Equipment
Stacy Lewis switches to Happy Putter prototype with adjustable alignment
For many golfers, tinkering with golf clubs is not always connected to shooting a lower score. Sometimes it’s necessary for them to play their best, though, especially on the greens where the mental game is so important. The latest creation of Happy Putter founder Vikash Sanyal is based on that belief, specifically that a new “look” can help golfers focus better on the greens.
“I call it the lazy eye syndrome,” Sanyal said. “A golfer’s eyes get lazy after a while with the same putter. A new look can refocus their eyes on the line [of the putt].”
Stacy Lewis, a 13-time LPGA Tour winner and the No. 4-ranked women’s golfer in the world, isn’t much of a tinkerer with her putter, but a new Happy Putter changed her tune. It uses adjustable alignment aids, which improved her alignment and results in comprehensive testing Sanyal did with Lewis.
It hasn’t been a seamless change — Lewis has been off and on between the Happy Putter prototype and her old putter this year — although it seems she has settled on a Happy Putter Prototype M. Lewis was spotted with a Happy Putter in the bag by Beth Ann Nichols at the ANA Inspiration, and had it in the bag at last week’s Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. She finished T18 and T27, respectively, and is currently ranked 17th in Putts Per GIR (Green in regulation) on the year averaging 1.77.
.@Stacy_Lewis made adjustments to her highly adjustable Happy Putter and is rolling at ANA https://t.co/H1BMAiB7yv pic.twitter.com/ddOfYf1CO1
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) April 2, 2016
Her specs, provided by Sanyal, are listed below:
- Design: Prototype M
- Alignment: Shape 2, Line Pattern B
- Length: 32 inches
- Weight: “Heavy”
- Loft: “Low”
- Lie Angle: “Upright”
- Offset: “Half”
The new technology from Happy Putter, which Sanyal said is expected to be released to the public in the coming weeks, allows golfers to switch out alignment aids without changing anything else about the putter, such as weight, loft, lie angle, etc. The putter found its way into Lewis’ hands when Sanyal showed Lewis and her swing coach what he was working on at Naples National Golf Club in Florida, where Sanyal put Lewis through his personal testing process. It includes:
- Using a roll board to find out if the ball is skipping off the face.
- Lie angle testing to make sure the sole is flat.
- Trying different alignment aids to discover a visual preference.
- Performance testing. Lewis hit 6, 12 and 18-foot putts, and well as lag putts from 50 feet in an 18-hole format.
Before they began, Lewis had to pick which of the alignment lines best suited her stroke and preferences. At first she picked a single line, which was similar to her old putter, Sanyal said. She repeatedly lined up left of where she was aiming, however, so they changed to another alignment aid with multiple, alternating-color lines. Sanyal said Lewis didn’t immediately like the look of the alignment aid, but she lined up perfectly to her intended target with it again and again. It outperformed her gamer, and she recorded seriously impressive stats during testing, according to Sanyal’s records.
- 6 feet: 39/40 (98 percent)
- 12 feet: 23/40 (58 percent)
- 18 feet 7/20 (35 percent)
Like the original Happy Putter, which you can read more about here, the new model allows golfers to adjust weights, loft, offset and lie angle, although the new version does not change dexterity.
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Whats in the Bag
Russell Henley WITB 2024 (March)
- Russell Henley WITB accurate as of the Cognizant Classic.
Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX
3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT Hybrid 100 TX
Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (7-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 50-08F @51, 54-10S, @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron T5 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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Whats in the Bag
Vince Carter WITB 2024 (March)
- The NBA legend was teeing it up in the Arnold Palmer Invitational Pro-Am.
Driver: Ping G430 Max 10K (9 degrees)
3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees)
7-wood: Ping G430 Max (21 degrees)
Irons: Ping i230 (4-PW)
Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 (50, 54, 58)
Putter: Ping
Ball: Renegade Mbu
Check out more photos of Vince Carter’s WITB here.
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Equipment
From the Forums: I need more forgiveness in my irons – Looking for recommendations
In our forums, our members have been discussing the most forgiving irons currently on the market. WRXer ‘TheShark1’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons, saying:
“Currently gaming the Mizuno Pro 225’s but think I need more forgiveness in my irons. My well struck shots are real nice, but my mishits are not performing as good as I had hoped anymore. I really like hollow body irons so if I could find something more forgiving in a hollow body iron that would be great.
Open to any and all recommendations other than Ping. Can’t hit Ping irons at all.”
And our members have been sharing their best suggestions in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- AvidSwampThing66: “Another vote for the super forgiving and fast Paradym irons. They look really good for being a GI iron.”
- bobfoster: “I just went from MP20 MMCs to the new 245s in my scoring irons (just played my first round with them today). If you have a chance to try them, you might find them worth a serious look.”
- vman: “Shoot me down, but spend the money on lessons.”
- J_Tizzle: “i525s are great off the heel in my opinion.”
Entire Thread: “From the Forums: I need more forgiveness in my irons – Looking for recommendations”
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tlmck
May 3, 2016 at 1:51 am
I might actually try this one if it makes it to market. The two they have now are center shafted which is a non-starter for me. It won’t replace my GoLo 5, but it would be cool to add to the collection.
Mark
May 2, 2016 at 4:21 am
Sheer desperation. Get and old Ping Anser, Bullseye or TPM and get practicing.
B Clizzle
May 1, 2016 at 9:56 am
The idea of equality ruins the game for me
They have their place and it’s not outside the home
Me Nunya
May 6, 2016 at 4:38 pm
Oh you…
gmoney
Apr 30, 2016 at 3:54 pm
Haha the comment sections have been getting heated recently.
Weekend Duffer
Apr 30, 2016 at 8:55 am
I don’t understand why so many of these American players can’t putt. Lincicome, Lewis, Wie, Thompson…all atrocious on the green. Need to give up the gimmick putters and practice the old fashioned way.
Leon
Apr 30, 2016 at 10:59 am
They just spend more time in the locker room for the makeup than putting on the green
Ody
May 1, 2016 at 10:47 am
They all just need to give in and use an Odyssey mallet type. Look at Lydia, Inbee. The 2-ball They make everything.
B Clizzle
May 1, 2016 at 4:16 pm
If you think that lpga players need 2 ball
Tell Recari she can gets hers over here