What does the phrase “toe hang” mean?
If you pick up a putter and balance the shaft horizontally across your finger, notice if the head of the putter twists. Specifically, observe how much the toe of the putter head hangs down toward the ground. The amount of toe hang can vary from minimal to significant.
The degree of toe hang is determined by the location of the hosel (the neck of the putter) and how it aligns the putter shaft relative to the putter head’s centre of gravity (CG), usually the centre of the face, also known as the sweet spot.
If the shaft doesn’t line up with the CG in this horizontal axis, and is located closer to the heel of the putter then this will create toe hang.
The Pros and Cons of Using a Putter with Toe Hang
So, what are the positives and negatives of using a putter with toe hang?
Depending on how you move the putter, meaning how you apply forces and torques during your stroke, a putter with some degree of toe hang could either help or hinder your performance on the greens.
The main force applied during a putting stroke is called an in-plane force or linear force, this is a force applied along the swing plane.
A putter with toe hang, in the initial takeaway, the toe will tend to want to move slower than the heel and then towards the end of the stroke the toe will want to catch up to and even pass the heel. On the downswing as your apply an in-plane force towards the target the toe will tend to want to move slower than the heel. Thus creating a possible tendency to leaving the club face open.
Assessing Your Putting Stroke
Who would suit using a putter with toe hang? If you are a golfer who pulls putts due to a club face that’s closed at impact then using a putter with some degree of toe hang could help slow the toe slow down helping you square the face more often.
Conclusion
Understanding toe hang can be a valuable asset in selecting the right putter for your game. Not all putters have toe hang and selecting one with or without can help improve your success on the green.
By considering how you naturally apply forces during your stroke, you can choose a putter that complements your style, potentially improving your ability to hole more putts.
#practicewithpurpose
Team Visio
Do the alignment lines on your putter enhance your accuracy, or could they be hindering your performance?
Most golfers use the lines on their putters to aim the face precisely along their chosen start line. This is especially common if you also use a line on your golf ball to assist with aiming. But have you ever considered whether these lines are actually benefiting you?
ou step up, address the ball with your putter, and make a smooth stroke, only to watch the ball veer off line like it had a mind of its own. You swear you aimed it right. But did you? For most golfers, the issue isn’t the stroke. It’s misalignment, starting the ball in the wrong direction from the very beginning.
Do you ever stand over a putt and second guess your read, only to watch the ball miss wide, breaking too much or not enough? You’re not alone. And there’s a chance, the problem isn’t your stroke, it’s the read.
Putting is often lost before the ball even moves. distance, slope (angle & gradient), grain and other factors can all influence how the ball rolls. If you misread those pieces of information, even a good stroke can send the putt off line.
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