This isn’t your fathers Level

Ok…this is one of those thing I wish I developed. In a strange way it was something that I taught in almost every putting lesson I ever gave. How to read “break” on the green is more art than science, but this little pocket sized aid is simple science, and that is its magical awesomeness!

The Sure Putt Green Reader is a spirit level. A spirit level gets it’s name due to the “spirit”, normally ethanol that is not completely filled within the “tube” or disk resulting in a bubble. This bubble acts as a guide to measure the horizontal (level) or the vertical (plumb). The use of a “spirit” like ethanol is critical because it will move quickly due to the lack of surface tension between the housing, and it will not freeze in cold temperatures like water. The Sure Putt to be precise, it is a bull’s eye level.   It measures leveling in two planes, which allows the user to see up, down and left and right (for you boaters.. Pitch and Roll).

The Sure Putt

The first thing you notice about the Sure Putt is it’s size and weight. Normally we like small and compact. At 2.25 inches the Sure Putt is larger than a quarter, but smaller than a Toyota. It weighs a lot more than a quarter and comes in at 60 grams. The level housing is encased in machined anodized aluminum. That means it won’t rust, and is fairly sturdy. Accidentally dropping it won’t damage the “bubble” , and face it, you’ll be using it on the putting green.

What makes this product tick is the engraved collar around the bubble level face. Since it is anodized aluminum, it can be etched. This means the Sure Putt can be custom tailored to almost any promotional branding you can think of.

Made here in the US, the Sure Putt retails for $39.99. Available in 10 colors, the Sure Putt comes in a packaged box with directions and a pouch.

Ease of Use

If a product is easy to use and delivers the goods, them I’m all about it. I think the Sure Putt Green Reader is…um..stupid easy. Simply place the Sure Putt on the green with the etched arrow pointing to the hole and look down at the dial. The dial is broken down into four quadrants (and a bulls eye, the bubble can rest in the center which means it’s level both up/down and left/right) If the bubble is in the upper right, the putt is uphill and breaks left. A bubble in the upper left would mean an uphill breaking right… Lower left, downhill right…Lower right, downhill left. See it’s not that hard.

When to use the Sure Putt

Now we can’t be using this during the club championship, but this is a very useful practice tool. When practicing on the putting green use the Sure Putt to figure out those tricky putts that “look” like they break one way, but don’t. The idea is to use this tool to help visualize how your putt will roll while on the green. It can re-enforce your Shot IQ.

I would recommend using this to find where the break begins. Example:

• Pick a 5 foot putt with some break either left or right
• Pick your target- line (Since it has break, the target-line should not be a straight line from your ball to the hole)
• Visualize where the putt begins to break and mark it with a golf tee and place the Sure Putt in front of the tee with the arrow (kinda like a compass) pointed to the hole
• Read the dial and see if the data from the Sure Putt matches what you “think” the ball should be doing
• If it shows that you thought right then great, if not…then we need to re-visualize how the putt will break

This is the strength of the Sure Putt….It takes guess work out of the equation. I mean we can dial in where break begins, and by knowing this information and acting on it, we can work on getting the correct speed.

Overall Opinion

I think Brian Lemke, President of Sure Putt Golf has a great teaching aid in the Sure Putt Green Reader. It is simple to use and gives great feedback.

Sure Putt will train your eye to see the subtle contours that can make even a short putt difficult. The more you use it, the better your putting game will be. You can stop talking about the putt that got away…..Sure Putt will get you out of all your little green lies!

It was one of the best products I saw this past weekend at the Chicago Golf Show, and was worth the $23 dollars I spent getting in. I also think it makes a great promotional give-away, and I’m going to try to work out a deal for Dogleg Right Golf. If you need one (and I think you do) contact Sure Putt Golf by following the link and check it out yourself.

sureputtgolf.com

Golf is a game of both physical and mental ability.  During the off season, it is important to keep the mind in golf shape.

You can read a book, you can watch video’s or listen to some great pod-casts.  You can also strengthen your mental ability.

Visualization is a component, often overlooked, of every golfers game.  The ability to clearly see the shot, prior to even taking a swing is vital.  People often comment on my game.  Like “how do you play so fast” or “sorry I didn’t mean to talk during your swing” …I don’t take long on the tee, over a shot, or on the green.  Why?

Simple.  I’ve already determined my shot in about 30 seconds.  I don’t waste brain energy thinking too much.  That is what most golfers do…think too much!  Analysis through Paralysis.

During a round of golf I survey my shot, this is during the time I’m either riding to the ball, or walking to it.  I take my time to get the distance, the wind, the position of the flag.  I take a look at the lie of the ball….then my brain sees the shot while I’m reaching for the correct club. Will it be a high draw? Low “skipper” to the pin.  Do I want to be right or left of the pin? Seriously it takes me 30 seconds. Why?  Because I’ve hit thousands of balls, and know what my game can or can’t do.  I go with the odds.  Do I ever change my mind? Yes, but I don’t waste time.  I focus only on the outcome that I can visually see.

How do you build your visual ability?

Simple.  At the end of reading this sentence, I want you to look around your surroundings for 10 seconds, then close your eyes and see all the things in your “area” Get ready..GO!

Ok.  Your eyes are now reading this so you’ve opened them.  The goal of this is to do it one more time, but this time when you close your eyes…visually see everything around you.  Get a picture in your mind of what is close to you. What’s next to the keyboard.  Do you have pictures on the wall. Where is your mouse in relation to the rest of the stuff on the desk you are at.  Good…now close your eyes again and “see” what is there. I’ll wait……….

Did you see your set up? How many things did you notice.  Many people can only recall 4-5 things.  My task for you is to try it and name as many “things” as you can.  The more you can notice…the better your ability to visualize your surroundings.  This will greatly enhance your golfing mental condition!

This is a great drill to use while “indoors”.  I want you to take a small pillow or cloth and place it about 10 feet away. Next I want you to use a golf ball if you can, and with your eyes closed, I want you to walk the 10 feet and drop the ball (or any other object) on the target. In your minds eye I want you to visually walk that 10 feet and hit the target.

Did it work?  Did you hit the target?  I had one student that could walk 20 feet and place the ball within a foot of the target.  Needless to say he was a great putter, his visualization skills were very high!

PS write this in your journal.