Alright, so I’ve been messing around with my putter setup lately, inspired by Patrick Cantlay. I saw that he switched things up, going from his usual Scotty Cameron to an Odyssey 2-Ball. That got me thinking, maybe I should experiment a bit, too.
First off, I started digging into Cantlay’s style. I noticed he’s been killing it on the greens, especially at the BMW Championship. I mean, winning in a playoff on the sixth hole? That’s some serious putting. I watched a bunch of his rounds, paying close attention to his stroke and how he lines up his putts.
Then, I got to work on my own gear. I don’t have a Scotty Cameron, but I do have a decent putter that I’ve been using for a while. It’s nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. I started by adjusting my grip. I used to have a pretty standard grip, but after watching Cantlay, I tried out a few different styles.
- Experimenting with Grips: I tried the reverse overlap, the claw, and even the prayer grip. It felt weird at first, but I could see how these different grips could change the feel and control of the putter.
- Stance and Alignment: I also messed around with my stance. I tried a wider stance, a narrower stance, and even tried opening and closing my stance to see how it affected my stroke. I also worked on my alignment, making sure my feet, hips, and shoulders were all square to the target line.
- Stroke Practice: Then came the hours of practice. I spent a lot of time on the putting green, just working on my stroke. I tried to mimic Cantlay’s smooth, pendulum-like motion. I focused on keeping my head still and accelerating through the ball. It wasn’t easy, and there were definitely some frustrating moments, but I started to see some improvement.
Now, I’m not saying I’m putting like Cantlay now, but I’ve definitely noticed a difference. I feel more confident over the ball, and my consistency has improved. And it’s not just about the physical changes. I also noticed that I’m reading greens better. I’m paying more attention to the slope and the speed, just like I saw Cantlay doing.
One thing I realized is that it’s not just about the putter itself. Cantlay uses some Vokey wedges too, a 47 degree and a 52 degree. I don’t have those, but I do have a couple of wedges that I’ve been practicing with. It’s all about the short game, right?
Changing My Approach
So, I’ve been working on my chipping and pitching, trying to get the ball closer to the hole so I have easier putts. It’s all connected. Cantlay’s success isn’t just about his putting, it’s about his whole short game.
It’s been a fun experiment, and I’m definitely going to keep working on it. Who knows, maybe I’ll even switch putters eventually. But for now, I’m just enjoying the process of trying new things and seeing what works for me. It’s all about finding what makes you feel comfortable and confident on the course.
And hey, if Cantlay can make a major change and find success, maybe there’s hope for the rest of us! Just remember, it takes time, patience, and a whole lot of practice. But that’s what makes it fun, right? Keep grinding, folks!
