Exclusive TT Sweepstakes: Brandon Stooksbury and "The Putter Book"

Follow Thread

By Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

  • 18 Likes
  • 133 Replies
  1. Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

    Rick V., Team Titleist Staff
    Duxbury, MA

    Team Titleist Staff

    **UPDATE: Congratulations to our winners of the Brandon Stooksbury Putter Book Sweepstakes – Mike B., Joe T., Dave N. and Mike P. In addition to providing our winners with signed copies of The Putter Book, Brandon was kind enough to film video responses to the four great questions submitted by Mike, Joe, Dave and Mike. We hope you enjoy the videos that follow.

    All of us at Titleist wish to extend many thanks to Brandon for all his help with this sweepstakes and for guiding us all on the road to better putting!

    What is your favorite putting drill/one you recommend most? – Mike B.

    Should I have more pressure on my right hand pushing the putt or both hands equal pressure both pushing the stroke and pulling at the same time? – Joe T.

    Brandon, is it better to have a short back swing and follow through with different speeds? – Dave N.

    We've gone from thin forged blade (bullseye style) flatsticks to all sorts of exotic shapes. How good were golf legends putting with old fashioned head shapes, and what are the keys to head shape today to help me putt better? – Mike P.

    Please continue to submit your questions for Brandon and remember that copies of The Putter Book are still available at Amazon.com. 

    • • •

    Hey, Team Titleist!

    Whether you're a terrific putter looking for that little extra edge or a struggling putter who wants to turn your Achilles' heel into a strength, we have some great news. Titleist Staff member and short game guru Brandon Stooksbury has authored a new instructional must-have – The Putter Book: An Owner's Manual for Your Green Game. Brandon wrote the book with the help of Golf Digest Senior Writer, Matt Rudy and it covers everything from setup and stroke fundamentals to putter fitting, green-reading and practice drills.

    Please visit Amazon.com to purchase your own copy of The Putter Book and while you're at it, check out his companion manual, The Wedge Book, in which Brandon compiles a lifetime of short game wisdom.

    We're extremely proud of our affiliation with staff members like Brandon and we hope you'll check out his entire library of short game video instruction on the Titleist Instruction Center.

    • • •

    BONUS SWEEPSTAKES:

    And here's the best part! Brandon has set aside four signed copies of The Putter Book exclusively for four lucky members of Team Titleist. 

    HERE’S HOW TO ENTER - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: Add a comment in the box below in the form of a putting-related question for Brandon, then hit the "Submit Reply" button.

    Sample entry: "Brandon, how do I make more three-footers?"

    Yes, it's that easy.

    **************

    We’ll randomly select four (4) winners from all approved entries that are submitted by Tuesday, May 11 at 11:59 PM. Brandon will respond to the questions submitted by our winners in video form, which we will then upload to this discussion thread.

    A few more important details... Only one entry per person. If you send in multiple replies, you'll be disqualified from the contest. Don't forget to include all of the details outlined above or your entry will not be considered eligible.

    After the drawing, Brandon will respond to as many submitted questions as he can to help us on the greens for the rest of the season.

    Keep in mind, all posts are moderated and it may take some time for your reply to appear. We'll do our best to approve posts quickly but if you enter more than one reply, we have to disqualify you from the drawing (sorry to repeat this but we want to make sure it's clear).

    No purchase necessary. View complete rules here: http://www.titleist.com/company/Community-Policy.aspx#sweepstakes

    U.S. only. Here's some more info: Why are Titleist sweepstakes U.S. only?

    Good luck!

  2. Eric H

    Eric H
    Ridgway, PA

    Brandon, how many players out there are using the wrong shape, size and weight putter and how much can that impact the skill lever of a players putting?
  3. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    Sorry for my delayed response. On the professional tours, you don't see much of that at all as they all understand (or at least pay people that understand) the necessity of putter fitting. However, in the amateur ranks, I would say that the number who DO NOT have the right putter (or putter fit) are at least 10 to 1 to those that do.

    Unfortunately putters are still marketed by the manufacturers and viewed by the consumer as more of an "impulse buy" when compared to irons or woods. Mostly this is for two reasons: 1) the relatively low price of most putters (when compared to a set of irons or a driver) allows it to continue to stay in that category, and 2) the knowledge base in the business when it comes to putter fitting is still in it's relative infancy when compared to custom fitting practices for the full swing.
  4. Bryan S

    Bryan S
    Wooster, OH

    When setting up to the ball, eyes directly over the ball or inside of it?
  5. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    That's a tough one to answer, because it totally depends on you. The correct answer is the eyes need to be placed in the spot relative to the ball where it allows to swivel your head at address and use your eyes to trace a line from the ball to the hole and that line appear straight. If your eyes are positioned improperly relative to the ball the line will either look like it points out to the right or left of the hole.

    In reality, some people see that "straight" line with their eyes directly over the ball, some on the inside, and some on the outside. In "The Putter Book" I show a test you can use to determine exactly where YOUR eyes should fall.

    The only thing I can say for sure is that regardless of whether you fall inside or outside the ball, it will be an 1-1.5 inches at the most!
  6. MikeW

    MikeW
    Charlotte, NC

    Brandon, what's the biggest things golfers forget when reading a green?
  7. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    That's an easy one...they forget to pay the most attention to the middle ⅓ of the putt, which is what has the most control over the break! I see way too many players looking at the edges of the green, the topography surrounding the green, or the other side of the hole trying to figure out break. Exactly ZERO of those things has anything to do with how the putt will break!
  8. Andrew A

    Andrew A
    Charlotte, NC

    What do you recommend for distance control on lag putting?
  9. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    You need to do a few drills to specifically work on the skill of speed control. I outline a few different drills in "The Putter Book" to isolate the distance control skill. I'd start there.
  10. Erich F

    Erich F
    NY

    Hi Brandon,

    Do you recommend hitting it off the toe on a steep downhill putt?
  11. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    In short, NO, I wouldn't recommend trying to hit it off the toe...ever. Putting is hard enough to try and hit if off the center of the putter every time, much less trying to figure out how to use the toe as well!

    The premise of the "old wives tale" is that the ball will come off the toe slower than it would if you hit it in the center of the face. While that might be true on a long putt where you're making a large stroke, the size of stroke you'll be making on a tricky downhill putt would be so small that it wouldn't make a difference anyway.

    If you need to protect against hitting it hard, just make a smaller stroke. I assure you that will be easier than trying to purposefully hit it off the toe of the putter.
  12. Bentron

    Bentron
    Fort Worth, Tx

    How important is putter length to achieving the best putting stance?
  13. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    I can't really UNDERSTATE the importance of shaft length when it comes to your putter setup. The length of the shaft is the driving force behind where you position your eyes and how far (and tall) you stand relative to the ball. You should figure out where your eyes are supposed to be relative to the ball first, then set the proper posture, and then fit the proper putter length into that setup.

    I see so many people doing it the opposite way...meaning they choose the length first and then set their posture and eye position from that length. That may just be the largest contributor to bad putting of all the mistakes you could make!
  14. Speedy

    Speedy
    East Coast, NH

    Brandon, before a round I spend my time on the putting green. Which is the best approach before playing a round; long putts 20 plus feet OR concentrating on short 5-10 footer?
  15. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    Speedy...great question. You really need a bit of both. When warming up before a round you should be trying to get a feel for the speed of the greens on that particular day, and how that is affecting the way the green is breaking based on that speed for the day. You could make an argument that making a few 5-footers toward the end for the sake of confidence might be a good thing too.
  16. Ryan B

    Ryan B
    Connecticut

    Brandon, how do I make more three-footers?
  17. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    Usually missed short putts come from a deficiency in your ability to control the start line of your putts. I dedicate an entire chapter to that specific skill in "The Putter Book." Several things could be contributing to that deficiency including putter fit, bad setup position, or simply just bad motion.

    You need to figure out exactly why your start line control is deficient, and then go to work improving those aspects. I take you through that step-by-step in chapter 2 of the book!
  18. Mike B

    Mike B

    Brandon - What is your favorite putting drill/one you recommend most?
  19. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    Without a doubt...a ladder drill to improve your speed control!
  20. Bomber3

    Bomber3
    Lake St Louis, MO

    Military
    Brandon,
    I'm a decent putter, but I have trouble on greens that are fairly flat (hard to read any break). Over the years I've adopted the "aim at the cup" method with speed that should put me around the cup. Is there a better method on flat greens?
  21. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    Is there a "better" method? Yes...find an authorized AimPoint Express instructor near you, or come see me down in New Orleans.

    That said, a flattish green (no green is really flat) is the single biggest green reading challenge any player will face at any level of play. The more the slope, the easier it is to ascertain the direction, and amount, of break you need to play.
  22. Play18

    Play18
    Aurora, IL

    How do I know if I am a blade or mallet putter?
  23. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    That's a challenging question to answer because the correct answer is very involved. In short, you need to go see a qualified putter fitter. I'm happy to make a recommendation to you if you can narrow down the area of the world in which you live.

    Short of that, if we assume that your setup mechanics are sound (be very careful with that assumption!), head shape becomes more a matter of preference than requirement. However, that's only true if your mechanics and setup angles are functional. If they're not, you have much bigger problems you need to be worrying about before you think about head shape!
  24. John M

    John M
    Asheville, North Carolina

    Military
    Brandon, two questions if you don’t mind. How do I determine what type (blade or mallet) is best for me if I don’t have access to a putter fitting. Second, I am play on public chat courses that have greens similar to a 15 year old with a bad case of acne. So, can I adapt my putting stroke for these kind of greens? Thank you.
    John Matney
  25. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    Living in Asheville, NC you certainly have access to a qualified putter fitter...you just have to find him/her. Making a recommendation on the type of head shape you "should" be playing without that fitting would be malpractice!

    As for your questions about putting on the bad greens, no, I don't think you need to adopt any different putting style because of the condition of the greens. Function putting mechanics comes down to three skills, which I cover extensively in "The Putter Book:" 1) start-line control, 2) distance control, and 3) green reading. If you are proficient at these three skills then you will be a good putter...regardless of the condition of the greens. You might not make as many putts as you would on a better green due to the inconsistency of the roll you're getting on the green, but good putting is good putting and you should learn how to do precisely that! Bad green conditions shouldn't have any bearing on your stoke pattern.
  26. TUrreta

    TUrreta
    Reston VA

    Military
    I have a terrible habit of slightly opening or shutting the blade as I strike the ball when putting. How do I teach myself to stop it? Thanks.
  27. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    Great question. The first thing I would recommend is figuring out exactly WHY you're manipulating the blade through the stroke. Usually golfers do this trying to over-compensate for an issue that got the putter face out of alignment from the beginning. Only when you figure that out will you be able to stop doing it!
  28. Abdon M

    Abdon M
    Northern California (because it's a big state)

    Brandon, for someone looking at adding a new putter to their bag, do you recommend getting fit for a putter like we often do with our other clubs? Or is feel more important when looking at purchasing a new putter? Congratulations on the new book.
  29. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    Yes...I recommend getting a putter fitting from someone who has a great deal of experience specifically in putter fitting...and that may or may not be the same person who does your irons and woods fitting.

    If you think about it, you use the putter for more shots in any given round of golf than any other club in your bag.
    Imagine me telling you to just buy the iron or driver that "feels good" to you! When I put it that way, it seems a little funny, but that just drives home the point that we have a long way to go in our business to catch up in putter fitting. Feel should certainly play a role in the process, but definitely NOT be the driving factor!

    Putter fitting is a very specialized skill that requires very specialized tools and knowledge. Not everyone who says they are a "club fitter" is capable...do your research.
  30. Bob LaPierre

    Bob LaPierre
    Northville, MI

    Where should you look at the ball when putting? Top, back, front, inside or outside of ball?
  31. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    I can't really answer that question for you. To attempt I would simply say wherever you're comfortable looking and wherever you have the best control over your ability to hit the putt solidly and correctly on every stroke.
  32. Tyler H

    Tyler H
    Appleton, WI

    What do you find is the best drill to use for working on speed control when practicing your putting.
  33. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    I used a form of a ladder drill most often with my students. Place club behind the hole approximately 2.5-3 feet directly behind the hole, then starting at 15 feet step off 3ft increments and place a tee in the ground. Begin at the first tee and hit a putt that either goes in, or stops in the space made by the back of the cup and the club behind the hole (without the ball bouncing off the club). When you've successfully completed the first tee, move back to the next tee and try if from there. Continue through all the tees accordingly...
  34. Frank P

    Frank P
    Port St. Lucie, FL

    Military
    How important is lie when selecting a putter?
  35. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    It's somewhat important and is directly controlled by your specific eye position relative to the ball and the proper length of the putter relative to that eye position. I find that most putters I fit don't vary too much and end up being around 69º-71º.
  36. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Brandon, I once was told by an old timer I used to play with when I started learning the game, who was very good putter that the more you you over analyze a putt the more your increase you chances of missing it. How do you feel about that that theory. He use to play with Snead and Hogan. You see so many guys on tour looking at their putts so many different ways and stressing over a putt. Just got in from playing, sorry for the late post.
  37. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    As a general rule I don't subscribe to "old wives tales" very often, or take much advice from anyone simply because they are "good" at doing something. That said, over-analyzing can be a problem when it interferes with your ability to be free-flowing and "athletic" in your stroke mechanics.

    I would say you are free to take as much time as you'd like (within reason of course) preparing and analyzing the putt you have...as long as you can then get into your address position and make a fluid, uninhibited stroke. If it keeps you from doing that, you'd be better off not analyzing anything at all and just stepping up and hitting it!
  38. Alex N

    Alex N
    Florida

    Military
    Brandon, is it true you can reduce a left miss by raising the heal of the putter slightly off the ground?
  39. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    Will raising the heel off the ground, or effectively changing the lie angle of the putter, cause the ball to come off the putter face more to the right? Yes...that will have that affect. However...that's NOT the way I'd want you to try and correct a left miss.

    Try to figure out the reason the ball pulls to the left and then fix that issue! The end result will be much more reliable (especially under pressure) than figuring out how much to manipulate the lie angle.
  40. ADeLucia

    ADeLucia
    Clayton NC

    what are some tips for controlling speed better on downhill putts?
  41. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    Speed control is one of the three main putting skills I discuss extensively in "The Putting Book." The process for controlling distance on downhill putts is no different than uphill or flat putts, it's just that the ball can get away from you easier when it's downhill versus the others.

    You need to figure out the reason you're struggling with speed control everywhere and fix that issue. Your ability to control speed will improve all around...including downhill putts.
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. …
  6. Next

Please login to post a comment.

Sign In

Haven't registered for Team Titleist yet?

Sign Up

Find a golf store near me