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As seen on TV
Used in Tour Fitting Trailers
Price: $150
A MUST FOR EVERY SERIOUS GOLFER
The Laser Grip Alignment Instrument, pictured below, was featured on the Golf Channel's Champion Tour's Learning program in 2006 as seen in the video.
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Laser Alignment Instrument |
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Putter face open several degrees to the grip |
We examined PGA players' grips and found some off as much as 6 degrees.
Caveat: It should be mentioned that some PGA tour players intentionally want the face open up to 2 degrees since they have a tendency, in play, to close the putter face during the putting stroke. They also want to know the exact degree of opening and not leave it to "eye balling". So they embrace the Laser Alignment Instrument.
Important for average Joe: Testing of commercially available putters showed high percentage of grips misaligned. Not even the golf professionals at high end clubs were aware of the problem. I should mention those in the golf industry know this, but do not want attention drawn to the fact. Sad.
Off the shelf putters in green grass pro shops showed many putters with misaligned grips. One such popular putter, which I will call the "screw ball", had as many as 75% of grips misaligned two degrees or more. (not illustrated out of courtesy for the manufacturer) This is a sad commentary for a major company's quality control or worse yet, ignorance.
The solution for the PGA player and the serious amateur golfer is to make sure the putter grip is in proper position. This is possible with the Laser Alignment Instrument.
The Laser Alignment Instrument is in the welcome hands of many PGA tour players as well as PGA tour fitting trailers. The early response is that this laser instrument will become the standard for the putter industry grip fitting for those that are not afraid to expose their misaligned grips.
The Laser Alignment Instrument is now available for the general public at this site.
Background: The primary factor in making a putt is the direction of the putter face at impact being directed towards the intended target.
The golfer uses both vision and what is known medically as proprioception to position the putter face exactly toward the intended line to the hole. Propioception is defined as the unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation arising from stimuli within the body itself. In humans, these stimuli are detected by nerves within the body itself, as well as by the semicircular canals of the inner ear.
Proprioception is the method the body uses to allow the person to know where they are in space without consciously thinking about it. For instance, in golf, if the right handed golfer lines up for a regular golf shot to the right of the target, the body knows what the brain did not realize. Therefore, as the shot is executed, the golfer will subconsciously pull the shot back on line by his/her proprioception sense towards the target. Therefore, I have often joked, "the golfer's body is smarter than their brain". To some extent, proprioception makes that true.
There must be a bench mark coordinate in space available for the golfer to properly align the putter face to the target at address. In short, there must be a known starting position. From that position, the golfer swings and has the orginal reference point to which to return the putter to the starting position for the impact.
Germaine to this discussion on reference points is the common denominator of the relationship of the putter grip to the face. The flat aspect of the putter grip is presumed to be perpendicular to the face.
However, this is not often the case. Obviously, there is great potential for error when the golfer makes the presumption the grip is properly aligned and it is not.
Unfortunately, commercially available putters and even those retrofitted on the PGA tour are not properly aligned perpendicular to the putter face. This came to my attention on the PGA tour in 2006 when Jerry Pate asked me to look at his putter grip visually to see if I thought it was aligned properly. It looked mal-aligned to both of us, but we could not be sure. It is said that an experienced surgeon has ability to determine position by eye alone within one degree. However, that determination is subjective.
Jerry's inquiry led to the development of what is now known as Laser Putter Grip Alignment.
PROPER APPLICATION
- Apply the flat surface of the Laser Alignment Instrument on the flat surface of the putter grip. Look from 90 degrees to see that the flat surfaces are parallel. Also, be aware that you may have to test the upper and lower surfaces since some grips will be twisted in different directions.
- Check to see that the Laser Alignment Instrument is centered near the top of the grip.
- Check to see that it is centered on the grip and shaft with the light on.
- Inspect the face of the putter to determine that the laser is parallel to the face and therefore the putter grip is perpendicular to the face.
Price: $150
Supplies are limited to 100 units at this time.
Lanny L. Johnson, M.D.
www.PrescriptionPutting.com
January 24, 2008
US Patent Pending
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