Putters-Which One Is Right For You?

With so many putters to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? The most popular styles of putters are blade, mallet, perimeter weighted, insert, and offset. Each one of these putters has it’s own uniqueness.

Blade putters are narrow and flat with the best feel for the ball. Low handicappers favor blades. Blades differ in where the shaft enters the head. The shaft is either at the heel or center, where it enters more in the middle of the blade. Tending to be face balance, blade putters will suit a player with a straight putting stroke. These putters are suited to hard, faster greens that require soft control, making them a good safe choice.

Mallets have a large rounded head. The deep design of the putter’s head allows for a lower and deeper centre of gravity that is far away from the face, reducing backspin on your putts. A lot of mallet putters have inserts on the face offering a soft hit from a large head. The weight is usually balanced throughout the club, providing golfers with a more consistent putting stroke.

Perimeter weighted putters are very forgiving because the weight is distributed around the edges. This putter provides for a larger sweet spot because the perimeter weighting stabilizes any slight mis-hits. These putters are great for beginning golfers or high handicappers.

Insert putters are designed with composite inserts made of a softer material. The advantage of using a light insert means the weight of the putter can be redistributed elsewhere on the putter face. Therefore the weight is added to the heel or and toe, offering a wider area for pure strikes. This wider area makes a larger sweet spot with more forgiveness. The inserts provide for a better feel on the putt and a smoother role, rather than a hop or skid. The only draw back is they do not produce sound. If sound is important feedback, this may not be the putter for you.

Offset places the actual putter blade back from the shaft slightly. This allows the golfers eyes to be more directly on top of the ball when standing over the putt. This will increase top spin for a truer roll.

Don’t forget that it’s also very important to choose the right length putter. If a putter is too short or long it can lead to bad posture, throwing off your view of the putting line. It is important to choose the right length for your body type.

Traditional length putters are the most common. They are approximately 33-36 inches in length. These putters use the golfer’s natural swinging motion of your arms, like a pendulum, giving the putt a true roll.

Belly putters are latest craze amongst players. They are approximately 41-46 inches in length. The end of the putter rests in on your belly button while you swing the club back and forth. Resting the club shaft on your belly button creates a third point of contact, stabilizing the stroke and anchoring the body. The wrist action is easier to control as the length of the putter changes the dynamic of the swinging motion. The main disadvantages are distance control and feel. The belly putter requires golfers to use more large muscles and fewer small muscles during the putting stroke. Additional practice is required to develop the feel for distance control.

Long or Broom Handle putters are the least popular length to use. They are approximately 48-52 inches and up in length. Golfers stabilize this putter by pressing its top against their chest or resting it on their chin. These putters require a completely different grip. Most players grip long putters with their left hand, holding the putter into their body (thumb up), and the right hand working as a claw in the middle section of the putter to pull and push through the line of the putt causing the putter to swing like a pendulum. Putting all the power of the stroke in the right hand. This is a tough skill to master and hard to use in the wind.

Now that you’ve got a feel for what putter’s are available to you and how they work, choosing the right putter will be easier. With about 50 percent of your shots being putts, it’s important to pick a putter that works for you. Great putting will always save par.

The Master at Augusta National

The Masters Tournament held at Augusta National started March 22, 1934. At the time Bobby Jones objected to this name and Augusta National Invitation Tournament was used until 1939, which is when Jones finally conceded to make the name The Masters Tournament official. Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts started this annual event to provide a service to golf by hosting the event. Jones originally did not want to compete in the tournament, but later changed his mind after persuasion from the Club’s members. Jones best finish was 13th in 1934. In 1940 the Masters was scheduled for the first full week in April of each year, and has been a tradition since.

Horton Smith was the first tournament winner in 1934, starting many great golf moments in history. In 1935 Gene Sarazen hit the infamous “the shot heard ‘round the world” scoring a double eagle on the par 5 15th hole, tying Craig Wood and forcing a playoff. The following day Sarazen won the 36-hole playoff by 5 strokes. In 1942 Byron Nelson defeated Ben Hogan 69-70 in an 18-hole playoff. The following three years (1943, 1944, & 1945) during the war were not played. Instead Augusta National grounds were used to raise cattle and turkeys to assist in the war effort.

When playing of tournament commenced in the 1950’s it included two victories for Ben Hogan and the first of four for Arnold Palmer. Palmer’s 1958 win began the tradition of Amen Corner. The same year sports writer Herbert Warren Wind wrote: “On the afternoon before the start of the recent Masters golf tournament, a wonderfully evocative ceremony took place at the farthest reach of the Augusta National course —down in the Amen Corner where Rae’s Creek intersects the 13th fairway near the tee, then parallels the front edge of the green on the short 12th and finally swirls alongside the 11th green.” In 1960 the Par 3 Contest was begun, and in 1965-1966 Jack Nicklaus became the first Masters Champion to defend his title successfully. During the 1970’s both Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts passed away leaving behind a legacy that would be carried on. In the 1980’s Spaniard Steve Ballesteros won twice and Tom Watson captured his second title. In 1986 at age 46, Jack Nicklaus won his 6th Green Jacket. The year 1997 started the Tiger Woods phenomenon. That year Woods broke the Tournaments four-day scoring record that had stood for 32 years. At the 2001 Masters, Woods won his 4th consecutive professional major, and in 2002 became only the 3rd player to win consecutive Masters titles. In 2003 Mike Weir becomes the first Canadian to win a Major, and the first left-hander to take the Masters. Phil Mickelson wins his first Masters in 2004 with a birdie on the 72nd hole. In 2005 Woods became the 3rd person to win at least four Tournaments. Again in 2006 Phil Mickelson captured his second win with a two-stroke victory. In 2007 Tiger Woods found the water twice in Amen Corner, damaging his chances for a third consecutive major title, eventually losing to Zach Johnson.

With the 2008 Masters Tournament marking the 50th Anniversary of Arnold Palmers first Masters victory, which player will be this years champion? Will Tiger avoid the water at Amen Corner this year? This will be Woods pursuit of his 5th Masters victory, can he pull it off with so many good competitors such as Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Zach Johnson, Geoff Ogilvy, Jim Furyk, Angel Cabrera, Michael Campbell, Stewart Cink, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, and Mark O’Meara all aiming for the Green Jacket.

About Author: Tracy Patton and father Paul Carlson started EzyGolf a discount golf store after their own passion for the game. While not the greatest golfers, they have a lot of fun trying to play and working together. With alot of online golf stores out there we try to give the personal family touch. Please visit us at: www.theezygolf.com.

Golf Training Aids - Can They Really Improve Your Game

Looking to improve or maintain a respectable golf handicap, who isn’t? A low golf handicap is difficult to achieve and especially difficult to keep up if you’re not lucky enough to play on a regular basis. One proven solution is the use of golf training aids. What training aids work best? Each golfer should look at what part of their golf game needs improvement, putting, chipping, ball striking, distance, swing, or overall inconsistencies. While I love the game, overall inconsistencies is my problem.

If putting is your area of weakness you can choose from a large selection of indoor/outdoor putting greens to use at home, or depending on your situation, the office. Indoor putting greens may not have the contours of real golf course greens, however they allow you to practice any time. Outdoor putting greens are a little more like the real thing. While outdoor putting greens are a synthetic surface, you can give them some contour and slope. Artificial putting greens will assist you in developing a consistent, smooth putting stroke enabling you to sink putts in fewer strokes.

Chipping can be improved with the use of on target chipping nets and backyard flagstick poles. Land a chip in one of the nets or hit one of the flagsticks and you are on target. Chipping from a golf mat is suggested to simulate golf course conditions as much as possible. Chipping into nets or at flagsticks will improve your accuracy and contact with the ball. Using different wedges from multiple distances will also teach you which club to use for that distance and striking speeds necessary for the ball to land perfectly, without undershooting or overshooting your target.

Ball striking is always difficult to master. The pro's make it look so easy. Just remember the pro's have hit thousands of golf balls to develop and maintain that great swing. If you can’t make it to the driving range you can practice your swing with a golf cage or net. You will improve swing consistency, strengthen your swing, and learn to make superior ball contact every time. Golf cages or nets are convenient for practice and can be used outdoors or indoors enabling you to practice in foul weather. Most cages and golf nets sell for less than $100.00, making them more cost effective training aids then the driving range. Practice golf balls are also useful in developing and maintaining the perfect swing. Practice balls simulate the spin, trajectory, and accuracy of a real golf ball, but only travel a short distance. This is another convenient training aid that will permit you to practice anytime in your own backyard.

Golf training videos, books, CD’s, and DVD’s are also available from golf professionals such as Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, and Jim McLean. These types of training aids will teach you the fundamentals of correctly playing the game, while demonstrating proper technique. If you are thinking of taking up golf these tools are cheap and will give you an idea of whether or not this is a sport for you, prior to investing money in very costly equipment.

Given the time and dedication golf training aids will continue to improve, develop, and maintain all areas of golf play. Granted nothing will ever be as good as the real thing, but you know what they say about practice making perfect.

Free Shipping On Cyber Monday

West Palm Beach, FL - November 20, 2007 – FREE SHIPPING all day on Cyber Monday (11/26/07) only! Find all of your favorite gifts at already low prices and have them SHIP FREE in time for Christmas.

With gas prices soaring and every penny counting, everyone is looking for ways to save on your Christmas shopping this Holiday Season. Free shipping will not only save your gas money, but also your valuable time. In addition to free shipping you will find great everyday low prices on all of our kids sports bedding, golf pictures, kitchen gourmet cookware and utensils, golf gifts, Peugeot pepper mills, golf decor. We will even guarantee our low prices, or match a better online offer.

Free shipping offered on Cyber Monday only when you buy from our Online Catalog Shopping site or Discount Golf Store. Take advantage of free shipping and save!

For additional information; please contact support@theezycatalog.com or visit www.theezycatalog.com for great sports bedding and kitchen products or www.theezygolf.com for unique golf gifts, décor, and accessories.

The Ezy Catalog Corp. is located in West Palm Beach, FL.