SAM Puttlab For Putting Instruction, Lessons & Coaching Indoor Studio

The first window shows the alignment of the putter face at address and the second shows the putter face through impact. The dotted line exactly represents the calibrated target direction. A putter face 100% square to the target exactly results in 0 degrees.

The two bars on the right side of the graph show the Score rating for average alignment as well as the Consistency over the different putts. The bars are green for ratings above 75%, yellow for ratings between 50% and 75% and red for ratings below 50%.

The first window shows the alignment of the putter face at address and the second shows the putter face through impact. The dotted line exactly represents the calibrated target direction. A putter face 100% square to the target exactly results in 0 degrees.

The two bars on the right side of the graph show the Score rating for average alignment as well as the Consistency over the different putts. The bars are green for ratings above 75%, yellow for ratings between 50% and 75% and red for ratings below 50%.

This graph displays the path of the putter viewed from above during back swing (dotted lines) and forward swing (solid lines). The different putts are indicated by different colors, with the first putt at the top.

The most common compensation found in PGA Tour players is a putter path pointing to the left and a putter face slightly open at impact. Many Tour players tend to aim the face to the right edge of the hole because they know that they tend to pull the putt under pressure. In addition to pulling many players also manipulate the putter face through impact under pressure. Consequently the players are more concerned about a closed putter face at impact with a putter path pointing to the right.

Please note that the effect of errors in putter path direction on ball direction is about 4 times less than errors in putter face alignment at impact. This means that a 1 degree open putter face at impact has the same effect on ball direction as a putter path pointing 4 degrees to the right.

This graph exactly shows where you hit the ball on your putter face. The horizontal and vertical lines in the middle of the putter face represent the geometrical centre of the putter which normally represents the sweet spot.

The two bars on the right side of the graph show the Score rating for the horizontal impact spot as well as Consistency over the different putts.

Please note that the horizontal hit distance as measured on the putter face directly refers to the calibration. In this case the horizontal distance of about 3.5 mm indicates that the ball is hit on average 3.5 mm to the toe as compared with the calibration position (which should be exactly at the centre of the putter).

This graph shows the putter face angle at different positions in the forward swing: At the start of the forward swing (right), at impact (middle) and at the end (left) of forward swing. The red lines indicate the deviation of the putter angles from the square alignment.

Under the putter face pictures, the corresponding angles are shown. In this case the putter face is open 2.3 degrees at the start of forward swing. (Because the putter face was closed -0.3 degrees at address, it has rotated opened 2.6 degrees during the back swing.)

At impact the putter face is closed -0.8 degrees. The value above the blue arrow shows the corresponding closing of the putter face to impact of -1.7 degrees. From impact to end the club face is closed another -4.4 degrees and is then -5.2 degrees closed at the end of forward swing.

In the middle of the graph the face rotation for a fixed area of +/- 10 cm before and after impact is shown. The rotation inside of this fixed area is independent of the length of the putter path and allows to directly compare the rotation of putts with different path lengths. In this case the rotation inside of 10 cm before impact amounts to -1.7 degrees and the rotation inside of 10 cm after impact amounts to -1.5 degrees.

The two bars on the right side of the graph show the Score rating for the rotation at impact as well as the Consistency over the different putts. This player shows a rotation of 3.2 degrees inside of an area of +/- 10 cm around impact. The preferred amount of rotation as measured on the Tour inside of this range is about 1 to 3 degrees. The score level of 98% is very high and corresponds to a rate of rotation at impact of 18.7 °/s. The consistency of rotation around impact is excellent at 97%.

This graph shows a horizontal side view of the putter path during back swing (dotted lines) and forward swing (solid lines) and a side view of the putter face at impact.

Firstly, the graph provides information on the shaft angle at impact which will directly affect ball roll. Any deviation from vertical is indicated with a shaded red line.

Secondly, the side view of putter path allows us to view the angle of attack into the ball which can help gauge the correct ball position and/or weight position.

This report exactly indicates how the putter face is aligned on the putter path around impact and shows the deviation from square alignment. For a natural stroke the path can be slightly arced, but the putter face will always be square to the path.

The graph shows the putter path in top view in a range of 30 cm or 12 inches around impact. The vertical lines represent the putter face angle along the path in the displayed area.

The different colors of the lines show how the putter face is aligned relatively to the direction of the path (NOT TO THE TARGET!).

The Score bar on the right side gives an overall rating of the Face on Path parameter. This will include also areas of the swing that are not visible in the path graphics. The Face On Path angle is measured against the path direction for every displayed line, NOT against the target alignment. If the face is square on path at impact, then the ball is going exactly in the direction where face and path are pointing to. If the putt still misses the target, then the complete body alignment is off.

The description of movement dynamics includes speed (velocity) and acceleration within backswing and forward swing. Movement dynamics are not directly related to putting technique. Movement dynamics rather show the motor skill level and the movement strategies underlying movement planning and execution. Backswing and forward swing curves are separated and displayed in two graphs only for educational purposes.

Speed

Movement speed is always zero at the beginning and the end of a swing. The maximum speed lies approximately in the middle of the movement (bell shaped profile). The speed curves should be smooth and regular for automated movement execution.

Acceleration

The acceleration signal directly corresponds to the speed signal: Acceleration is change of speed over time. High acceleration means fast increase of speed. Zero acceleration means constant speed. Negative acceleration means decreasing speed.

Impact

The moment of impact is indicated with a vertical stripe in the speed data. In the acceleration curve the impact with the ball can be identified by a steep cusp because the impact decelerates the putter face for a short moment. The characteristic of speed and acceleration signals provide important information on the movement strategy of the player.

Backswing

Backswing duration is generally shorter than forward swing duration. The backswing starts smoothly. At the end of the backswing there is a sharp change from back to forward swing in the acceleration signal. Backswing and forward swing should not be two separate movements. These are the typical characteristics of a committed putting technique. Backswing duration of 600-700 ms is in the optimal range.

Transition

The transition from backswing to forward swing is done with out a movement pause. This means that there is a steep change from backswing to forward swing with a little release of the putter at the top of the backswing. Hands are a little in front of the putter head at this point. Hands and arms should be stable and firm but not stiff. Stiff limbs do not provide proper feedback from the movement.

Forward Swing

Forward swing starts approximately at the level where backswing ended. So a committed beginning of forward swing already starts with a committed end of backswing and a steep transition. The acceleration profile allows us to identify the putting technique of the player. For a swing putting technique acceleration starts at a high level and is then constant until impact. For a hit putting technique acceleration increases steeply just before impact (to more than double), and after impact acceleration decreases steeply. For this player shown in the graph, acceleration increases slightly, but it is still a swing type stroke. Forward swing duration of 700 - 800 ms is in the optimal range.

Consistency

Automated movements should be executed each time in exactly the same way. The acceleration signal in particular is extremely sensitive and shows all details of movement execution. This refers to the form of the signals, to height and position of the peaks, and to duration of the movements. For this player the accuracy of the movement repetitions is very high, which indicates a high degree of automation.

Timing & Rhythm are generally guiding human movements. Consistent timing and rhythm are crucial for high consistency of the complete stroke. Proper rhythm and timing are the basic principles in skilled movement performance.

The graph shows the time of backswing, the time from beginning of forward swing to impact, and the time of the complete forward swing in bar charts. Time to impact is also marked with a horizontal line inside of the forward swing bar. The grey areas indicate the preferred range of the timings of the PGA Tour sample. The average time values are shown below the bars.

The absolute times can differ between different stroke types, more aggressive (committed) players show smaller times in all sections and more cautious (anxious) players show higher times. However, rhythm and timing (the relation of the components) should then still be in a preferred range. This means, rhythm and timing are always the same but the complete stroke can be somewhat slower or faster.