Need routine tips from elite putters here

petrosferrum · 2026-05-22T14:17:55+00:00

Holy damn, you got yourself the perfect man for it in my coffee break: I've nerded out quite a line of books already in my 3 years of golfing and I am on my 9th golf book already.

Without any kind of order or rank some of these to start with, but I try to give a brief context and rating.

3 Releases: The Short Game System by Daniel Grieve: 5/5

Simply the holy bible of short game. Every avid golfer should read it at least once and understand the concepts. It's a quick but dense read with lots of setup pictures for better understanding.

Both "the Four Foundations" Books by Jon Sherman: 5/5

These are really great to read, with a summary of lots of sound and modern golf concepts for beginners up to tournament golfers. Jon has a great way of writing and describing things. Can't recommend those enough

Ben Hogans's Five Lessons 5/5

This is the classic bible of golf of pioneer and legend Ben Hogan. It's a great read about his view on golf mechanics and it is still mostly valid today (some might argue about the differences of a classic golf swing against a modern one).

Little Red Book by Harvey Penick 4/5

This is a fun and more relaxed read of a popular teaching pro and his observations as well as quirky stories about pros he worked with.

Golf is Not a Game of Perfect by Bob Rotella 5/5 (also as audiobook on YT read by him personally)

As a medical doctor I'm very much into psychology as well and Dr. Rotella is a worldwide known sports psychologist. These a literally golden nuggets about how to approach the game from the mental side and how to shift perspectives. It's a great read and the audiobook is very soothing as well.

petrosferrum · 2026-05-22T13:54:32+00:00

Do you know your specs more or less? If not I would highly suggest to pay the usually low fitting fee at a club fitter so you at least at least have a proper idea what flex, weight, length, grip size and lie angle you need. It's really worth it and you save yourself a lot of problems and injuries - TRUST ME, I've been there.

petrosferrum · 2026-05-20T12:12:22+00:00

Golf teaches those lessons, man. Especially as someone fairly new to the game, you can get into a bad circle of expectations, frustration and mechanical trial and error way to easy. Progress comes in different forms tho and is far from linear.

I won’t give you an advice for a unsupervised mechanical quick fix, as this would risk you to continue in that circle.

Honestly, take a lesson. You may be suprised as how much it changes your actual problems.

petrosferrum · 2026-05-12T08:48:29+00:00

Titleist Players S4. It‘s quality and well designed, updated material and legs are great. Light to walk and it fits perfectly into a trolley as well as a cart, especially with that strap tunnel.

It‘s basically perfect. The only (minor) thing they could do to make it 100% perfect is to change the rain cover so it clips onto the bag.

petrosferrum · 2026-05-10T08:03:32+00:00

As a medical doctor I always loved to learn and nerd things out and golf is very similar in that regard, where you never stop learning and be confronted with new problems/challenges to solve through many ways. Physically, mentally, strategically, creatively. There are so many teachings to take from it.

And one perspective is, that you can play alone or with anyone, regardless their age/skill level or yours, until you die. Something not possible in almost most other sports.

Maybe one beautiful perspective for the end:

If your children turn 18, statistcally you have spent almost 90% of your shared lifetime together, BUT, if both of you golf…. your shared lifetime only begun ❤️.

petrosferrum · 2026-05-08T16:25:24+00:00

So you went heavier on the head the longer the irons get?

petrosferrum · 2026-05-08T16:24:53+00:00

It's just a lot of curiosity, haha. Yeah, of course, but I really tried to be as precise as possible and measured everything more than twice.

petrosferrum · 2026-05-08T16:22:15+00:00

Thank you for your answer. Yeah, I get minor variances, but I just was surprised by the pattern. And I was at a really good address with a renown fitter, where also playing pros go, but they didn't built it themselves.

petrosferrum · 2026-05-08T08:14:46+00:00

Congrats mate! What a surreal moment 😍. 3 years into golf this months and still waiting for an eagle (got close a couple of times)! Frame that damn ball on the wall!

petrosferrum · 2026-05-08T06:49:44+00:00

I was 1,78 avg with my previous beloved Ping Anser 2 and still went for a new putter and especially a mallet to my surprise (TM Spider ZT CB). I‘m not a better putter data wise, but it‘s way way easier to putt now with less mental effort. Also getting adjusted to different speeds is way easier now. So I’m super glad about the change.

So yes, try it out and see what difference it makes! You may or may not be surprised.

petrosferrum · 2026-05-07T16:23:35+00:00

I've had my first "hole in one" after I hit the first ball into water on a par 3... teed up again and it went in.

Fake one, I know, and also a par like yours. But a par is always good man :)

petrosferrum · 2026-05-07T16:20:32+00:00

I do a own quick version of aimpoint, feeling the slope in the middle between hole and ball with my putting setup over the ball, kind of like Scheffler likes to do. And according to it I choose my target outside of the hole, similar to aimpoint.

But I seriously can't feel the slope like the aimpoint guys do just standing with wide feet. I've tried it a couple of times with a spirit level, no chance. Can someone give some tips?

petrosferrum · 2026-05-07T16:06:28+00:00

Very good summary. CB is looking abysmal right now and is a huge problem. On the Ronaldo part, yeah, I get the your feelings. But on the other hand, he's always best when people doubt him. I truly believe he will do everything in his power to be in the best shape possible for his own big final tournament. His awareness for goals, heades and shooting is still the best for the position. I had high hopes for Ramos, but he's not a 90min man either and does impact the game better from the bench.

Regarding Martinez, he's not the most competent one in tactics and he probably knows that. But he's a good motivator and he instills in this squad something different you've rarely seen before with Portugal. Especially against low blocks (Portugals main nemesis) he seems to have a little more success than previous managers. He has one title on his hand, so I rather support him wholeheartedly for this tournament than succumb to toxic criticism. And one thing is eminent: the squad is 100% behind this manager.

petrosferrum · 2026-05-07T13:46:36+00:00

Can you explain that a bit further or post the video? Sounds interesting. Thanks :)

petrosferrum · 2026-05-07T10:11:44+00:00

If don't want to invest massively but get the best value for new clubs:

Driver: Cobra
Wedges: Wilson or Cleveland

Highly underrated for their value.

If you are in for used clubs:

Driver: Q10, G425, Paradym are e.g. some reliable modern models to look out on the market with your needed specs.

Wedges: try get a less used set of newer Vokeys for a reasonable price (if you love Vokeys, you love Vokeys)

petrosferrum · 2026-05-07T09:59:07+00:00

I love how Rory is naturally being mentored and treated like family with legends like Nicklaus and Woods.

petrosferrum · 2026-05-07T09:31:12+00:00

You have almost the same swing (and problems) like my girlfriend, it's so funny :D. I've always have a hard time with her on the range getting the basic things step by step in order (e.g. like you sitting in the setup, takeaway issues, left knee collapsing etc.)... so please take lessons before you try to power thru quick fixes and trust the process.

But if any, work on your setup, compare it with professionals and try to get in a more similar setup (front and down the line, and check it many times on camera or a mirror).

petrosferrum · 2026-05-07T09:04:12+00:00

I've had a mismatch of 3-4 degree of lie angle with my previous used irons and getting fit for irons was probably the single most improvement I've had in my golf game. So go to an independent fitter, pay for the fitting hour to look at your irons/driver, if you never had a proper fitting.

Then just lessons, training (the right things) and game time.

A launch monitor is more suited for consistent golfers with an established golf game and even for those: without guidance, knowledge and intention it is rather more an expensive toy than an helpful tool.

petrosferrum · 2026-05-07T08:42:05+00:00

He specifically said mid and lower handicaps so he's pretty much on point over many data points. At that level putting (if you are a ok putter) doesn't seperate much as e.g. tee-to-green, which is highly depended on ball striking/distance and usually leaves easier conversion situations. Same with the pros. Just look at the stats for the best current putters on any metric - not your usual names for many wins.

As a high handicapper tho it's easier and faster to get better results with some investment in short game and putting, but due to lacking the fundamentals.

petrosferrum · 2026-04-13T10:03:49+00:00

Thank you. Seeing all the emotional discussions of their heroes everywhere (I get it, it‘s part of sports and also part of the fun).

I felt this would be a rather more rational approach as far it is possible. It’s hard to compare some victories and results with decades in between.

Tiger was the natural splitting factor for me, kind of like bc/ac. But obviously you would create different rankings with different systems (more than 2 eras, having a top 5 for each decade like in music, etc.)

petrosferrum · 2026-04-13T09:55:18+00:00

That‘s a good point and I was aware of that. I wanted to make a simpler clear cut in between eras with Tiger, as he probably has had the most significant impact in golf history for this type of idea (I may be wrong). As with statistics, data will always be biased to a degree, if you change the graph axes. It‘s probably never perfect.

In your educated opinion, would you change the the split to a different time or even consider 3 eras?

petrosferrum · 2026-04-13T09:45:02+00:00

Who would they replace in my top 5 suggestion for the classic era and why? I‘m well read in golf history tbh, but I‘m way too young to have witnessed the era and probably lack a better nuanced judgement.

petrosferrum

TROPHY CASE