Particulars on Collin Morikawa’s tools adjustments previous to victory

Earlier than we get into the analysis experiment under, I wished to say one thing rapidly: NO ONE, ever, has “found out” methods to putt.

There are some golfers who’re much less horrible at placing than others, actually, or they’re much less horrible than they was, hopefully, however nobody has ever found out the proper method, grip, shaft, head design, face design, hosel configuration, toe cling, or swing weight.

Over time, there have been numerous waves, traits, fads and methods that get launched to the world of golf.

Some concepts come and go. Some concepts are a flash within the pan, and so they work for a couple of rounds, or for a couple of folks, however the golf world finally ends up shifting on.

However, occasionally, some concepts spark an entire paradigm shift, and assist transfer the way forward for the golf business ahead, whereas additionally making golfers higher.

Are graphite putter shafts merely a flash within the proverbial pan? Or are we standing on the forefront of a large shift in what’s thought of a “regular” putter?

If a golfer, within the 12 months 2023, stepped on the tee field with a steel-shafted driver, they’d be taking part in the sport utilizing historical expertise. And probably mocked by their taking part in companions.

Is that the place we’re heading with putter shafts? Will each putter have a graphite shaft in 20 years?

From my perspective, as somebody who covers golf tools on the PGA Tour week-in and week-out, it has actually appeared that graphite putter shafts are gaining extra traction amongst PGA Tour gamers. Extra gamers testing every week, and extra gamers switching.

A couple of a long time in the past, there was one possibility to your putter shaft: Metal.

Now, there’s a broad spectrum of composite shafts which might be obtainable to PGA Tour gamers, supplied in a spread of various flex-and-weight choices.

As I lately realized from Collin Morikawa’s putter shaft prototyping process, it’s not all the time simple to seek out the proper mixture of stiffness and weight with a graphite putter shaft, however placing that steadiness can show profitable.

Some PGA Tour gamers appear to be discovering better stability, and thus, much less face twisting all through the stroke, when utilizing graphite or composite shafts.

Placing is placing, although, so discovering the proper really feel and weight for pace/management functions stays very important. It’s not purely about stability, since there’s nonetheless human movement concerned.

Odyssey putters on the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Normally, composite shafts have undoubtedly turn out to be extra mainstream, and numerous producers are at the moment promoting graphite shafts to the general public. It appears the checklist of choices, and the checklist of corporations making graphite putter shafts, continues to develop.

With all that being mentioned, I wished to know what the putter shaft panorama appears to be like like for the time being. What are the very best gamers on the PGA Tour utilizing? What are the top-ranked putters on the PGA Tour utilizing?

Are we using a wave of graphite putter shafts, or is that this extra of a everlasting shift?

I’m contemplating this story because the baseline information pool for future reference, in order that we will look again later to find out if the variety of graphite putter shaft customers is rising, or shrinking.

On this story, I tracked the highest 25 golfers, as ranked by the Official World Golf Rankings, to see what putter shaft type they’re at the moment utilizing. Then, I tracked the highest 25 golfers, as ranked by the Strokes Gained: Placing class for the 2022-2023 PGA Tour season.

Beneath are the outcomes, as of the 2023 ZOZO Championship.

I’ll see you once more in 2024 to see if the numbers have modified.

Prime 25 within the Official World Golf Rankings

1. Scottie Scheffler: Metal
2. Rory McIlroy: Metal (Black)
3. Jon Rahm: Metal
4. Viktor Hovland: Metal
5. Patrick Cantlay: Metal
6. Xander Schauffele: Metal (Black)
7. Matt Fitzpatrick: Metal
8. Max Homa: Metal
9. Brian Harman: Metal
10. Wyndham Clark: Metal
11. Tom Kim: Composite (LA Golf P135)
12. Tyrrell Hatton: Metal
13. Collin Morikawa: Composite (Mitsubishi Diamana 105-gram Prototype)
14. Jordan Spieth: Metal
15. Tommy Fleetwood: Metal
16. Cameron Younger: Composite (UST Mamiya All In)
17. Keegan Bradley: Metal
18. Brooks Koepka: Metal
19. Cameron Smith: Metal
20. Sam Burns: Metal (Black)
21. Jason Day: Metal (Black)
22. Tony Finau: Metal
23. Sepp Straka: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab, all-steel, half-composite)
24. Rickie Fowler: Metal
25. Justin Thomas: Metal

Takeaways

• 4 (4) golfers from the Prime-25 within the present OWGR are utilizing a composite shaft
• 4 (4) of the 22 golfers who’re utilizing metal shafts are utilizing metal shafts with a black end
• 17 golfers within the top-25 within the OWGR are utilizing silver metal shafts

Prime 25 Strokes Gained: Placing

1. Maverick McNealy: Metal
2. Taylor Montgomery: Metal (Black)
3. Denny McCarthy: Metal
4. Harry Corridor: Metal
5. Xander Schauffele: Metal (Black)
6. Max Homa: Metal
7. Tyrrell Hatton: Metal
8. Sam Burns: Metal (Black)
9. Justin Suh: Metal
10. Matthew Fitzpatrick: Metal
11. Andrew Putnam: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)
12. Sam Ryder: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)
13. Tommy Fleetwood: Metal
14. Brendon Todd: Metal
15. Sahith Theegala: Metal
16. Adam Scott: Composite (TPT Prototype)
17. Eric Cole: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)
18. Harris English: Metal
19. Peter Malnati: Metal
20. Keegan Bradley: Metal
21. Brian Harman: Metal
22. Adam Hadwin: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)
23. Alex Noren: Metal (Black)
24. Aaron Baddeley: Metal
25. Nicolai Hojgaard: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)

Takeaways

• Six (6) of the top-25 putters use a composite putter shaft
• 4 (4) of the golfers who’re utilizing a metal shaft are utilizing a metal shaft with a black end
• 15 golfers within the prime 25 of Strokes Gained: Placing are utilizing a silver metal shaft

Conclusion

The PGA Tour is a good place to seek out out in regards to the tools that’s trending among the many greatest gamers on the planet.

Actually, there have been fewer top-25 gamers utilizing graphite shafts than I’d have guessed. However, there are positively extra graphite shafts getting used among the many prime putters on the planet than among the many prime gamers on the planet. I’m not saying there’s a correlation, however there’s a distinction.

Both means, take this story as a nudge into experimentation. If among the greatest gamers on the planet try graphite putter shafts and placing them in play on the PGA Tour, then perhaps it’s time you give one a strive for your self.

Subsequent time you’ve got the possibility, ask your native skilled fitter or instructing professional in the event you may give a brand new graphite putter shaft a take a look at. Perhaps it’s your reply. Or perhaps not. The easiest way to know is to know.