Sam Snead did it.

OK ****ers, I've brung you:

MISIG
Leaf Blower
New Irons Suck

Now this. Croquet style putting standing directly behind the ball is illegal. Not sure why this is so. But side saddle is allowed and it truly can allow you to stroke the putter like a pendulum. Actually on short putts, side saddle can be quite effective. Current style of putting, the putter moves on an arc and there is a degree of putter face opening and closing as minute as it may be.

Not sure if a straight upside down T shaped putter is legal but if legal, side saddle stroke can be straight back and through for a squared contact with the ball.

So I may experiment with it. What say you.

Bring on the ridicule!

Most important thing about a putting stroke: Repeatability
Most important thing about a putter: Look over the ball gives you confidence

I have seen GREAT putters with crazy setups, and I've seen absolute trash putters with a traditional setup. The opposite is also true.

My worthless opinion is that if you can keep a quiet lower body, and a stable head, you're going to have a pretty good putting stroke. From there, you just need a plan for distance control, and reading greens.

Mr.Bond said:

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I did it for a round as a goof and was draining everything inside 8 ft......

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And you abandoned it because?

khaos288 said:

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Most important thing about a putting stroke: Repeatability
Most important thing about a putter: Look over the ball gives you confidence

I have seen GREAT putters with crazy setups, and I've seen absolute trash putters with a traditional setup. The opposite is also true.

My worthless opinion is that if you can keep a quiet lower body, and a stable head, you're going to have a pretty good putting stroke. From there, you just need a plan for distance control, and reading greens.

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And this is one of the hardest things to do, keep steady head in a putting stroke. With conventional Putting, lifting the head causes offline stroke, typically push to the right. With sidesaddle, lifting the head should have a minimal impact to the line of the putting stroke. You think?

I was paired with a gentleman that did this in a tourney. He had his putter cut way down so he was bent over and had his shoulders/toes facing the hole.

He was nails on the green though.

I would assume a side saddle head lift would pull a putt. I've never tried it personally.

Willy Wonka said:

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AggieDruggist89 said:

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Mr.Bond said:

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I did it for a round as a goof and was draining everything inside 8 ft......

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And you abandoned it because?

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Absolutely destroyed his handicap.

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Nah The wedge game handled that

AggieDruggist89 said:

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Croquet style putting standing directly behind the ball is illegal. Not sure why this is so.

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They did this because the USGA didn't like Sam Snead putting this way. He was using the croquet style before they outlawed it!

I talked to my teaching pro on this and he said most people have a hard time going straight forward and back using side saddle. The tendency is to pull across the body. The other issue is your eyes are quite a bit left of the line (if right handed) so it can be hard to get alignment correct.

He finished by saying, do what works best for you. Putting is one area where there are a large number of techniques.

Isn't your pro CPG???

I had some vision issues that Ive since corrected but I tried it then to see if it would help.

The perspective looking down the line was the biggest benefit for me. Very easy to hit the putt square too. Outside of 20' I had a hard time with distance control.

I had the non golfing wife hitting 8'ers on the home mat repeatedly after few minutes.

Kansas Kid said:

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I talked to my teaching pro on this and he said most people have a hard time going straight forward and back using side saddle. The tendency is to pull across the body. The other issue is your eyes are quite a bit left of the line (if right handed) so it can be hard to get alignment correct.

He finished by saying, do what works best for you. Putting is one area where there are a large number of techniques.

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Interesting. I'd be tempted to try a left hand putter to see if having my dominant right eye closer to the hole would make any difference.

oldflyer said:

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AggieDruggist89 said:

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Croquet style putting standing directly behind the ball is illegal. Not sure why this is so.

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They did this because the USGA didn't like Sam Snead putting this way. He was using the croquet style before they outlawed it!

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Right. But why? Did it give Sam an unfair advantage?

Kansas Kid said:

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AggieDruggist89 said:

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Isn't your pro CPG???

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No comment

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Thought you is an inaugural member of the Three Jack National, funded the 2nd Hole Foundation and bidding on CPG's Miata auction.

AggieDruggist89 said:

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oldflyer said:

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AggieDruggist89 said:

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Croquet style putting standing directly behind the ball is illegal. Not sure why this is so.

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They did this because the USGA didn't like Sam Snead putting this way. He was using the croquet style before they outlawed it!

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Right. But why? Did it give Sam an unfair advantage?

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Golf Digest says he was too good using it.

Sam Snead Croquet Style

I have 2. One that I can stand with no back bend. The other is shorter that requires bending. I do want to keep them long term and try it again someday. But if anyone wants to try one let me know. I'm in Houston but I'll ship it to you.

I think if people learned putting with this perspective first it would help when they go conventional. Watching the putter head hit the face square and also the ball breaking from face on is really helpful.


If you think all that's ridiculous look up side saddle chipping.

AggieDruggist89 said:

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Kansas Kid said:

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AggieDruggist89 said:

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Isn't your pro CPG???

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No comment

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Thought you is an inaugural member of the Three Jack National, funded the 2nd Hole Foundation and bidding on CPG's Miata auction.

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The course is looking amazing this fall. Please don't let CPG know I posted this. I might get booted for it.

I don't imagine TJN will ever need a leaf blower.

AggieDruggist89 said:

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I don't imagine TJN will ever need a leaf blower.

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No it won't but if you ever come play, I recommend against hitting a shot fat on those super tight lies.

These are also the hardest greens I have ever played. No need for a ball repair tool.

Well,

This definitely will be a fun project for this winter. Mess with SS - SBST (Sidesaddle - Straight Back Straight Through) putting style.

What I've learned:

• Most of my golf buddies are appalled by it.. about 30 of them. Only support I have is from Gorilla (MISIG) and it's lukewarm at best..(if it works for you, I may try)
• The biggest naysayer was a ****ing foreigner..a Brit who continues to call us ungrateful colonials...
• The maximum lie angle of the putter is 80 degrees so manufacturers make it 79.5 degrees. This means to have a perfect pendulum motion to avoid the arc, the heel of the putter has to be off the ground.
• Standing slightly hunched forward, I'd need 42-44 inch putter.
• Bryson putted sidesaddle some but USGA said his putter is illegal.