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six-gold
127 Posts |
 Posted - January 07 2009 : 2:59:17 PM
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Some time ago I watched a program on TV that had Dave Peltz using a device that could establish the golf balls equator. Dave stated that a golf ball is not necessarily round nor balanced and that this device, by spinning the ball in water for a few seconds, would bring the ball into balance on that particular axis. The ball would then be marked with a special marker that would leave a ring around the ball. That ring would then be used to line up the putt. Although Dave Peltz was a putting strategist, he also stated that the ball should be hit off a tee in the same manner so that the ball traveled in a true flight rather than wobble.
My question is has anyone used this principle and is it worth pursuing?
El
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kfarkle
USA
248 Posts |
Posted - January 07 2009 : 4:51:07 PM
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Hi El,
I'm scratching my head, I've got one of those thingies somewhere...but where? I find a lot of balls that are aligned, if not balanced as well. But for me I think it became more of a distraction, and I'm lazy by nature. Not to mention slow. Chuck showed me how to spot align at the clinic, and I just use the logo to get sighted in. Love those Nike swooshes! Just my .02, but I find that easier and faster.
Beware of complacency. That got my attention. Don't think those ball marks help much if you're peeking. Like me. Finally got out for 9 holes the other day, no three's but finished with 17 putts for a 44. Went bogey, bogey, bogey over the last three holes with putts inside of six feet. All just a bit off, but mostly slight pulls.
Then I remembered the Quiet Eye. You can google that for more info, but I found a visual drill here that will be getting some carpet time.
http://puttmagic.com/id68.htm
Think I'm falling into bad habits again, this concept really seemed to help before. Like Harvey said, I want to see it go in. So maybe that ring around the ball or alignment mark has a special place for the quiet eye.
Best,
Kurt
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Chuck Neibel
36 Posts |
Posted - January 07 2009 : 9:08:09 PM
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Hi Fred Farkle,
Thanks for the compliment about the putting alignment. You wrote that some of your putts were slight pulls to the left. Are you rolling the ball over the spot, on the putting line, which is about 3 or 4 inches in front of the ball? If you roll the ball over the spot and miss the putt you've miss read the line. If you miss the spot you know that the miss was caused by something mechanical ie. club face not square at impact. Let us know what you discover.
Chuck Neibel
SPS Master Clinic Instructor
Chuck@SimpleGolf.com |
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kfarkle
USA
248 Posts |
Posted - January 08 2009 : 08:04:26 AM
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Coach Chuck,
It's good to hear from you. Remember that weather we had at the clinic? It's been like that for about a month now, only worse...much worse. Good news is it's gonna start drying out a bit and we can head back out to the course for some badly needed therapy. Guess we're lucky around here.
Can't seem to find my Neibel Notes either, but if I recall correctly you advocated putting a line on the ball to assist with the spot alignment. What's your take on those spin/balance gizmos?
I putted conventional then, and got pretty good for a while by keeping my eye on that spot and watching the ball roll over it. Not watching the ball at impact. Got away from it with the Symple Putter as it seems to be where the spot should be. The ball has moved that far forward at address compared to where I used to play it. Lost the feel for that.
I still spot align, line up the logo and try to align the putter with the spot. But I seem to look at the back of the ball now, right where I want to hit it. I also seem to look up about the time I hit it, as well as close the club face while looking.
Maybe if I called and listened to you yell for a while I would start paying attention again. Got any suggestions? Stone Creek this coming Monday and the guys are looking to thrash me. I need to wake up!...kb |
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six-gold
127 Posts |
Posted - January 11 2009 : 7:17:04 PM
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It seems as if I got two different methods mixed up. I found a Dave Peltz link and Dave used a water solution in one experiment and a spinning devise in the other. The check-go spins dry and looks like it would be the better of the two.
El |
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mikeoleary
535 Posts |
Posted - January 12 2009 : 08:22:00 AM
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To all
here is my .02 cents
1st - I use the ball spinner called Check Go, to id balance point of equator of golf ball - I think it is great to eliminate one more variable esp in putting. It establishes the balance and then you are able to mark your ball while spinning.
2- I have taught everyone to then cross that balance line with a 't', effectively making a + so that you use the balanced line for your putting line and the crossed line or t for the parallel alignment of your club face/ the cross line is or should be exactly parallel to the top edge of your, our putter face.
this now gives you 2 measures to ensure your are aligned with your target, your putter sight lines are on line and that your putter is not a degree or 2 open or closed, you would be amazed at how many lessons i give that this is id as problem.
see symple putting instructional video for all of this in living color.
reminder tips for perfect putting stroke/ ie ball going perfectly online
if your finish position ie your putter face finish position is perfectly down the line still at 0 degrees your putt had to be exactly on line. this means focus on the method and the result will be what you desired. if your face is 'closed' a degree or 2, or slightly inside then your ball has to be going slightly left. so learn to be aware of what your hands are doing to the face at impact thus on follow thru. if you learn to correct or perfect your finish position of putter face then perfect on line putts will follow, they have to.
ps I will be sending out a mailing to all of you offering teleseminars, webinars, skype video that you can watch as I nail down and answer any questions any of you may have. I will 'grandfather' in all of you as preferred customers for big discount plus it will also give big discounts on lessons, clinics, putters and dvd's.
El - call me i will see if i have an extra check go spinner
Kurt - practice from about 3 - 6 ft listening to ball go in the hole, focusing on finish position of putter face, means keeping head still, eye on back of ball and then not looking at hole but eyes fixed on contact point, if you here ball go in check and re inforce that putter face ie stroke is online, if no sound of ball going in then analyze putter face and that will tell you where ball went, then able to correct and do it right.
let us know how it goes.
Mike O |
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bkroon
223 Posts |
Posted - January 12 2009 : 12:25:08 PM
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Mike -
Do you have a website address for the Check Go ?
Thanks
Rob in Sunny Phoenix  |
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six-gold
127 Posts |
Posted - January 12 2009 : 3:52:48 PM
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Mike,
My wife and I drove into Winnipeg on Saturday to visit family and do a bit of shopping. I went to Golf Town and bought a Check-Go with a Christmas gift card. It sounded so good that I did up two 18 Dunlop ball boxes that I nearly stole from Liquidation World for $9.99 each, and that's Canadian. I'm going to try that + idea on the balls I will say that by adding a dot to the line and placing the ball down so that the dot appears close to the back of the ball, that is just above the middle of the ball, and using the quiet eye principle that kfarkle provided a link to us for,
http://puttmagic.com/id68.htm
I was able to gain even more accuracy. Instead of the dot I will try the + and it will then have a double purpose. It should add yet another dimension to our putting. But,alas, it is still only on my carpet. Maybe it's my age showing, but I am finding this winter to be really miserable. It has been so cold that I can't even get in much x-country skiing, which I enjoy. ( and there's my sister spending six months of the year in Apache Junction,,,,,,,,,,,hmmmm )
El
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kfarkle
USA
248 Posts |
Posted - January 12 2009 : 5:12:17 PM
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That's a great tip, Mike. Read your post before today's round, found my old check-go in a box in the closet and marked a sleeve of balls. Great visual aid, believe I used to draw a circle around the ball. The cross works real well, on the tee or on the green. And I can see what needs fixin' with the stroke. Lucky to get out and play, but am finding time now to get some much needed practice anyway. I get neurotic after a month of darkness, come on sunshine. I feel for you, El. I'm lucky this is the NW, I really can't complain.
Here's their website, Rob.
http://www.check-go.com/
Took a quick look at Ebay and there is plenty there as well, including the old silver model I have. Don't think there is any problem finding one.
I'm on it, Coach. Darn fine idea, need to put some practice in and get the stroke back. Thanks again.
Best,
kb
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mikeoleary
535 Posts |
Posted - January 12 2009 : 7:07:16 PM
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your welcome
both of you let us know how the 'tip' helps/ it makes sure you are lined up exact plus aligning club face perfect// be sure to check that finish position and it will make you a better putter immediately
I want you to keep updates on how much improvement.
thanks
Mike O |
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kfarkle
USA
248 Posts |
Posted - January 12 2009 : 9:25:14 PM
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This tip helped me right away. I can sight the ball like a rifle with this kind of ball mark. Thanks for starting this this thread, El. This is how I interpreted it, find the balance point, line and cross.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4262689629779003720
It lines up very nicely with the Symple Putter, wonderful feedback for me. It really extends the line through the putter.
Best,
kb |
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bkroon
223 Posts |
Posted - January 13 2009 : 3:05:30 PM
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Kurt -
I know what you mean, it's difficult to keep your eye on the ball when putting and not look up.
I've been working on that for some time now. But I find with this method of putting, it is much easier to keep my head down.
Can't wait to try the "cross" method and use it to keep the face aligned properly.
P.S. I'm glad you have a check-go, in your territory you may need it to "spin dry" your ball after each hole. ( alert JOKE alert )
Rob in Sunny Phoenix |
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bkroon
223 Posts |
Posted - January 13 2009 : 9:21:32 PM
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Kurt -
Enjoyed your video on Google. Was that the old model of check go or the new model ?
Rob in Sunny Phoenix |
Edited by - bkroon on January 13 2009 9:22:19 PM |
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kfarkle
USA
248 Posts |
Posted - January 14 2009 : 07:39:16 AM
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That's a good idea, Rob. Spin Dry! I can't remember the last time I used it, or when I stored it. It's the old original model. You might find the original fairly cheap on Ebay, or just head over to Golfsmith and save a couple bucks if you're looking for a new one.
Trying to put in as much carpet practice as I can using the mark, holding the finish and keeping my eyes on the contact point. Mike is right, the ones I don't hear go in have a closed clubface when I check them. I know it's lined up well using this ball mark. Worked on the anchor point and grip and started making a high percentage here on the carpet. Hope to sneak out for 9 holes Thursday and see how it holds up.
Best,
kb |
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six-gold
127 Posts |
Posted - January 14 2009 : 2:37:05 PM
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Well now that I have all my golf balls orientated using my Check-go and marked with a dot as per the quiet eye principle, I find that I'm practicing from a distance of 14', since this is a convenient spot on my carpet for near maximum distance. As I have mentioned a while back, I was deeply involved in archery and at one time held the Canadian record at 90 meters which was the furthest distance that we shot at in the FITA rounds. I was able to shoot good scores at the three other distances, but 90 Ms was my strongest. When I quit archery because of the demands for perfection and the negatives involving family life, I needed something to fill the void......golf. This was not going to consume me to the same extent that archery did, however, with the family gone, I have a little more time on my hands AND. This is a lengthy way at getting to my point which is how bad is it to spend 75% of my practice at one distance. As in archery each distance in golf requires a slightly different upper body angle until we get to the green. Putting is always the same posture regardless of distance and it is the distance that is important in the putting stroke. So is there a recommended percentage of time spent at varying distances or is concentrating on the stroke itself the key here?
El
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kfarkle
USA
248 Posts |
Posted - January 14 2009 : 7:05:10 PM
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Good question, El. I know for me the higher percentage needs to be on the stroke. Keeping the clubface square is a priority now. Working in Mike's prescribed 3'-6' range. Here's another video and if you look I think you'll see a slight arc in my stroke, coming to the ball a bit open and slightly closing through impact. Good from 3', but will it work at longer distance? The shadow knows...kb
http://vimeo.com/2831482 |
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six-gold
127 Posts |
Posted - January 14 2009 : 9:00:09 PM
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I don't know kfarkle. It looks like you go straight back and through with s slight movement off centre well after impact. But I only have a two dimensional view. That's a neat putting track, what is it called?
El |
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bkroon
223 Posts |
Posted - January 15 2009 : 11:55:57 AM
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Kurt -
Great video, looks to me like the ball is going as straight down the putting track as it possibly could !!
Rob in Sunny Phoenix |
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kfarkle
USA
248 Posts |
Posted - January 15 2009 : 7:12:10 PM
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Well, I think I'm going in the right direction, but still have some work to get the stroke back. It's been fun trying to figure this out.
We made it up to Springwater for 9 and the sun showed as well. Still had 2 holes closed for frost and we played 1-2 over again. Course really got hammered with snow and flooding, it will take a while to get in shape. Kind of hard to get an accurate read, but I felt tentative. Way to much thinking going on. Just need to focus and shake the cobwebs, but it sure felt good to be out in some sunshine. Good therapy it was.
Putting line was pretty good, the practice is helping. Need to get a bit more aggressive. Putter face stayed pretty square, but left several putts short. Greens aren't the best right now, but I should be able to adjust.
That 'track' is actually the toe board off Utley's Learning Curve trainer. Just removed it and flattened it for a visual aide. It does seem kind of handy. It's flat enough to put anywhere on the carpet and use as kind of a launch pad. Found out today my carpet is faster than the greens right now, need to adjust to that.
Nothing some sun and practice can't take care of, really looking forward to this season and hopefully a little more improvement.
Best,
kb |
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six-gold
127 Posts |
Posted - January 15 2009 : 11:59:09 PM
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Hi Kurt, is the Springwater you are referring to the one in Southern Ontario? If so you guys are lucky. I just checked the weather channel and it's -30 here just outside of Winnipeg. Sheeeeeesh! We are supposed to be getting up to 0c by Monday. It's been a nasty few weeks. So much for Al Gores global warming! I'm thinking of inviting him up here for a cup of hot chocolate.
El |
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kfarkle
USA
248 Posts |
Posted - January 16 2009 : 07:22:11 AM
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That's funny, El! Maybe Al should emcee the Inauguration Ceremony. I can't even imagine what -30 feels like, you have to get into the back country here in Oregon for those kinds of temps. Springwater is close to our home, about 35 miles SE of Portland. Wind chill can get down around 0, but the actual temperature seldom drops below 20. We still get out and play on temporary greens as long as there is no snow, and normally there isn't a lot of that here in the valley. At least there wasn't until AG went off. |
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ball balancing
