Inevitable putter quest inevitable? Call me a n00b

[TrustYourRubber]

I was reading in one of the NEWBie forums about how someone was switching putters (for one reason or another). Many of the more seasoned veterans were quick to down-play the occurrence citing that it is an inevitable part of the journey, switching putters that is.

In my view, it's not necessarily inevitable. Different putters have different strengths/weaknesses. To carry more than one putter is to recognize how important putting is to be successful in disc golf.

Why do we carry 3X more distance drivers when most of our shots are used by the basket? Why do we even carry more than one distance driver in the first place? Because we recognize that different drivers are important in different conditions.

Here are my thoughts on putters:

I am in a similar boat as you. Here is how I addressed the problem:

I play Vibram discs mostly, so I bought all four of their putters. I intend to keep their putters in my bag, because I have found that they have different strengths/weaknesses.

I have improved at throw putting for approaches in a headwind, with the VP. I use the Summit for this purpose in tailwinds.

I can drive with my Ridge very well. I also use the Summit for this purpose (because it falls into the category of an understable putt and approach disc).

I am slowly working out the form flaws, which are holding me back in my push putting style with the Sole by Vibram.

No putter is going to be perfect for all situations, but I have figured out this much:

VP - headwinds
Summit - tailwinds
Sole - near the basket
Ridge - driving

 

[pmorgan1214]

dude you are in most boats of 98% of disc golfers. We all suck at putting. it is more mental than the disc. granted some discs do better with grip/ feel and they can only go so far.

Its most mental. I missed 3 birdie putts yesterday and i know it was not the putter that missed. It was my mind that made me miss the putts.

 

[TrustYourRubber]

dude you are in most boats of 98% of disc golfers. We all suck at putting. it is more mental than the disc. granted some discs do better with grip/ feel and they can only go so far.

Its most mental. I missed 3 birdie putts yesterday and i know it was not the putter that missed. It was my mind that made me miss the putts.

Yes, but I trying to get you to think more deeply. To consider the mental aspect of the game on another level.

Why do you carry more distance drivers than putters? Why do you carry more mid-ranges than putters? Why do you carry more fairway drivers than putters?

Putters are what separates winners from losers.

 

[pmorgan1214]

Yes, but I trying to get you to think more deeply. To consider the mental aspect of the game on another level.

Why do you carry more distance drivers than putters? Why do you carry more mid-ranges than putters? Why do you carry more fairway drivers than putters?

Putters are what separates winners from losers.

mostly because my putter pretty much does one thing. it flies no more than 50 feet to the basket. other than driving putters. that is why i carry 7-8 drivers and only 2 putters. my drivers have to do a lot more and depending on the wind i might need a different driver.

 

[TrustYourRubber]

mostly because my putter pretty much does one thing. it flies no more than 50 feet to the basket. other than driving putters. that is why i carry 7-8 drivers and only 2 putters. my drivers have to do a lot more and depending on the wind i might need a different driver.

Okay, you must consider the wind when putting, do you not? If you have a tailwind, then you throw differently than a headwind, so that it makes it to its destination, correct?

I understand that a person can know their putter intimately and make some outstanding shots with it, but once variables such as the wind come into play, does it not make sense to switch putters like you do with your drivers or mid-ranges?

 

[Broken Shoulder]

1. We don't all suck at putting. Honestly, I think a lot of people struggle with putting because they've decided it's really hard and that notion gets repeated here or in other conversations. If you're even moderately coordinated then with practice putting shouldn't be as difficult as people make it out to be. Minimize the variables in your routines and mechanics, be confident instead of apprehensive and scared, and you should be successful.

2. Many people carry more putters than discs in other categories. Personally, I have 5 putters, 4 mids, 3 fairways, 4 control drivers, and 2 distance drivers. As far as switching putters for wind it makes sense off the tee or on longer approaches, but I think you're better off using the same putting putter for every putt. Others may see it differently, but I want to know one putter and one putter only for putting, and learn how it behaves in all scenarios.

Edit: If you find another method that works for you (different putters for every shot) then by all means use it. That's part of what makes this game awesome. Everyone learns for themselves what works best for them.

 

[BirdieMachine]

For my actual putting putter I use a Black Magic 99% of the time. If I'm putting into a large headwind 20+ mph I will switch to a Premium Jokeri cause it has so little glide it doesn't get picked up and thrown around easily. As far as upshots and driving thats a different game too, Opto/RGL Pure, Jokeri or my Magic on delicate turnovers. 4 putters.

 

[TrustYourRubber]

I feel that having more than 1-2 putters gives you an advantage, but many don't see it that way, and I think that it's not necessarily their game that suffers, but other people's games who are trying to fit the mold rather than do what's the best approach. I think this is a possible "group-think" on the part of disc golfers, buying tons of drivers and mid-rangers and then having only 1-2 putters. Their scores are the real losers, in that scenario.

 

[GripEnemy]

Over analyzing this my man.

You putt hyzer/anhyzer/nose up/nose down in the wind - drivers are going a lot farther and flying drastically different lines in the wind than putters. I may use my Breaker to putt once every 10 rounds but otherwise the disc simply isn't flying far enough to justify learning how to be [very] accurate with both an overstable and an understable putter.

If your weapon of choice is an overstable putter (BBaviar/Wiz/Rhyno etc) then stick with it...if you like something such as a Magnet or APX or something understable it takes little alterations to your form to fight even a 30mph headwind. We're talking about 60' and in are we not? You throw hyzer/anhyzer... with drivers to change the flight - why not do it with your putting putter as well.

Cheers!

 

[JC17393]

TrustYourRubber, you're not outlandish to think players can be better served by carrying different types of putters. I carry no less than five putters in my bag in four different molds. The number is arguably seven in five molds because one of my mid molds (of which I carry two) is technically classified as a putt & approach by the manufacturer (didn't used to be though).

Two putters are my actual putters, one broken in and one newer one for long and/or headwind putts. Then I've got three other putter molds that essentially fall into the three basic categories of drives/approaches: turnover, straight, hyzer/fade.

For me, the most effective bag set-up for most courses are those five putters, four mids, two fairway drivers and two distance drivers. Depending on the course, I might add a mid or a driver or back-ups of something (or even take out a driver or two on shorter courses), but for the most part, putt & approach is always the most represented disc category in my bag.

The axiom I try to live by on the course is to throw the slowest disc I can that will still get where I want it to go. That tends to lend itself to having more slow fliers (putters/mids) than drivers in the bag if you are proficient at living up to that axiom.

 

[Timeetyo]

I think you are mixing actual putting and approach shots / drives done with a putter. Here is how I see it for most:

Actual Putting:
- anything inside the circle....and beyond depending on skill
- most use 1 dedicate putter (after they "complete" the never-ending journey for the perfect putter) for this and know it intimately.
- at this distance 1 disk is fine as the little variety that is needed in putts can be easily accomplished (wind, anny/hyser around a tree, etc) with different stances and putting techniques.

Approach:
- distance varies significantly based on skill - but IMO anything short of a mid where I am trying to hole out in 2 shots as opposed to sink the putt.
- here a variety of disc stability can be very helpful for line shaping at the longer distances - similar to your mids just shorter.

Hope my noob opinion helps...

 

[Mike C]

Okay, you must consider the wind when putting, do you not? If you have a tailwind, then you throw differently than a headwind, so that it makes it to its destination, correct?

I understand that a person can know their putter intimately and make some outstanding shots with it, but once variables such as the wind come into play, does it not make sense to switch putters like you do with your drivers or mid-ranges?

Personally I prefer to adjust my putts rather than switch discs. I notice 99% of the good players I play with doing the same thing. Headwind? Putt lower. Tailwind? Give it some extra power to keep it floating. That sort of thing.

Also I carry as many putters as any other type of disc, but they're all for driving and approaching. The putter I putt with is always the same, single disc.

 

[tbird888]

Every putter has its own nuances. Once you start adding putters to the mix, your chances of making mistakes grows. That applies to all classifications of discs too. It is usually the exception, not the rule to have a disc for each shot. Never does this apply more than when you're close to the basket.

I putt Wizards regardless of any weather condition. Why? Because I have practiced (the key word here) with Wizards in all weather conditions, and I'm confident that I know how it's going act in all weather conditions.

Like Mike, all the other putters I carry are for driving or approaching.

 

[thisislorenb]

I throw 3 different putter molds and 75% of my putter throws are with a warlock.... the other 25% a zone or polecat..... familiarity should help consistency

 

[Nemmers]

I was reading in one of the NEWBie forums about how someone was switching putters (for one reason or another). Many of the more seasoned veterans were quick to down-play the occurrence citing that it is an inevitable part of the journey, switching putters that is.

In my view, it's not necessarily inevitable. Different putters have different strengths/weaknesses. To carry more than one putter is to recognize how important putting is to be successful in disc golf.

Why do we carry 3X more distance drivers when most of our shots are used by the basket? Why do we even carry more than one distance driver in the first place? Because we recognize that different drivers are important in different conditions.

Here are my thoughts on putters:

I am in a similar boat as you. Here is how I addressed the problem:

I play Vibram discs mostly, so I bought all four of their putters. I intend to keep their putters in my bag, because I have found that they have different strengths/weaknesses.

I have improved at throw putting for approaches in a headwind, with the VP. I use the Summit for this purpose in tailwinds.

I can drive with my Ridge very well. I also use the Summit for this purpose (because it falls into the category of an understable putt and approach disc).

I am slowly working out the form flaws, which are holding me back in my push putting style with the Sole by Vibram.

No putter is going to be perfect for all situations, but I have figured out this much:

VP - headwinds
Summit - tailwinds
Sole - near the basket
Ridge - driving

You gotta play your game, brother, but I don't subscribe to any of that. I don't even carry a putter in my bag of 22 discs. I putt with a DX Roc.

Yeah, that's right: a DX Roc.

I have five of them (not all of them in the bag), but I practice with all of 'em in the backyard. Just like the feel.

I know some people will poo-poo that because, like you, they have their opinions of the various putters on the market. However, I don't think you can go wrong with a DX Roc, regardless of the situation.

I'm not superstitious, but I'm a little stitious.

 

[teemkey]

After losing my main putter practicing before league, I now carry two putting putters in nearly identical states of wear. Also two driving putters and one putter purely for approach (sometimes two). I carry 5 distance drivers, so I generally have the same number of distance drivers as putters -- sometimes less. However, most of the putters aren't for putting.

 

[UncleBrother2001]

I like your style. I do the same thing and i carry 4 putters as well.

Here is what I use.

Discraft Zone - Overstable,Headwinds and forehands and crazy putts where it needs to bend around a tree.

Latitude 64 Pure - Just Driving off the tee goodness. Goes straight with little fade. Can handle a headwind and tailwind.

Innova Wedge - Understable Drives and my main approach Putter. I've nailed more long apporaches with this thing than anything else.

Then the Gateway Wizard - Only used for Putts and nothing else.

I do understand it is good to get the feel of different putters to see what you like. I lucked up and knew a guy who told me to get a putter that is stable and stick with it. I chose a SSS Wizard(he used one) when I was told this and that is all I have ever putted with. When I first started I used an Aero

 

[Mabuku1]

I've found sticking to one putter and just having a duplicate is better for me than more molds. Consistent feel helps the brain remember how it flies.

Drivers are varied for flight path specific fairways, and the like. It's necessary to have more molds in fairways and miss because they have more obstacles to get by with farther distance.

 

[ReTread]

I carry two identical putters for all my putting inside 50', and shape the putt accordingly. I also may drive with one or the other of those putters (so lost disc is a risk), I really don't know one from the other. I carry three other putters as well, one OS, one US, one with a bit more glide. So my putters out number any other classification of disc in my bag.
Inside 50', I will not change putters, I know what they will do. I don't need anymore to think about.

 

[TrustYourRubber]

@JC17393 I like your style. I would like to live by your axiom, at some point. As a beginner, it seems easier to throw a mid-range than some of my putters, but that's developed as a result of my disc choices. I will keep you in mind this summer when I am playing the local courses.

@Timeetyo I was referring to putting. Chain-rattling duties specifically, though I did leave it open to interpretation with regards to approaches. My original post was meant to refer to making it inside the basket.

@Mike C I recognize that my original post is not the conventional wisdom at this moment, by any means, but I am glad that it sparked some discussion in this thread. One thing that came to my mind in response to your suggestion that 99% of good players putt with one disc; these players also recognize the importance of putting, but they have also achieved a level of mastery that is not easily attainable. Consider that the good players have shorter putts to deal with (due to their driving prowess) and thus more room for error with respect to judging the wind/making needed adjustments. The average player on the other hand asks more out of their putters than, say, a professional. Therefore, it stands to reason that they would need more putters. Maybe I am over-analyzing, but I was attempting to encourage discussion as well as challenge the conventional wisdom that, I believe, exists among most disc golfers that "the one" putter is the way to go, when in fact it may not be...