Without any doubt whatsoever, putting is the most critical golf skill that needs to be acquired to become not only proficient in putting, but to be a good/low handicapper. Yet, after all is said and done, all the articles written, usage endorsements paid to pros, putting is the most elusive skill for a golfer to acquire.

Confidence in your golf game is built from understanding the correct techniques and how these lead to improved putting. Of course, as Gary Player is fond of saying, “the harder one practices, the luckier one gets”.

While there are many types of putters, golfers should not overlook many additional options to improve their putting by trying different types and grip configurations such as the belly putter, the tall putter, putting left-handed, switch putting, or any of many types of grip options, such as the cross-handed style, the claw, ten-fingered grip, reverse overlap, or split-handed. Take advantage of all the new technical breakthroughs in materials and designs for putters. Find out what works for you, then enjoy the great game of golf to its fullest.

As mental coaches often explain to PGA Tour players, nowhere in the principles of putting and/or rules of golf does the word “right” appear. So why in the world is right-handed the only option that is offered by a majority of golf teachers? It is because golf is such a traditional game. Some of the definitions in Webster’s Dictionary for “traditionalism” are: “an inherited pattern of thought or action”, “the doctrines or practices of those who FOLLOW OR ACCEPT tradition”, and “the beliefs of those opposed to Modernism, liberalism, or even radicalism”. So if you are struggling with your putting, just remember that it takes courage to be different, but the rewards are worth the effort.

Golf is more fun when you are the best putter that you can be, whatever the technique employed and the putter used.

Recently we reviewed three putters that can improve both one’s putting and enjoyment in a remarkably short time:

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TaylorMade’s Mezza Putter

Both Sergio’s victories (also using the TaylorMade new R7 Driver) at the Byron Nelson Classic and Buick Classic in 2004, further solidified what is turning out to be another banner year for the top ranked driver and fairway woods company. Following on the heels of their remarkably well-accepted line of Rossa putters, TaylorMade has introduced their Mezza putter.

Truly a work of art, the visual charisma, sleek and eloquent lines of this aluminum putter are second to none! The deep trapezoidal-shaped mallet style of this putter, together with its superlative alignment guide, exudes confidence. The Mezza’s linear alignment system is made possible by the putter’s trapezoidal shape, into which is installed a pair of Tungsten-Titallium CGB (center of gravity back) pipes that are positioned perpendicular to the clubface and bisected by a white sight-line.

Due to these pipes’ length and weighting, a massive shift of more than 100 grams is moved from the front of the putter head to the rear. This shift of weight transfers the CG (center of gravity) well towards the back of the head, which in turn positively alters launch conditions by increasing the launch angle slightly while reducing backspin. The result is a smooth, nearly bounceless roll right off the putter face.

Additionally, these elements work together to provide a vivid and powerful optical tool that helps the player build a clear image of the target-line, and assists a player to consistently 1) aim the putter face correctly, and 2) swing the putter head down the target-line, consequently rolling the ball with precision and accuracy.

The Mezza is precision-forged of high-strength, 6061 aluminum and finished in a rich gold color via a precision anodizing process that enhances durability and cosmetic appeal. Included is a distinctive-looking red-and-black Medallist grip with Diamond traction, made by Winn, and a new Mezza red-and-black head cover.

The Mezza will be a godsend to those golfers who simply cannot use the Odyssey 2 Ball putter due to that putter’s alignment system. The Mezza will especially be exciting to those golfers who truly benefit from linear alignment. Moreover, both the set up and the feel, derived from the Rossa’s proven soft-yet-solid Titallium insert, are superb. The Mezza is a good option for those who prefer a slightly smaller oversized putter (15% shorter from heel to toe from the original Monza putter), smaller in address size than its competitors such as the Odyssey2-Ball, Bettinardi Big Ben, Futura and the Amazing Grace putters.

MSRP: $189.00 www.rossaputters.com

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Titleist’s Red X2 Putter by Scotty Cameron

The new Red X2 has been a concept that Scotty has been working on for over the past year or two with numerous PGA Tour players and which came to fruition in early 2004. The Red X2 putter, precision milled from a block of steel, is without a doubt, one of the most beautiful, performance oriented mallet designs to come to market. More impressive is the detail involved in producing this “deadly weapon from ten feet in”.

The stainless steel body encapsulates a premium precision milled German stainless steel (GSS) insert that has an elastomer border, which helps achieve the proper sound. The body, insert and sole plate will go through several processes to get to the point where they can all be assembled together. The body is milled to an exact weight, edges rolled and shaped, the face insert is cut and finished and the sole plate, milled from a solid piece of aluminum, is engraved and painted. The sole plate is attached to the body and the face is assembled using an elastomer insert and stainless steel screws, both of which imbue the putter with a distinct sound and feel. The Red X2 has a straight, no offset shaft that is positioned just back of center and features three red dots behind the shaft to get into the proper position at address. When the dots are hidden by the shaft it means the shaft is at 90 degrees and the putter can perform properly with 4 degrees of loft.

The Red X2 has a sister model, the Red X, distinctive in its shaft configuration and absence of the three red dots for alignment.

MSRP: $269.99 www.scottycameron.com

Testing by our group of 25 testers, 10 low handicappers and 15 high handicappers, found all of the putters to perform exceptionally well. As in the case of the Mezza and Red X2, the majority of the testers found that their vision of how the face was aligned and the direction they thought they were aiming simply was not the case. After about an hour of use, many of the testers began sinking putts consistently and their attitudes towards putting changed considerably. Both the Mezza and Red X2 putters also very easily double as a teaching and training aid for all levels of golfers and should find their way into many golf schools in the near future.

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DeLaCruz Golf

Veteran club designer Dick DeLaCruz, whose name now sits above his own golf company, invented the DeLaCruz CP Putter Line, consisting of the CP1 and CP2 Ti models and the Bolero 1 and Bolero2 models.

The two CP models have “Wolfrum 90” inserts and Titanium bodies and are, in fact, the first 100% commercially pure milled titanium putters.

The Bolero models are made from Stainless Steel with a “Micro Alloy” insert and two “Wolfrum 90” counter weights. All of these classic designed putters create exact weight, loft, engraving and many other characteristics from one putter to the next.

Both putter models use Wolfrum 90, which when combined with the CP and Bolero models, creates the largest concentration of mass available on a putter and places the center of the mass right on the ball, no matter where you strike the putter on the shiny stuff. Wolfrum 90, for all you metallurgy buffs, is a gray-white heavy high-melting ductile hard polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and molybdenum in many of its properties and is used especially for electrical purposes and in hardening alloys. Because of its high density, it can only be polished with diamonds to create a mirror finish.

The feel, touch, and distance control of this putter will be sure to bring many smiles to putting artistes’ faces – this putter plays as good as it looks!

MSRP: CP Models: $249.99 Bolero Models: $139.99 Right Handed only. 760.727.3900 www.delacruzgolf.net