heavy Putter is going to be able to interpret the graphs as well (and as impartially) as a teaching pro like Mr. Weeks.

[cbae]

Is this only available at Golf Galaxy? Are you at liberty to mention the charge for this service? Thanks

 

Moecat, The Golf Lab in Palo Alto has one. If you want to check it out, you should call first to see if it's set-up, because it isn't always.

[mick]

I will be calling Bettinardi and set a time at Studio B. Great post.

[gtaj]

not to be contrary but i don't think i want all this stuff going through my head when i'm standing over a putt. too much information can lead to overthinking and forced, manipulated movements. i'm sure that if you looked at the stroke of the great putters you'd see a ton of strange movements, compensations, etc., but they made it work.

 

launch monitors, ball fitting, etc., i can get behind. putting, imho is a totally different thing. this type of detailed putter stroke analysis freaks me out.

[nosil]

So, Mr. Doug (Hardman) :friends:, what did Kevin Weeks recommend based on these graphs? The SAM PuttLab is great for seeing what you are doing, but interpretation of these results is the real key. I doubt that some guy running the demo at a Golf Galaxy on behalf of Heavy Putter is going to be able to interpret the graphs as well (and as impartially) as a teaching pro like Mr. Weeks.

 

I would normally agree with you about the golf galaxy guy. However, the guy doing the demo was from heavy putter was knowlegeable about the system. The great thing was that it let me try the system for free.

[FreddyD]

West Island Golf has one in Montreal. Slowed down and shorted my back stroke from the results & feedback of science and motion and now putting with a lot more confidence!

[nearfall152]

very, very nice...

[aask87]

Indiana National Golf Club (Swan Lake) in Plymouth,IN also has a Science and Motion Putt Lab in addition to a Trackman.

[EXMAX]

Could i ask what they recommended? based on the SAM readout

Also a couple of the pictures of the results dont show have the links changed?

 

The idea of SAM is to use for intervention and data capture - so that ultimately there are no numbers going through your head - if used correctly it frees up the stroke

[Mr. Doug]

Basicly, we learned that I needed to come back a little 'straighter' than I had been. The best way to put it is that you SHOULD have an arc in your path, because that is the way the human body works, and the putter was designed...too much of one is a bad thing though.

 

I DO think about that graph a lot, and use it, along with a few other tips, to get me into a 'putting mood' before I hit the practice green.

 

Every time I go back, I get a little better.