“The best stroked putt in a lifetime does not bring the aesthetic satisfaction of a perfectly hit wood or iron shot. There is nothing to match the whoosh and soar, the almost magical flight of a beautifully hit drive or 5-iron.” ~ Al Barkow
Now…while Mr Barkow is pretty much spot on, that doesn’t mean golfers shouldn’t look to sharpen up on the greens if they’re looking to lower their scores. The old adage of “drive for show and putt for dough” might not be totally accurate but another saying; “the 3 inch putt counts the same as the 300 yard drive” certainly rings true.
All strokes taken count towards the scorecard and considering the fact that the vast majority of shots any golfer hits on the course are with the putter, squeezing every last drop out of that particular club is one of the only surefire ways to lower scores and keep them low!
Whether you’re aiming to break 90, 80 or 70 for the 1st time, keeping your total putts down to a minimum is essential and that’s where our good friends at Cleveland come in…
Graeme McDowell goes through the benefits of the Cleveland Smart Square.
Cleveland Golf have long been synonymous with excellence in the short game department. Their 588 wedge is a legend in the golf club market and while we all know Cleveland are the guys to turn to if you want to knock it close around the greens, they’re now helping us add the final touch with the Cleveland Smart Square putter.
Following extensive research into the most successful putters of all time and what golfers focus on when they align a putt, the new Smart Square incorporates alignment technology that has been proven to be the most advanced that Cleveland Golf has ever created.
Rigorous testing has shown players using the Cleveland Smart Square aligned the putter face23% more accurately than when using one of the most popular putters of all time.
The key to this huge improvement is down to Cleveland Golf’s Dual Axis Alignment. Two squares create parallel lines that frame the ball at address, providing a clear visual path to the hole. Dual Axis Alignment™ also generates two perpendicular lines that easily highlight when the putter is misaligned at address. The result is faster, more reliable alignment on every putt.
Let’s assume for a minute that a golfer takes 36 putts per round (2 putts per green), roughly half of those should be from within close proximity to the hole, where real scores are built. The closer a putt gets to the hole the more important alignment becomes because this is where golfers are expected to hole their fair share of putts.
With this in mind, a 23% improvement in alignment could arguably save any golfer, no matter their ability, 2, 3 or even 4 shots per round…a nice little bonus when it comes to handing in a scorecard in your next monthly medal!
Further benefits of the Cleveland Smart Square include a copolymer face insert which enhances feel and sound at impact, as well as promoting a consistent roll which should tidy up a golfers lag putting, leaving them more manageable tap ins more of the time!
Renowned short-game guru, Dave Pelz and the Cleveland Smart Square.
A high MOI (a high moment of inertia essentially reduces twisting throughout the putting stroke) design also minimises distance loss on off-centre hits, thus making putting from distance more consistent.
Available in three different options, there is a Smart Square for all golfing tastes. Traditional lengths (between 33 and 35 inches) are available in both standard heel-shafted models, as well as in centre-shafted models.
Following the ban on the anchoring of long putters, both belly and broom handle, you may have noticed the arrival of a new breed of counter-balanced putters. Designed to promote stability by placing weight above the hands, as well as additional weight in the head, these putters provide stability and consistency without anchoring the putter, which of course will be against the rules as of 2016.
The Cleveland Smart Square “Almost Belly” will help golfers develop a more consistent stroke, expecially those who suffer from nerves on the greens.
Combining the benefits of counter-balancing with the Smart Square’s many other plus points, Cleveland’s “Almost Belly” Smart Square features a 400 gram head (40 grams heavier than the standard models) and an oversized, 158 gram grip which is more than 200% heavier than those on the standard models. All this added weight creates tremendous stability through counter-balancing and will no doubt be a huge help to those with a twitchy disposition on the greens!
When it comes to gaining the upper hand on the greens, the smart golfer goes with Cleveland’s Smart Square putter!
