Mark Timms is the founder of Cool Clubs. For the last 20 years, he has been a leading entreprenuer in the club-fitting industry. His customers include dozens of tour pros along with hundreds of avid golfers of all skill levels. Here, he answers some questions about the Cool Clubs Putting Studio.
What is the Cool Clubs Putting Studio?
The Putting Studio consists of 8 laser-aligned, high-speed cameras that simultaneously video the putting stroke. We can then watch each angle, frame-by-frame, to learn a great deal about every aspect of the putter and stroke.
Why did you have the Putting Studio built at Cool Clubs?
I'd estimate that 80-90% of quality players are using a putter that is not ideally tuned for their stroke. For example, most manufacturers have a standard loft of 3-4 degrees on their putters and that's all they offer. It's like asking everyone to drive with an 8-degree driver.
Because of this, most golfers strike putts consistently off center or actually lift the ball off the ground when they putt, causing decreased accuracy. With the Putting Studio, we're able to get the exact putter length, loft, lie angle, swing weight, and grip to maximize each putter's accuracy.
For the average golfer, putts consume about 40% of their strokes each round. If we improve results by 10%, which is not a stretch, it will shave a remarkable 3 strokes off the score.
What is unique about the Putting Studio?
Without doubt, it's the clarity and detail the player sees about his putter and stroke. Most are totally surprised--it's a real eye-opener. Plus, they see it for themselves, in slow motion on video. It's so helpful to see it so clearly to understand and make corrections. There's no other way to get this level of information.
How does the Putting Studio improve accuracy?
We video each golfer multiple times using their current putter and carefully examine the results. We see their swing path--inside-to-inside, inside-to-square, square-to-square, etc. We see how the ball reacts at impact. We see whether contact is made in the center of the club or not and what impact a mis-hit has on club path.
Based on this clear information, we can begin to make adjustments to correct issues we identify. We can alter the length of the putter. We can bend the putter to adjust the loft. Or we can suggest a different style of putter more suited to the stroke.
Once we adjust their putter or try a new one, we continue to video the stroke to check results and make further adjustments as needed until the results are optimized.
Does the player need to buy a new putter?
Actually, less than half of Putting Studio customers purchase a new putter. In most cases, we make adjustments to their current putter to improve accuracy. Our goal is to help players putt better, not sell new putters.
For those that want a new putter, we provide all the major brands like Odyssey, Rife, Titleist, Ping, Taylor Made and Callaway. But even with a new putter, we'll still adjust the length, loft or grip to maximize accuracy for each unique putting stroke.
What has been the response to the Putting Studio?
Absolutely phenomenal. The results are really showing up on our customers' scorecards. We have many customers, including pros, who come back regularly for a check up. Plus, it seems to be equally beneficial for golfers of all skill levels.
I guess it just makes sense to have complete confidence that the club you're using on 40% of your strokes is the perfect club for you!
highest performing drivers, the Burner TP. This new driver comes in a full 12% lighter by taking advantage of Taylor Made's Dual Crown Technology and their Ultra-Thin Wall casting.
more forgiveness and better results on off-center hits.
the skilled player.
