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<\/a>Interestingly Gotham Books has just issued two books on putting:\u00a0 Dave Stockton\u2019s \u201cUnconscious Putting\u201d which I enjoyed and has already benefitted me (see my review – http:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/golf\/product-reviews\/5451\/book-review-unconscious-putting<\/a>) and now Michael Breed\u2019s \u201cThe 3-Degree Putting Solution.\u201d\u00a0 The two Gotham Books offerings couldn\u2019t be more different.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Michael Breed\u2019s piece is an analytical examination in which he essentially feels that you should de-loft your putter with a hands-ahead or forward press position to get your ball rolling on the ground quicker which leads to a truer roll and more consistent speed.\u00a0 This can significantly improve your putting accuracy and consistency. \u00a0 Many putters are set up with loft to pop the ball up in the air before it lands in a skidding fashion.\u00a0 Breed offers much detail about this and then shows you how you might accomplish this correction.\u00a0 Breed uses some of the game\u2019s great putters as proof and goes into considerable detail on the mechanics of the putt.\u00a0 In contrast, Dave Stockton\u2019s offering, “Unconscious Putting” is much more simple and is all about feel and establishing a consistent approach to putting in which analytic types may likely feel cheated.\u00a0 It depends upon your personality and learning style as to which book you prefer.<\/p>\n
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Breed may not have Stockton\u2019s credentials as a player, but he has proven himself to be a respectable club pro player and an animated teacher as demonstrated by his following at the prestigious private clubs he has worked for.\u00a0 You may also recognize him for his high energy show, \u201cThe Golf Fix\u201d on The Golf Channel.\u00a0 He has invested thousands of dollars and countless hours in putting research and \u201cThe 3-Degree Solution\u201d sums up his conclusions.\u00a0 It is a well-presented documentation that could be easily explained on one or two paragraphs, but this book’s depth will satisfy the most analytical of putting students, especially those preoccupied with mechanics.\u00a0 The only errors I spotted were that some photographs and messages\/captions were repeated at different points in the text as if they needed to meet a page minimum.<\/p>\n
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I agree with Michael Breed\u2019s analysis, but I benefitted more from the Dave Stockton presentation.\u00a0 Interestingly Breed uses Stockton as an example several times.\u00a0 One nice feature that I enjoyed is that Breed offers several putting practice drills though many have been borrowed from other\u2019s works.\u00a0 I am fairly sure that a personal lesson with Michael Breed would be a very beneficial experience, but I am not as certain that his written presentation succeeds as a game improvement piece.\u00a0 It is interesting to be sure and will appeal nicely to those analytical types who love to gather information.\u00a0 If we have learned anything, however, information does not equate to better golf.\u00a0 If it did, we would all be far better.<\/p>\n
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My verdict is that \u201cThe 3-Degree Solution\u201d is an interesting piece.\u00a0 Both Gotham Books putting works are worthwhile, and your preference will likely depend upon your personality and learning style.\u00a0 For me, “The 3-Degree Putting Solution” is like many other putting books; it’s is hard to translate the written word into anything more than nice information.\u00a0 You will still need Michael Breed at your side if you really want to putt better.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"