SAM SNEAD
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When Sam Snead experienced a bout with the "YIPS", he first adopted the successful croquet style of putting. After winning a number of tournaments the USGA felt the technique was contrary to the "essence" of the game and promptly ruled it to be illegal to stand astride, on or directly behind your line of putt while on the putting surface.
Sam simply put his right foot to the left of the line and continued to face his target line. This, even more effective technique called "sidesaddle" today, enabled Sam to go on to a career total of 83 PGA wins... the record that still stands today. |
Many a great golfer has faded away because of putting woes. In fact, if you look back on the senior career of Sam Snead, he almost walked away until he found a remedy for his putting affliction. Sam was more than just a pretty swing, he was quite innovative and he developed a new method of putting croquet style.
Of course this style was rejected by the USGA so he took things one step further and, emulated a guy he had seen putting in England; this guy hit putts facing the hole and putting kind of sidesaddle. Snead found this motion similar to pitching horseshoes.
This straightforward stroke may be the wave of the future for those seeking a better way to get the ball into the hole. In fact, while surfing the web recently I found a company by the name of "The Way Putters" that has developed a putter to be used in just this way.
You face the hole and are able to see the ball, the break and the cup all at the same time. There is no rotation of the head back and forth to try to find your line, you just aim and hit the ball, as easy as pie.
I recently contacted the company and spoke with Tim Tingestad about his product and this curious method of putting. I found it all in keeping with the Dave Pelz theory of a pendulum stroke. Straight back and straight through, only with you eyes directly behind the ball.
Tim sent me a 48-inch version of the putter to experiment with and I'm glad I tried it out. Long putters have always scared me and this was no exception. However, I was surprised to find that on putts of between thirty and sixty feet, after a few practice strokes, I was able to control my distance as well as, if not better than, with a conventional putter.
I also found, to my amazement, that I was able to read the break in my putts as well as when I was fourteen years old. It was like going back in time to my youth when I could read greens with the best of them. This is a skill that I lost when I took 15 years away from the game. For some reason, being behind the ball in this manner seemed to open up my eyes to the true break on a putt.
-- Lee Wilcox : host of The Golf Guys Radio show heard weekly on over 550 radio stations in 160 countries and Editor of GolfGuysRadioShow.com
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DAVE PELZ
Dave Pelz, who long has been regarded in the US and around the world as the world's expert on putting, says of front-on or sidesaddle putting ... "This technique produced the consistently best putting I've ever seen, and it is legal."
In Chapter 3 of his book Dave Pelz's Putting Bible, he determined that the underlying premise for all methods of putting is this: "Simpler is better." And on page 39 of his book, Pelz does not hold back when discussing the merits of sidesaddle style putting with a long putter, saying:
"Someone else started with Sam Snead's sidesaddle style and made a modification of his own, which produced the best putting I've seen to this day. Rather, than using a standard-length putter, a fellow came to me putting sidesaddle, but with a longer-than-normal putter. He stood beside the putting line facing the hole and swung the putter along a perfect vertical pendulum, with his top hand and the top of the putter tucked under his armpit... (I don't recommend this technique but it seems to have some merit.) He leaned over to set his eyes directly over the putting line, then balanced his weight by extending one foot away from the line.
"I can't remember the name of the man who figured this out, but I give him credit: He found something that really does work. He started every putt by standing directly behind the ball and pointed from his ball to a spot out in front of it on his intended starting line. Then he addressed the ball and again pointed down the line to make sure he was aligned correctly.
Finally, he stroked the ball and held his finish pointing at the same spot again exactly down the putt starting line."
"This Sidesaddle (Front-On) technique produced the consistently best putting I've ever seen, and it is legal."
~Dave Pelz
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Recommended by the Mayo Clinic as the top cure for the "YIPS"
NOTE: Resolved Problem Segment:
Bob Jensen, the long drive professional with the bad case of the yips depicted in this video will be using one of my reverse shafted sidesaddle putters on the Champions Tour this year... Keep watching!
UPDATE from Bob Jensen 06/09/05
Karl
I just wanted to thank you again for sending me the putter. It has been about 2 months now and my putting is so much better. I had 27 putts today which is my best ever. I also updated my web site to show you as a sponsor and give you credit on the yips page.
I have been working on some swing changes that are really helping also.
In July I will be trying to qualify for the Kentucky Open and the US Senior Open.
Thanks again,
Bob
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GRANT WAITE
PGA TOURING PROFESSIONAL
($38,855) (Current ranking 232) (3 cuts made last 6)
Althought near the top in most stats, he ranks second to the bottom in putting due to the "yips". After Curtis Strange suggested he try putting sidesaddle, he visited this site and called me Sat. morning (10/22). I have sent him a "SIDEWINDER" which he intends to use right away on tour and the Q School.
Good luck Grant!
You have gained quite a large number of new followers who will be watching your progress.
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JOHNNY MILLER
Ranks eighth on the all-time list for victories in a single season with eight in 1974...First player elected to PGA TOUR Hall of Fame, part of World Golf Hall of Fame, in 1996.
Miller Talks Golf
Golf Digest June 2005
TRY SNEAD'S SIDESADDLE
"Forgotten amid the huge variety of putting grips, stances and strokes is the sidesaddle method Sam Snead used in the latter part of his career."
"CURTIS STRANGE says he's thinking about using it on the Champions Tour, but frankly I'm surprised no one has put it into play already because it's a terrific way to putt."
"The sidesaddle method is a close to a perfect pendulum stroke as you can get." "A straight back, straight through motion that is easy to repeat." "It's hard for the putter to twist away from square and there is no breaking of the wrists." "And it's the only method where you look down the line of play with your eyes level with the horizon." "With this triangulated vision perspective, it's easy to see the line."
"One day soon, someone is going to adopt Sam's style, and when that happens, a long line of imitators will surely follow."
~Johnny Miller with Guy Yocom
GOLF DIGEST.
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Robert Bruce Kennedy
Pendulum Putters
Austrailia
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He made himself a stick he could "bowl" the ball with and his first upright sidesaddle putter was born. The immediate success of this model led to several prototypes, a lot of holed putts, media interest and ultimately a collision course with professional golf. On the way he got a little tired of the many jibes that his new putter was "not traditional" and therefore should not be used. |
He decided to research the history of golf to see just what was "traditional" and what was not.
The accepted view is that golf began in the Scottish Highlands when Shepherds, no doubt bored out of their brains, began knocking leather balls into rabbit holes with their upturned shepherds crooks. HOLD ON! A shepherds crook is about the same length as a broomstick or sidesaddle putter! Talk about tradition. When someone talks to Bruce about tradition these days, he asks politely, "which century are we talking about mate?
FYI: "Actually the Dutch invented the game long before but it didn't become popular until the Scots made some changes." ~the Putt Guru
"The very first traditional Pendulum Putter (a welded up prototype - See pix above.) was just a week old when it was first used by Australian Professional Terry Price in a final stage qualifying tournament for the Japanese Tour in September 1998.
Finishing position? - 1st outright.
The second outing for the putter was two weeks later in a further qualifying tournament for the Japanese Tour.
Finishing position? – 1st outright.
The third outing was a couple of weeks later at the Australian PGA Championship in Sydney.
Finishing position? – 2nd outright.
Hmmmm. What you might call a promising start! Maybe we're on the right track!At the conclusion of the Australian PGA Tour (April 1999) Bruce decided to take the leap into the unknown and commercially produce a range of Pendulum Putters for the golfing public.The first putters (handcrafted in Australia) were ready for use in July 1999.
Familiar with
The Australian Pendulum Putting System ?
To date it's been used to win :
THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
THE AUSTRALIAN MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP 2003
THE AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP 2002 AND 2004
FIVE INTERNATIONAL PGA TOURNAMENTS
TOP FIVE FINISHES ON THE US/CANADIAN/EUROPEAN/ASIAN AND AUSTRALASIAN PGA TOURS
NSW PRO-AM ORDER OF MERRIT AWARD 2002, 2003, 2004
150+ AUSTRALASIAN PRO-AM EVENTS
But that’s in Professional Golf.
What’s been really impressive is the enormous improvement that amateur golfers are achieving when they get their hands on the system (and the custom built Pendulum Putters that go with it).
Many amateurs improve from having 40+ putts a round to 30 putts a round or better.
 Peter Lonard PGA Tour Professional
" I have tried a lot of putters, but nothing rolls the ball as purely as the Pendulum " Lonard said during his rampaging run in the US last year.
The brilliant putting by the " New Lonard " has included the 20 metre 'Australian Putt Of The Year' to tie for the lead in the Australian PGA, 20 putts in 18 holes to shoot an Australian record 60 at Twin Waters in the Jack Newton Classic and had only 9 putts in the final 11 holes in his World match play Championship Semi-final.
With his machine-like swing of the Pendulum broomstick, Lonard has cast off the perpetual critics' tag " if only he could putt " to become a wizard on the green. Source :The Golfer May 2003
Last summer 2004, Peter Lonard won the NSW Open, the Australian Open and the Australian PGA Championships using his Australian Pendulum Broomstick putter.
 Jeff Wagner PGA Professional NSW Order of Merit Winner 2002, 03, 04
" The Aussie Pendulum putting system dead set rescued my pro career. For 15 years I’d putted with high levels of anxiety . (a legacy of US College Golf) As anyone on the Australian PGA scene will tell you, i've gone from one of the most troubled to one of the best putters out there.
Every amateur golfer in the world should be using this system. "
 Mike Etherington PGA Tour Professional
" I witnessed the most amazing display of pure putting I had ever seen ever and while writing an article about the 'Pendulum Guy' for the Golf Digest magazine in August 1999. I immediately started using the putting system he developed and I’Ave putted at a very high level, consistently, ever since.
My advice to amateur golfers? If you want to take 5 to 10 shots off your game… Forget the new $800 drive r.. Get this putting system. Seriously. "
 Steve Ratcliffe PGA AAA Professional
" I've been a PGA Golf pro for 30 years. I first met Bruce Kennedy at the 2001 PGA Golf Show where I was introduced to the Pendulum Putting System. What I was shown was a quantum leap forward in putting mechanics. Not only was I shown the flaws in conventional putting, I was given a System that eliminated these problems and Knowledge that addressed the fundamentals of the the Pendulum Putting System, such as eliminating the arc for a pure pendulum stroke. Rolling the ball for greater distance control and the ability to use binocular vision to aim the putter and send the ball along the correct path.
With this system and the proper tool ( a Pendulum Putter ), golfers at all levels can dramatically improve their putting. "
 Andrea Davis Golf Teacher
" As for most amateur golfers, putting has always been the weak part of my game. BUT NOT ANYMORE.
In my opinion, every amateur golfer will improve their putting substantially by adopting this system. I did. "
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By PETER KOSTIS
Contributing Writer, GOLF MAGAZINE: "I was lucky enough to play a lot of golf with Sam Snead in the 1970s and ’80s, and at the Slammer’s request I tried his infamous sidesaddle putting stance." " It worked. With my toes pointed at the hole, I made everything for about six months—in practice rounds." " I never dreamed of using it in competition, out of fear my opponents would think I was a head case." "Back then, unconventional putting techniques were seen as desperate measures for desperate players." "They carried a stigma." "Not anymore."
"Chris DiMarco has been clawing around for five years." " Mark O’Meara, long one of the best putters on Tour, won this year in Dubai using a claw variant." "Briny Baird has a stance so closed it looks like he’s trying to sneak up on the ball." "Any day now I expect to see a Tour pro start putting one-legged, like a flamingo."
"Throw in the belly putter and cross-handed grips and the conventional is starting to seem unconventional."
"Quick prediction: Don’t be surprised to see Vijay Singh, who used a belly putter for three years, someday abandon the conventional putter and grip he used to win the Buick Open, PGA Championship and Deutsche Bank Championship." "His mindset: If he finds something he thinks will help him, he does it."
"Not long ago I saw a guy use a claw grip on a belly putter!" "And to him I say, Good for you."
"The game is about getting the ball in the hole—period. At a time when swings have become less like fingerprints than photocopies, golf needs all the quirks it can get." ~Peter Kostis - GOLF MAGAZINE
When you consider the relatively tiny segment of ordinary golfers who are clever enough to use this technique, their successes against the overwhelming numbers of conventional putters is an anomaly simply too compelling to ignore.
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SUSIE MAXWELL BERNING
...of Incline Village, Nev., won the women's United States Open and a $6,000 prize in July, 1972 in Rochester, N.Y. It was her second straight U.S. Open victory and third in six years. Her five-stroke margin was achieved with a sidesaddle putting style and a putter her husband bought for $5 in an Oklahoma City pawnshop three months earlier.
Only three women have ever won 3 US Opens .
(Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Hollis Stacy were the others.)
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BUTCH SHEEHAN
(Brother of LPGA star Patty Sheehan)
Three consecutive sub-par rounds helped him post his first top-10 finish as a senior, a T7 at the BellSouth Senior Classic at Opryland...Also T7 at the AT&T Canada Senior Open thanks to three consecutive sub-70 rounds at the Essex Golf & CC. Posted his low round on the Champions Tour at the event, a second-round 66 (later matched with a final-round 66 at the Napa Valley Championship)...Earned conditional exemption for the 2003 season after finishing 14th at the 2002 Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament at World Woods GC in Florida in November. Had finished in a four-way tie for 11th.
2001: Earned a conditional exemption at the Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament in California by placing 10th at the PGA of Southern California GC.
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MIKE BATY
PGA CHAMPIONS TOUR
Senior tour rookie Mike Baty takes my original ComfortZone putter for a spin while fine tuning for his professional debut in the Las Vegas Senior Classic at TPC at the Canyons.
MIKE BATY SHOOTS A RECORD 62 WITH ONLY 22 PUTTS TO WIN THE SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY TITLE ONE MONTH AFTER CLAIMING THE STOCKTON CITY CHAMPIONSHIP... THEN TURNS PROFESSIONAL IN MAY OF 1999
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MARTY FLECKMAN
"I've never seen anything easier to use..."
Former PGA Tour Pro Marty Fleckman is a believer in sidesaddle. His awards include the Texas Amateur Championship, three College Team Championships, an NCAA individual Championship, member of the U.S. Walker Cup Team, competitor in the US Open, winner of his first PGA event (one of only four players to do so), and a member of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame. Today Marty conducts corporate and charitable golf clinics and provides private instruction to golfers of all levels.
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Robert W. "Bob" Duden
September 5, 1920 - March 22, 1995
Bob Duden compiled one of the most astonishing records in the history of sectional golf competition. In a professional career that stretched more than 40 years, he won over 50 titles, including 23 major Pacific Northwest Section events. These included a remarkable eight Oregon Open championships, captured between 1952 and 1973. Duden grew up in Portland and made it his home all his life. He played successfully on the PGA Tour in the 1950’s and '60’s and won one event and tied for second in three others between 1959 and 1964. He was recognized as one of the finest fairway wood players in history.
Bob invented the croquet style putter, which he called "The Dude" and later pioneered the sidesaddle putting style.
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MORE UPDATES
Email 04/14/05:
Craig Sigl
www.break80golf.com
Break 80 Inc.
Dear Karl,
I am so glad I ran into your website.
I have really struggled for 30 years with my putting. I tried so many putters and every technique and nothing worked for me until I tried Sidesaddle with your Comfortzone Putter. It was nothing short of miraculous.
I have since been recommending it to all of my clients as an instant cure for the yips or any other difficulty with their putting game.
I'm still in disbelief when I see my ball go exactly where I aim it in my setup.
This technique is perfect for those who are to busy to practice their game. Now all I have to do is figure out how to read greens!
Thanks again,
Craig Sigl
www.break80golf.com
Break 80 Inc.
NOTE FROM WEBMASTER:
I ordered Break 80 Without Practicing from Craig so that I might write a review for his web site. I was so impressed that I have added this unique and effective product to my product line CLICK HERE
The nay sayers think it's an (unfair?) advantage.
ERNIE ELS
ST. LEON-ROT, Germany (AP) -- Ernie Els called for a ban on long putters Thursday, saying the club distorted the game by making putting too easy.
The South African said the pendulum effect helped players stay calm, but that wasn't part of golf.
"I think the club should be banned,'' said the former British and U.S. Open winner. `"Nerves and putting, I think is part of the game. It's become such an easy way to putt. You can make a perfect stroke.''
"Maybe Ernie's calm demeanor should be banned... It's an unfair advantage"
~the Puttguru
COLIN MONTGOMERIE
Colin Montgomerie, who switched to a "broomhandle" in 2002, has called for long putters to be declared illegal. However, such a move would almost certainly administer the kiss of death to the careers of more than a handful of top players.
"Can't stand the heat he gets from it so now he wants it banned?"
~the Putt Guru
HARVEY PENICK
Harvey Penick - "The Little Red Book" - advocates that the USGA should require both hands to touch during the putting stroke.
"I think Harvey is probably the best teacher of the game ever, but I'll bet he's rolling over in his grave at all of golf's modern technology." "If he had his way, we'd still be playing wooden shafts and gutta purcha balls."
"Let's keep on making the game as much fun as we can for the average player ( within reason of course.) so long as some players are not allowed to use something another player can't."
Imagine the outrage of some of these hypocrites if sidesaddler and Champions tour players Butch Sheehan or Mike Baty (see above) should win.
Fortunately the USGA has no intention of banning long putter techniques... including sidesaddle. An attempt was made in 2004 but was it was rejected.
~the Puttguru
The Associated Press
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- The broomhandle putter will stay as an approved club, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club said Thursday.
The body, which oversees the world rules of golf with the USGA, said there was no reason to outlaw the club, which has been used by European pros like Sam Torrance and Bernhard Langer.
"We are unconvinced that there is a sufficiently strong groundswell of opinion for a change, and so we were disinclined to make the club unlawful," the Royal and Ancient said in a statement.
Ian Pattinson, chairman of the R and A Rules of Golf Committee, said some golfers feel they would no longer be able to play with a normal putter.
"People tend to either like the broomhandle or loathe it," he said. "There are those who maintain it is not golf as they would like golf to be, but we also received letters from people who have played for 40 or 50 years who said that if it was not for the long putter they would not still be playing.''
The Royal and Ancient is one of the game's two rules-making authorities, the other being the United States Golf Association, and the new edition of the rules is the product of four years' work by both organizations.
