Why is this an ideal putt? The is zero side spin and the ball started forward rotation after just one inch. This putt was hit 20 feet and True Roll occured after just 25 inches (10% of the travel distance). The Launch Angle was 1.5 degrees and the result was a smooth roll for the first 12 inches.
|
We can see the negative effects to much cut spin can have on a balls performance. The cut spin number (20) turned red to highlight there was more than an acceptable amount. Because there was to much cut spin, we see the ball skidded for 4 inches before starting forward rotation and bounced significantly for the first 12 inches even though it had an ideal Launch Angle of 1.75 degrees. Common cause of to much cut spin are an outside to inside putting stroke, an open putter face at impact, and a putter with to low a lie angle (heel up in the air).
|
Up to 10 RPM's of hook or cut spin is acceptable. Once you have more than 10 RPM's, the side spin can cause the ball to bounce off its' intended line. In this case the ball had 12 RPM's of hook spin so the number turned red to indicate it was above the ideal amount. Since 12 was just above the ideal limit we can see a small amount of bounce and the launch angle was to low. Common causes of to much hook spin are an inside to outside putting stroke, the putter face closed at impact, and a lie angle that is to high (toe up in the air).
|
This picture shows that the putt had to much skid. While the ball is skidding it is easier for it to be deflected off line by imperfections in the green like ball or spike marks. This deflection can cause a putt that was started on the proper line to miss the hole or loose its' speed to quickly.
|
The ideal launch angle for most greens is between 1.5 and 2 degrees. Slow greens or greens that have a lot of grain require up to 3 degrees of launch angle to get the ball up and riding on top of the grass. If the launch angle is to high, as is the case with the putt shown above, the ball will go to high above the grass and bounce as it's moving towards the hole. While the ball is bouncing, it has a greater chance of being deflected off line by either the side (hook or cut) spin or imperfections in the green. Common causes of having to high a launch angle are breaking your wrist (flipping) just before impact, having the ball to far forward in your stance, or a putter with to much loft.
|
A launch angle that is too low will cause the same problems (ball bouncing as it moves toward the hole) as to high a launch angle. Common causes of too low a launch angle are hitting down on the ball with the putting stroke, having the ball to far back in the stance, and ahving a putter without enough loft.
|
|
