Mike Bender Golf Academy and SPi instructor Ben Pellicani discusses alignment with SeeMore's Lead Studio Instructor, John Higgins. Share this if you know of a junior golfer. Great tips.
It’s not news to you that tour players are looking to gain confidence in putting like the rest of the golfing world. While at the Honda Classic last week, I watched some other putter companies emphasize the importance of alignment by stating that certain designs are the solution to great alignment. From different manufacturers, you may be seeing promotions containing a variety of different messages. How do you communicate the keys to great alignment?
I’d love to receive your feedback on this message that I communicate to customers.
Perfect alignment down the target-line accurately synchronizes the putter face, the eyes and the rest of the body. SeeMore’s patented RifleScope Technology (RST)makes it the only putter in the world that helps reinforce that complete system of alignment. Through using a SeeMore Putter, you will build confidence by consistently applying a natural system in putting as RST serves as an indicator.
All players
to reinforce perfect alignment on every putt. All players
(including a “feel player"
)
need a simple system for game improvement. Golfers are often skipping simple steps in their development, and here is the simple formula for you to build confidence in your alignment.
Theory + Application + Belief = Confidence
The definition of confidence is the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something. It’s the state of feeling certain about the truth of something.
Like many things in life, confidence in golf comes from belief in the application of a theory.
Application and belief are essential components in putting. Golfers often buy into a theory and expect confidence, but do not gain it because they were not taught to reinforce the correct application. And who can believe in anything without application?
SeeMore Putter Institute (SPi)team members are sharing the truth that SeeMore is the answer for golfers to follow each essential element to build confidence in putting.
Passionate SPi Team Member, Chris Carfangia (Pine Lakes Country Club in Hubbard, OH) articulates RST’s capabilities to reinforce both theory and application.
“The most wonderful part about the SeeMore Putter Line is the fact that IT IS THE ONLY CLUB ON THE MARKET that promotes the “THEORY” and the “APPLICATION” of the theory…which blend nicely into the SeeMore Putting System. To elaborate, we all know what the “THEORY” is. It is getting our body, arms and head in the correct position to build a consistent stance, posture, alignment, grip and ball position to make a repeatable putting stroke. The “APPLICATION” is just that, the Riflescope Technology. It is how to apply all that we teach and know about our set up to be successful.”
WATCH VIDEO of Big Break Greenbrier Star - Chan Song's around the world putting drill can help you improve your short putting game. (short commercial before video) #ChanBB
Speed instincts? Every year, the speed of the greens at Augusta National Golf Club is one of the main discussion points at the Masters. Below is a thought from Pat O'Brien and SPi Instructor John Higgins.
When consistent contact is achieved, a golfer can correctly develop feel for distance control. By having a correct, neutral setup, the putter can swing as it was designed. Essentially, only one variable remains - the length of the backswing will control the length of the putt. When the golfer does not have to worry about stroke related thoughts, the focus can be on creating a good picture and tapping into the instincts. This is the only true way to match line and speed.
Speed Instinct Drills
1. Draw-Back
Either alone or in competition, draw-back is one of the best games to develop better speed instincts. Every putt that doesn’t reach the hole must be drawn back a club length farther away from the hole. So if a putt is left three feet short of the hole, the player will end up hitting their next putt from approximately 6 feet (If putter is around 35 inches). Each putt that reaches the hole or travels past the hole we will be played traditionally.
Of course, if one competitor is putting with a long putter, hopefully their competitor with the shorter putter will show some mercy and allow everyone to only move the ball back about three feet.
Draw-back teaches the golfers to consider speed when preparing for the putt, because it promotes every player to get the ball to the hole and give it a chance to go in.
2. Eyes Closed
After setting up to the ball utilizing RifleScope Technology (RST), practicing hitting putts with the eyes closed enhances feel and can build confidence in speed control.
3. Fringe Putting
To promote a player to not focus too much on the line of the putt, it’s often effective to practice a speed drill that does not reward a good line. On the green, practice hitting short and long putts while trying to have the ball stop as close to the edge of the green without touching the fringe.
The terms natural and comfortable should not be synonymous, especially not in golf. SeeMore wants to help everyone consistently establish natural, neutral angles at setup. SeeMore’s patented RifleScope Technology (RST) is most beneficial when a golfer understands that establishing correct fundamentals is the most effective way to improve.
To show what a golfer’s body naturally wants to do when setting up to a shot, grab a small item that weighs 2-3 pounds. In this video, a yoga ball, peanut bar jar and a bottle of water are utilized to establish consistent posture and stance on every putt.
Every golfer strives for consistency. Putting is the area of the game where many golfers are the most inconsistent. With belly putters winning multiple PGA Tour events in 2011, more players at all levels are interested in anchoring their putters. The belly putter is now often believed to be the answer to putting woes because it eliminates factors by helping the golfer establish consistent:
Posture
Loft on the putter-face
Release of the putter-head through impact
To see and learn more about the benefits of belly putter, watch this video below.
The belly putter may be right for you if your hands get extremely involved in your stroke or if you have a tendency to decelerate.
Considerations Before You Switch
Note that the players who are having success on the PGA Tour are able to practice with their new technique much more than the majority of avid golfers. Also, many successful belly putter users have committed to using it long-term. It’s not an instant “cure all” as it requires practice just like any other method in putting. Before switching to a belly putter, make sure to take your standard putter and implement a system for putting by practicing establishing consistent:
Eye position
Ball position
Forearm position
Grip
Alignment
If you commit to a system for putting, practice it and you still aren’t putting well, a belly putter may be a welcomed change. Utilizing the patented RifleScope Technology RST, a SeeMore Putter provides a system for feedback and will allow you to develop consistent setup and alignment in both a standard length and a belly putter. To witness the benefits, watch this video. RST Benefits in SeeMore’s Belly and Standard Length Putters
Determining The Length Of Your Belly Putter
You need three things to determine the correct length of a belly putter:
Standard length putter
Yard stick
Access to a mirror
This video on how to fit a belly putter will help you determine the proper length by following the steps mentioned below.How to Fit a Belly Putter
Steps:
Take a yard stick and measure the length of your standard length putter in inches. Measure by keeping the yard stick parallel to the shaft and allowing the ruler to touch the ground next to the base of the club-head.
After determining the posture that you would like to implement with a belly putter, raise the standard length and stabilize it with the end of the grip in your belly. (An athletic posture that allows your eyes to be inside the club-head is recommended)
While keeping the yard-stick parallel to the shaft, measure the distance from the ground to the bottom of the club-head.
Example in the Video: (Club) 35 Inches + (Distance from the bottom of the club to the ground) 9 inches = 44 Inches
Stabilizing Your Belly Putter
A belly putter should be anchored inside, above or below the belly button. The golfer’s body should essentially be split in half to allow the putter to swing naturally. To see why, watch this video. Stabilizing a Belly Putter
SeeMore’s patented RST, known by a visible gun sight on the top line, allows the golfer to set up the putter perfectly each and every time in relation to the intended target line. This is accomplished by lining up the black bottom portion of the shaft between two white lines and covering a signature red dot on the heel of the top line. The process is like locking radar onto a target. The two parallel white sight lines frame the shaft and serve as an indicator that the golfer is in perfect position to make a consistent and reliable stroke.
SeeMore has also recently launched the SeeMore Putting system to golfers in the form of introducing the SeeMore Putter Institute (SPi), where golfers and instructors will be able to come together in person and online to share these fundamental ideas about how to improve putting performance, including the new discussion about belly putters.
SPi is a learning system based on the simple fundamentals of finding proper grip, alignment, stance, and posture that allow a natural, free, and simple putting stroke on each and every putt. It is based on the technology built into the SeeMore putter itself, and on the refined teachings of SeeMore Global Ambassador Pat O’Brien – putting instructor to Zach Johnson, and many other top PGA Tour and developing players. O’Brien has been teaching the SeeMore System around the world for more than 12 years, ever since he watched his good friend the late Payne Stewart benefit from the SeeMore putting system to win 1999 US Open and lead the tour in putting statistics that year.
While SeeMore continues to provide a must-needed edge in scoring and our fan base strengthens, we have enjoyed discovering many celebrities who have become loyal fans of our product. American rock band, Matchbox 20, has been one of the most successful bands over the past fifteen years. With albums reaching certified Diamond and 4x Platinum in the United States, Matchbox 20 has generated a tremendous fan base worldwide. Last week, I received a call from their bass guitarist and backup vocalist, Brian Yale, who is a huge fan of SeeMore. Brian purchased his first SeeMore in 2007, a m1 SS Platinum. Music fans have been purchasing multiple Matchbox 20 albums for over a decade because they love the product. Following Brian’s success with our system, he purchased a mFGP shortly after to collect another one of his favorite products.
While Brian was in the Nashville area recording a new album with Rob Thomas and the band, he made sure to take advantage of our tour fitting process available at Headquarters. I really enjoyed working with Brian, especially because of his fun personality and something that I learned while teaching him our putting system. I noticed that Brian’s speed control was especially consistent. After complimenting him on his control, Brian explained his way of utilizing music by singing in his head to keep track of the beat. Singing a song can be a fantastic way to work on the rhythm of your putting stroke and develop better consistency with your speed.
After equipping Brian with a system for putting, we custom built him our SeeMore ONE CS model at 34 inches with a 68 degree lie angle and a red Tour Classic grip. Through the SeeMore Putter Institute (SPi), consumers have other options besides SeeMore Headquarters to learn from an expert in putting. Instructors and fitters around the world are becoming SPi Certified. If you’re interested in learning from a SPi instructor or becoming one yourself, please visit http://www.seemore.com/institute/.
See the video footage below from Brian and his visit to SeeMore.
My Favorite Putting Drill
In a GOLF.com exclusive video, 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson demonstrates his favorite putting drill and talks about his philosophies of putting.