Line vs Distance

golf -> articles

Just about half of all shots on the course are taken on the short grass, and putting - love it or hate it - is where the scorecard is won or lost.

Putting is a lot more complex than it first appears. You may consider getting the ball in the air and getting it onto the green in two shots the challenging part of any par-4. But greens are designed to be manipulative to test your skill, and mis-reading your putts can result in a frustrating 3-putt and a bogey on the scorecard.

Broadly speaking, there are two aspects you need to get correct when executing the perfect putt. The line your ball is facing, and the exact amount of power needed to find the back of the cup.

Think for a minute about your own game. Do you find it easy to find the correct line but usually leave your putts shot? Or do you tend to go for the hole, but often find yourself putting back the other way?

Line VS distance

Finding the right line is of paramount importance when reading your putt. If you misjudge the break of the putt, you instantly have no chance of it dropping into the hole.

It can feel demoralizing however to know you have the line just right but not quite enough pace to find the back of the cup.

Leaving the ball short is a pain as it means you won’t know how the ball is going to break going into the cup. When you hit it past the hole you can at least see how the ball breaks for your next putt.

Equally important as accuracy is having the power and confidence to commit to your strike with the appropriate degree of power. Putting requires a soft-yet-firm touch, and it’s finding this middle ground on the short grass that’s the weak point of many good golfer’s games.

Finding the line

Making the perfect putt begins way before you walk onto the green. When you’re hitting your approach shot, you want to get a good look at the slope of the green. As you’re walking towards it, keep an eye on the natural slopes turns that form around the pin position.

You’ll also want to keep an eye on how your chip shots run out onto the green. Where does it bounce to? Is it where you predicted it would go or did an unforeseen bounce take it another way?

Once your ball has come to rest and you’re sizing up your putt, it’s good to crouch down behind it and take a look at the high and low points of the green. Can you feel the slope of the green in your feet when you’re standing over the ball? Can you trace the natural line relative to the slopes beneath your feet?

The latest golf putters from TaylorMade have been engineered to help you find the exact line when you’re standing over the ball, and strike through your putt with tempo and confidence.

 

TaylorMade Spider Tour putters

The Spider Tour putters are sturdy mallets that have a stable structure to have you putting with excellent precision. This club has a steel wireframe that allows for better weight distribution to give you an ideal launch, and the Pure Roll insert ensures a soft feel when you impact the ball, and an improved roll towards the hole.

This club also has TaylorMade’s HYBAR Echo Dampener that sits behind the face to give you a pleasant sound and vibration when you strike the ball. Thanks to the True Path Alignment aids on top of the head, you’ll be able to line up your putts with total clarity of the direction you’re aiming your putter. There are five mallets in the Spider Tour range, all with their own unique head shapes and hosel types.

browse Spider Tour putters  >

  

TaylorMade TP Black putters

Should you prefer to play with blade and mid-mallet shaped putters, we have just the recommendation for you. The TP Black putters feature a striking matte black colour, and have noteworthy flowing lines milled into the clubface that look fantastic. Made from a soft-yet-durable 303 stainless steel, this club looks amazing and is great to play with.

browse TP Black putters  >

  

TaylorMade Kalea Gold Spider S putter

Fresh from TaylorMade, the Kalea Gold Spider S has been specifically crafted for female players.

This club also has TaylorMade’s Pure Roll insert and the clubface features 45˚ grooves that help increase topspin to help the ball stay on its intended line. There is also a weighty tungsten weight bar on the rear to boost MOI, ensuring that the face doesn’t twist on impact with the ball so you’ll be making very accurate strikes.

browse Kalea Gold Spider S putters  >

You’ve got to have a go with a few different kinds of putters to find your ideal feel, and find out what makes you feel comfortable. If you’re unsure of which kind of putter would be best for you, we’d be happy to show you our stock in the pro shop.