Putter Softness

[moorent]

I have yet to find any relation to putter softness and "chain grabbing ability". Has there been any legitimate testing that supports the idea that soft putters stick to chains better than other plastics, or is it all a bunch of putter mojo crap?

Seems that such a small surface area comes into contact with the chains for such a short amount of time that the grippiness of a disc would have no effect.

It also seems that, if this small amount of time allowed for a substantial amount of energy to be transferred, that the tackier disc would be more likely to spit out to the left or right because of its rotation than a harder disc (which would be more likely to continue forwards into the chains).

 

[Dump Truck]

https://www.dgcoursereview.com/dgr/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17218

 

[tbird888]

^^That's a lot of great info in 14 posts.

 

[Ace D]

that's a pretty sciencey analysis, wow. i have come to prefer grippy-ness over soft/floppiness. over the last 6 months or so i went from an SS magic to a HPP magic, found hpp gripped the chains better.

 

[Triflusal]

https://www.dgcoursereview.com/dgr/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17218

was gonna post this

 

[Sean Johnson]

^^That's a lot of great info in 14 posts.

Hell, most of the info was in only about 4 or 5. Fantastic stuff though :thmbup: Probably the most convincing and informative thread on putter selection that I've seen to date,

 

[TalbotTrojan]

I read the scientific stuff and think it makes some sense. I would love to test the theory myself. Personally I putt with Medium X-Link stuff from Vibram. I would guess this fits in that 4-6 range on everything.

 

[captain jack]

Gymnastic putters

Soft putters seem to loose thier momentum faster when they hit the chains.

My soft VP has one move its firmer brothers can't do, at least not in my hands. I have thrown the disc low, hitting the leading edge, on the rim of the basket, just below the top.
Then, and this is the good part , instead of simply falling to the ground, it does this forward handspring move, up, over the rim, and into the basket.

I never had a medium or firm putter do that.

This is only my experience though, I'm not some DG PHD like Blake claims to be, so this is really only internet hearsay.

 

[notBOB]

softer plastic has a less consistent snap out of the hand. dx is where its at IMO.

 

[nic777]

Thanks, the link was fascinating reading. With our slow evolution of our course from object to chain targets I think the aggressive putters (currently all our top players) will have to adjust their style.

 

[chrishysell]

softer plastic has a less consistent snap out of the hand. dx is where its at IMO.

then don't snap it, putt it.

 

[chrishysell]

I have always used soft putters. For the last 15 years I have used soft magnets. They grab everywhere. The high left side is the only spot where I get bounce outs. Over half of my putts are on the lower left side. While it doesn't grip the chains, the soft rubber gets deflected downward into the basket.

 

[Fishy]

Soft putters seem to loose thier momentum faster when they hit the chains.

My soft VP has one move its firmer brothers can't do, at least not in my hands. I have thrown the disc low, hitting the leading edge, on the rim of the basket, just below the top.
Then, and this is the good part , instead of simply falling to the ground, it does this forward handspring move, up, over the rim, and into the basket.

I never had a medium or firm putter do that.

This is only my experience though, I'm not some DG PHD like Blake claims to be, so this is really only internet hearsay.

I have never had more "front-flops" than with my soft summit, it just kind of rolls over the basket and in, I have also never had as many on top, and jammed in the front of the basket shots either. it has it's place, when I want it to stick if I miss, unless it catches and edge it will simply sit.

 

[TheWCG]

I just recently got a soft challenger and I will never use another plastic again for the chains. Best putter I've used. Thank you Mr Hysell for the plastic recommendation!!:hfive:

 

[KniceZ]

I have to take some time to research the equations for inelastic collisions (basic HS and college physics classes only deal with conservation of momentum) but I'm not convinced that the energy transfer is to heat. When have you ever putted and there not be a sound!! That sound is energy. The harder you throw the more sound not heat.

I'd also like to better understand the modeling that went into the graphics. I use a SSS Wizard and have a lot of putts the hit left of the pole that still stay in.

I'm still very much a NOOB but my putter selection logic went more like this: I can't tell a lot of difference in "spit outs" if I hit the chains But if I hit something hard (top edge or basket rim) the soft putters tend to deform and drop rather then ricochet off and roll 15-20 ft.

 

[chrishysell]

I have to take some time to research the equations for inelastic collisions (basic HS and college physics classes only deal with conservation of momentum) but I'm not convinced that the energy transfer is to heat. When have you ever putted and there not be a sound!! That sound is energy. The harder you throw the more sound not heat.

I'd also like to better understand the modeling that went into the graphics. I use a SSS Wizard and have a lot of putts the hit left of the pole that still stay in.

I'm still very much a NOOB but my putter selection logic went more like this: I can't tell a lot of difference in "spit outs" if I hit the chains But if I hit something hard (top edge or basket rim) the soft putters tend to deform and drop rather then ricochet off and roll 15-20 ft.

you are dead on with that. I like to throw a vertical shot over stuff and I pick a soft magnet. When it hits the ground it will fold in half and flop over and basically move a foot or two. If I throw a driver or zone it's forward momentum will make it bounce or roll 10-15ft away. They is a huge advantage to throwing softer plastic at targets.

 

[bhuff]

Hmm maybe I need a little slicker warlock...

 

[sloppydisc]

I am with you guys on the soft putter theory. No science here, just observations. I use a pretty soft SS Wizard and get all sorts of 'lucky' bounces off the cage and left side of chains. When my buddy used to use a firm putter he'd get more hard bounces and rolls than you could imagine. Soft putters rule. Maybe off the tee or for some approaches a firm putter gets you a cleaner release, but just use two different putters in that case.

 

[garublador]

I have to take some time to research the equations for inelastic collisions (basic HS and college physics classes only deal with conservation of momentum) but I'm not convinced that the energy transfer is to heat. When have you ever putted and there not be a sound!! That sound is energy. The harder you throw the more sound not heat.

You're free to argue with JHern, but you do realize he has his PhD in physics, right? The amount of heat produced is low, but I don't doubt that it's there. The energy from the sound all gets lost to heat eventually, too.

 

[Mr. America]

The problem for me with the Soft Summit is hitting the damn basket. It was too floppy, never felt like it left my hand the same way twice. Granted my technique is probably pretty crappy compared to a decent putter.