Geoff Mangum's Flatstick Forum: I feel like I have come out of the closet!

Geoff,
Being a low handicap golfer (1), putting is one of the aspect that has allways held me back from going really low. I grew up in Atlanta, Ga. on (smooth/fast) bent grass greens and my putting style looked alot like Phil Mickelson's with the slight open stance and an old 8813 blade putter. I was a good putter but a poor ball striker. Over time my swing and short game has improved greatly but putting still holds me back.

Since 1990, I moved further south and now putt on Bermuda greens all the time. For some reason, the blade putter never worked on the grainey greens and this caused me to try every thing under the sun. My frinds call me putter Da' Jure! They never know what I am going to bring out next. Shorter putters, putters with more loft, longer putters, what ever I could find that would work.

2004 was a good year for me. I held my handicap around a one and shot 6 or 7 rounds in the 60's during the whole year. You would have been proud of me Geoff, I stuck with one putter all year. It was a 350 gn. mallet putter that had a 70/71 deg lie. I was an adequate putter with the mallet, but not what I once was. I used a square stance (shoulder width) and place the ball just inside my left foot. My shoulder were square and my stroke allways hit about a 1/4 inch inside my slight line. My biggest tendency was a pulled putt, especially a short one!!

Dec 2004 and 2005 the weather has been really warm for us in the deep South. I have played more golf in Jan. and Feb. than I ever expected. I have also played very well for some reason. I have already shot 4 rounds in the 60's during the end of Dec. and first of Jan! Now you say, how can I bitch? Well, I really feel my putter is holding me back. I am stiking the ball well and hitting 13-16 greens average and I fell like I should shoot below par every round. My short game (chipping is sound, but I am missing putts I should make).

Well Geoff, I did it again and this is what the whole conversation is about!!!!! I changed to a wide/blade (like my old 8813) putter (350gn) that has a 68 deg. lie angle (flat) and went back to my slight open stance. The putter is 35in long and is just outside my eye line (1in. or less) and feels so darn comfortable. Like an old favorite couch. I really feel like I can release the putter again!!

Now let's forward to this morning!! I felt compelled to write this because I have four more rounds in the 60's (eight total) and even shot my carrier low round on my home course last week, seven under par! I did not play a bad tee to green game, but god, I made putts from everywhere. My main issue with giving up the open stance style in the past was my alignment issues. I allways aimed left of where I thought I was aiming. I had a local pro check me and he said I was dead on. Heck, I even used a laser the other day to check my allignment, and I said I was right on! For some reason it is working and I am baffled!! Any thoughts?

PS: For all the folks wondering why I am complaining about my game and shoot in the 60's, I want to improve! Also, my old course (built in 1889) is 6100 from the member's tees and 6600 from the back! As I say, short by today standards but alot of fun!

I feel like I have come out of the closet!

Are You Cross-Dominant?