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BCC Golf Newsletter - Issue 176 Date 09/05/11
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Equipment - Books - DVD's - Instruction
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My wife and I saw  "Seven Days in Utopia" Friday and it didn't disappoint.

It's a great movie about golf and life, try it you'll like it!

Here's a trailer: http://www.sevendaysinutopia.com/video


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TCT Quick Tip - Don't Dawdle
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I'm watching the Barclay's and in particular I'm watching Brandt Snedeker 
putt. For every putt, he makes a solid decision then he strokes his putt,
and he wastes no time.

This is a lesson for all of us: don't belabor your time over the ball. Instead, 
pick your line, make a solid decision, and roll your putt promptly. 

The game will be better off if we all do this.  (I hate slow play!)

Enjoy, Tom


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Golf Tip: Putting a Long Putter Into Play
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I am reading and hearing a lot of debate on the merits and the demerits 
of using a long putter - belly or otherwise.

To me it's pretty simple, if it's within the rules and it helps you 
score well, go for it.

I heard Johnny Miller commenting on Phil Mickelson's use of a belly putter 
this weekend, apparently without a long trial or practice period.  He stated that he 
wouldn't put a putter like that into play until he had taken 1,000 putts with it.

I respectfully disagree with Miller.

I wouldn't put a putter like that into play in a big money tournament without a
minimum of 20 hours of practice with it, which would generate a lot more 
than 1,000 putts.

Furthermore, I would break that into 10 hours of dedicated pure stroke practice, 
then 10 hours of rolling putts from various distances and holing out every putt.

BTW, one of the advantages of long putters is that they are easier on your back
than traditional length putters, so you can practice longer with them.

I own  several long putters, including a Reeso putter like the one used in the
"7 Days In Utopia" movie, and I enjoy putting with it.  However, I notice that I think
way too much over routine putts when I put it in play, and it's purely because I
have not had 20 hours to obtain absolute comfort with it.

I believe that 20 hours of practice would get anyone absolutely comfortable 
with any putter.  When you have absolute comfort with a new putter, test it against 
your usual putter and see which one wins - and that's the putter you play.

Enjoy, 

Tom