Is club fitting Smoke and Mirrors? A dog and pony show? Last week, we said it’s a good rock band, and maybe with me and my stuff, more than you. What about something that doesn’t have a lot of tech? Like putters?? Unless you have a SAM Putt lab or something along those lines, you may wonder – “Do I need smoke and mirrors to convince this player that this is better than what he has?”

Again, I say… Maybe, but that depends on you. If you are prepared, and understand how putters and putting strokes work, the answer is no.

Since there isn’t a lot of technology available to fit putters, you have a couple choices. Either create some putter fitting system on your own, learn so much about the putting stroke and how a putter influences that result, or, stand by and do nothing. You know what I’m going to say… Learn about the stroke and how a putter will influence it, then create your own putter fitting system (smoke and mirrors).

In the old days (2 years ago), I used to use a putter fitting board. It had all the same stuff that we would see on a launch monitor for full swing shots (lie, face, path, attack angle, tempo, etc.), but the trick was I still had to know what to do with it. That company who made it went out of business, so their app went away. That technology was useless, so, I learned about putting strokes – what happens when the player does this? Or that? Then I figured out what the putter would do to accentuate or combat that. And I could fit putters without anything else.

Putting strokes are just like full swings strokes. Swing it left, the ball starts a little left with right spin on it. Open the face or aim it right and the ball goes right. Face has a much bigger influence on the start line and direction of a putt than path does – just like in a full swing. With a few tools – a putting arc mat (to see the path of the stroke), a chalk box or a string (to see the line the ball rolls on), and maybe a laser to see where the face is aiming, and I have a putter fitting system.

If the ball starts right and curves left, that looks like an in-to-out swing with a closed face (but open to the target line) – JUST like a full swing shot. If you were outside looking at a shot, how would you correct that? Maybe move some weight to the toe? Maybe change the face angle? Guess what?? With a putter, it’s the same!! You can use toe hang to your advantage. You can chat about the hosel configuration. Your knowledge of the golf swing will help you with putters. Use it.

So far, so good?

Where do you start? Have the player roll five 10-foot putts with no break with their own putter. Keep track of what side of the hole the balls finish on. Chances are very good that they will all (or 4 out of 5 of them) finish on the same side of the hole. Most players don’t even realize this. Show this to the player, and remember this.

While the player is putting these five putts, examine their set up, aim, grip, posture, ball position, and start line. Do any of these things make the ball go that way? If yes, it may be worthwhile to bring this up to the player. If no, examine the putter. If it is a face balanced putter, try one with a decent amount of toe hang – essentially, give the player something that is weighted and balanced the opposite way his current putter is. See what happens. Does this move the ball to the right direction or the opposite side of the hole? If it does, you are on the right track. Tinker with that until you find the right balance for the player. If it doesn’t, chances are good that something in the stroke is causing it.

Last week, I said that the Ai One putter market share was off the charts. I suggested you take all your putters out to the practice green on Saturday and offer up some fittings. Before you do this, though, try it on the bag room staff. Then some assistants. See what happens. It’s relatively easy to get anyone putting better. Think of the bright side – 95% of the people you talk to have never been fit for a putter before (so they don’t know what to expect). Even brighter? If you are fitting someone and other players see you doing it, you will get dozens come to you and ask for you to fit them. This is simple!!

So, smoke and mirrors? Nope!! This is good, old fashioned fitting. The only smoke and mirrors is putting the stuff on the green and taking the time to do it. Prepare yourself and your members will thank you for years. Consider yourself a putter fitting specialist – there aren’t many of those around.

Until then, happy fitting!!