Customer Reviews

The Science of Putting

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book takes a little bit different approach to putting instruction by using a series of "machines" to describe how to putt. After a while you realize that you are that machine and that if you substitute "person" for "machine", you have some great advice for putting. My occupation as a patent attorney may have made me appreciate the quirky golf inventions more than most. However, that feature is just another little thing that sets this book apart from more serious instructional texts. I believe this book to be just as important to me as the other "must read" I have on my shelf: Mr. Hogan's Modern Fundamentals. Buy this book. You will enjoy it.

This book describes the principles of putting using descriptions of "machines" that are built for putting. After a while you realize that the machines are really your arms, shoulders, etc. The book is sprinkled with interesting quotes about putting and the game of golf in general. The author has also included many short descriptions of may patented golf gimmicks from long ago. This book would make a good addtion to the golfer's library. I highly recommend it.

Written by an engineer who has a feel for the "human" aspects of putting performance, Rik does a good job of presenting a whole lot of valuable information. Ch 2 asks ... is putting an art or science? He correctly says it's both and gives some good rationale for why this is true. "Newton's Obvious Apple" is the knowledge foundation for rolling the ball on different putting surfaces. TAaSoP provides one of the best presentations of necessary "pre-putt" knowledge I have read. Rik presents a very important point about how well tour pros really putt. When a recreational golfer understands pros are consistently well above average rather than great putters, Joe Golf can be more realistic about his/her own performance. Knowing where you stand can lead to some relaxation and improved performance. Reading, understanding and applying pages 37 and 38 is worth the price of the book plus the time/effort to read it.

Chs 8&9, offer good info about how our bio-machine affects putting. These chapters are a little geeky, but offer some good info about why the human machine moves the putter in different ways. The implication is, set the machine and it will run in a predictable manner. "A Basic Putting Method" presented in Ch 9 along with Tips and Helpful Items" in Ch 10 will help your game. The remainder of the book will help you get to sleep at night!

The graphics were terrible... in golf books, I think it's important to see actual "forms", actual "grips", etc. Here, I found machines, robot-look-alikes & engineering drawings. Uhmm.. this book is no fun, it shows you how golf can be very boring.

The book is great. It has helped my putting just a ton! This book was the best purchase I've ever made I love it!