Simple technique to make my putter feel softer?

[JD3]

I'm sure my putter is cast. It fits me well and I like the appearance, but I wouldn't mind if it were softer feeling and ball came off the face "less hot". Rather than getting a new one with some kind of insert etc, is there anything I can apply to face to give it some feel?

[Adam C]

No. But you can change to a softer grip to reduce vibration.

[rexwrx]

Putt with a Wilson Duo Soft

Fixed!

[DaveGoodrich]

You could probably have the face milled, which would likely make it feel softer.

[Socrates]

Put in ear plugs. You will think you are using a marshmallow. "Softness" is an auditory feedback. Try it if you don't believe me.

[wgpinc]

As someone else said putt with a softer ball. Callaway superset, Wilson 50 Elite, Titleist Dt Truesoft or Tour Soft, Srixon Soft Feel and many others.

[PopeofTexas]

This is more of a thought than a suggestion but my putter definitely “feels” softer whenever I strike the equator of the ball on the sweet spot. In other words, I know when I’ve pured it. There is a distinct difference in feel to me when I don’t which is good feedback. Believe it or not, I’ve played golf for 25 years and it took a very recent setup change to discover that.

[eebomb]

> @PopeofTexas said:

> This is more of a thought than a suggestion but my putter definitely “feels” softer whenever I strike the equator of the ball on the sweet spot. In other words, I know when I’ve pured it. There is a distinct difference in feel to me when I don’t which is good feedback. Believe it or not, I’ve played golf for 25 years and it took a very recent setup change to discover that.

 

Which was what?

[PopeofTexas]

> @eebomb said:

> > @PopeofTexas said:

> > This is more of a thought than a suggestion but my putter definitely “feels” softer whenever I strike the equator of the ball on the sweet spot. In other words, I know when I’ve pured it. There is a distinct difference in feel to me when I don’t which is good feedback. Believe it or not, I’ve played golf for 25 years and it took a very recent setup change to discover that.

>

> Which was what?

 

Ah. I kinda buried the lede there! Placing the ball forward of center in my stance. I *think* that is producing an upward strike and allowing the sweet spot contact. I’ve always centered the ball and have a pretty square to square stroke.

[JD3]

> @PopeofTexas said:

> This is more of a thought than a suggestion but my putter definitely “feels” softer whenever I strike the equator of the ball on the sweet spot. In other words, I know when I’ve pured it. There is a distinct difference in feel to me when I don’t which is good feedback. Believe it or not, I’ve played golf for 25 years and it took a very recent setup change to discover that.

 

"Unforgiving" putters are a good thing for short putts as a means to get constant feedback nearly every hole , problem I find with (for lack of a better word) "blade" putters is loss of distance and line control on longer putts. Perimeter weighted , higher MoI putters are money on lag putts, but unfortunately other than the fact they're not dropping give essentially no feedback on short putts.

[Ri_Redneck]

Leave the headcover on.

 

Sorry, had to say it.

 

BT

[JD3]

What about literally putting lead tape on the putter face? Would that be legal per usga? My concern is that it would change or even come off during the round.

[jll62]

> @JD3 said:

> What about literally putting lead tape on the putter face? Would that be legal per usga? My concern is that it would change or even come off during the round.

 

No, lead tape on the putter face is not allowed by the rules. It would be considered a temporary attachment that is intended to change the performance characteristics of the club, and therefore illegal. In fact, the use of any sort of tape on a club face is not permitted under the rules.

 

Lead tape is a permitted "external attachment" for the purpose of adding weight to the clubhead only. Even though it's a temporary attachment and would seem to violate the rules, it's expressly permitted as a device to add weight to the club head because of tradition.

[03trdblack]

You could also insert some type of shock dampening material down the shaft like the kind used in irons (sensicore, pro soft, etc). If it's a cavity back putter you can add lead tape or a urethane sticker to the cavity to dampen the sound/feel.

[Yarra]

> @JD3 said:

> What about literally putting lead tape on the putter face? Would that be legal per usga? My concern is that it would change or even come off during the round.

 

Try put leadtapes on the back of the face (cavity part of it), but I am guessing you need quite a bit of those to make a difference in feel...

[JD3]

> @jll62 said:

> > @JD3 said:

> > What about literally putting lead tape on the putter face? Would that be legal per usga? My concern is that it would change or even come off during the round.

>

> No, lead tape on the putter face is not allowed by the rules. It would be considered a temporary attachment that is intended to change the performance characteristics of the club, and therefore illegal. In fact, the use of any sort of tape on a club face is not permitted under the rules.

>

> Lead tape is a permitted "external attachment" for the purpose of adding weight to the clubhead only. Even though it's a temporary attachment and would seem to violate the rules, it's expressly permitted as a device to add weight to the club head because of tradition.

 

Seems like an odd rule. What if I carve out a slot and fill it with elastomer? Make my steel faced putter into a common OEM setup? Or simpler yet coat it will silicone gel?

Or what about the TM wedges that allowed the entire face to be swapped, presumably as a less expensive way to keep grooves newer ? As long as it doesn't appreciably during the round I don't see what it's undermining.

[Socrates]

> @JD3 said:

> > @jll62 said:

> > > @JD3 said:

> > > What about literally putting lead tape on the putter face? Would that be legal per usga? My concern is that it would change or even come off during the round.

> >

> > No, lead tape on the putter face is not allowed by the rules. It would be considered a temporary attachment that is intended to change the performance characteristics of the club, and therefore illegal. In fact, the use of any sort of tape on a club face is not permitted under the rules.

> >

> > Lead tape is a permitted "external attachment" for the purpose of adding weight to the clubhead only. Even though it's a temporary attachment and would seem to violate the rules, it's expressly permitted as a device to add weight to the club head because of tradition.

>

> Seems like an odd rule. What if I carve out a slot and fill it with elastomer? Make my steel faced putter into a common OEM setup? Or simpler yet coat it will silicone gel?

> Or what about the TM wedges that allowed the entire face to be swapped, presumably as a less expensive way to keep grooves newer ? As long as it doesn't appreciably during the round I don't see what it's undermining.

 

It's all about being permanent. Milling it out and filling it with an elastomer is fine assuming you can't remove the elastomer. Coating with silicone gel would get a fail. The TM wedge faces were deemed permanent. Part of the deal was that you needed a special tool to remove them. Ever wonder why weight screws and the like use a hex wrench or special torx wrench? It because the USGA/R&A won't allow a simple bladed item or coin to be able to unscrew them. It has to be hard to remove.

 

BTW, I'm still waiting for you to try putting with earplugs in.

[mogc60]

Sounds like you need a new putter. Just sayin. If you are just wanted the ball to come off not as hot put a stiffer shaft in it. You’ll lose the small kick effect of the shaft. As far as applying anything to the face that is illegal. To mill out and fill is fine as long as it’s permanent but seems like a lot of work and the odds of finding a good insert material that really works is minimal at best.

[MadGolfer76]

Lighter grip, center contact.

[JD3]

> @mogc60 said:

> Sounds like you need a new putter. Just sayin. If you are just wanted the ball to come off not as hot put a stiffer shaft in it. You’ll lose the small kick effect of the shaft. As far as applying anything to the face that is illegal. To mill out and fill is fine as long as it’s permanent but seems like a lot of work and the odds of finding a good insert material that really works is minimal at best.

 

What about roughing up the face a bit to prep the surface and then applying a smooth coat of relatively soft silicone epoxy across it? Sounds like a permanent change to me but maybe outside of the rules.

[storm319]

> @JD3 said:

> > @mogc60 said:

> > Sounds like you need a new putter. Just sayin. If you are just wanted the ball to come off not as hot put a stiffer shaft in it. You’ll lose the small kick effect of the shaft. As far as applying anything to the face that is illegal. To mill out and fill is fine as long as it’s permanent but seems like a lot of work and the odds of finding a good insert material that really works is minimal at best.

>

> What about roughing up the face a bit to prep the surface and then applying a smooth coat of relatively soft silicone epoxy across it? Sounds like a permanent change to me but maybe outside of the rules.

 

I agree with @mogc60. Anything other than a shaft insert and/or grip change and you are beyond “simple” territory and simply need to look at new putters.