74 replies to this topic

[zakkozuchowski]

If you ask any of the great players that have played golf with Bob Murphy, they will tell you that he is one of the best putters that ever lived. His tempo and putting stroke are like the movement of a fine Swiss timepiece, and were the fuel for his win at the 1965 U.S. Amateur, his 1966 NCAA Championship individual title, and his five wins on the PGA Tour.


Because great putting is important at every level, Murphy continued to win tournaments as a member of the Champions Tour. On the Champions Tour, he notched 11 tour victories, and missed only nine cuts in the 366 events he played in.


Arthritis has slowed his playing career, but not his passion for putting. He and his team have created a putter insert that they believe is going to be next big thing in putting. Enjoy this story from Bob Murphy about the new insert that has been kept very quiet ... until now.



High Friction Insert Technology
By Bob Murphy with Craig Dolch





"'Old Murph' could make a putt or two"-- that statement was spoken by Johnny Miller on many television broadcasts we were doing fro NBC. I did make "a few" and learned a lot by watching and listening to fellow PGA Tour professionals, including Miller, Nicklaus, Stockton, Watson, Floyd, Trevino and Colbert. We were obsessed with improving our putting.Most of our work was on the putting stroke. But there was always concern regarding the putter, too. Did it look good? Did the lie have the sole flat when placed behind the ball? Was the loft correct?  Was there a nice "sound" or "click" when struck?  Did it "feel good" giving feedback to the hands and brain?

Today, we have a new consideration -- the ball itself and the large dimples. Try taking a new Titleist or Callaway and roll it easily and softly by pushing it with your finger and it will veer directions, rock and then come to a halt quickly -- all on a flat surface. The new golf ball is simply not perfectly round. The dimples are arranged in various patterns and the ridges of the dimples do protrude. A ball struck on a ridge point can easily impart spin and misdirection. This distortion varies greatly, of course. But the fact is it does happen.

My group is working to develop an insert with high friction to absorb the strike of the ball. The result is that the ball is on the face for a slightly longer time. It may seem infinitesimal, but the ball begins to true roll faster and leaves incredibly straight off this insert. My showing this to PGA Tour and Champions Tour pros Nick Price, Robert Allenby, Ken Duke, Olin Browne and Jay Sigel brings a similar response from each of them. They can see the ball rolls with no bounce and no spin. With this true roll, they notice how straight it takes off, especially on putts of 2 to 5 ft. How many of those have we seen missed on TV in the last three years -- by the best in the business?

In trying these putters with the insert installed, these pros realize they can play less break on short putts. That becomes an advantage to them to trust that the ball is leaving so straight and rolling so purely.

I am not the "mad' scientist" who concocted this insert material. I am the voice of experience from golf assisting our group in filing the patent pending and obtaining the approval stamp of the USGA. We have that approval -- it is legal.

This high-friction insert is ready to play. You will be watching television soon and Johnny Miller will say, "Old Murph has come up with something special here!"

More to come,
Bob Murphy

[dsparob]

pure spin diamond face wedges, meet your new putter???

Seems like a similar idea to grooved putters, but more consistent in that there aren't large gaps between protusions?  It will be interesting to see what the product looks and feels like!!!

[vietnameeh]

interesting....

idea so simple... yet explained effectively by even explaining how todays balls could be at fault

[DTown3011]

This technology already exisits - it's called TaylorMade AGSI, Nike Method, Yes! C-Groove.....

[+Church]

looks like grip tape to me...

[ToysRUs]

WOW!!
You guys are brutal.......

[barkydog1]

Yes, it looks like skateboard grip tape.

[runningbear]

I have actually seen this insert and, in person, it does not look like grip tape or any other insert I have seen (and I own or have used just about every well-known putter made in the past 25 years), but a well manufactured insert unlike anything out there today, including the putters mentioned in an earlier post.  I also don't believe established tour players would be putting this in their bag if they didn't believe it could help and they had not tried it already.

The embedded insert complies to the USGA's strict specifications (flatness, durometer, etc.) - hardly "skateboard tape."

Amazes me to read critical comments from "putting experts" judging a product they have neither seen nor used.

As the initial poster stated, Murph is considered one of the best putters of his time - by his peers - so, I believe there is a tremendous amount of credibility here.

Lighten up.

[brew4eagle]

dsparob, on 20 January 2012 - 05:26 PM, said:

pure spin diamond face wedges, meet your new putter???

Seems like a similar idea to grooved putters, but more consistent in that there aren't large gaps between protusions?  It will be interesting to see what the product looks and feels like!!!

Actually, Pure Spin did make a putter.  My bro-in-law still has it in the bag...

[born4golf77]

it has been proven by dave pelz and others that short putts hit on a ridgeline of a dimple can cause quite a bit of variance from actual face angle.

problem is the balls have big dimples and covers are harder so on short putts sometimes the ball is not compressed enough to act as true round object.  when pelz writes about finding the balance point of the ball and lining up with it, he also suggests finding the flattest spot (dimple-wise) on this line to avoid this problem.

pelz even suggested a soft insert putter could help this problem years ago in one of his books (the putting bible i believe)

anyway i believe the groove inserts help some with this but not entirely

and yes, you guys on here are brutal, but only on certain subjects, others get a free pass somehow

[Teedogg]

I have one in my putter and it rolls the ball pure.  I milled out my Scotty Fastback 1.5 to have the insert poured in.  I have to laugh as it does look like grip tape but I can assure you its not.  When most players try my putter out they ask where they can get one done.  It seems the better the golfer the more they notice the difference of the roll.  It does have a softer feel but I was playing a milled face putter before.  I also make more putts within 6 feet than ever before.  The ball comes off straight!!

Attached Thumbnails

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[igolfat8]

Teedogg, on 22 January 2012 - 09:02 AM, said:

I have one in my putter and it rolls the ball pure.  I milled out my Scotty Fastback 1.5 to have the insert poured in.  I have to laugh as it does look like grip tape but I can assure you its not.  When most players try my putter out they ask where they can get one done.  It seems the better the golfer the more they notice the difference of the roll.  It does have a softer feel but I was playing a milled face putter before.  I also make more putts within 6 feet than ever before.  The ball comes off straight!!

Sooooo, where does one get this goop to pour into their putter face?

[TigerStrong]

Give me a break...it's about a new product not approved by the FDA for a quick score and then you will never hear from them again...the dimples are to big is a joke and redicilious to even comment on...bob Murphy needs some extra cash so some yahoo bought his soul and now is going around using it... Wake up don't use this product you're just wasting your hard earned cash. Ask yourself this would or does the best players on the planet use the product and go from there.

Edited by TigerStrong, 22 January 2012 - 10:09 AM.

[Teedogg]

Sooooo, where does one get this goop to pour into their putter face?
[/quote]




Not sure how they made the insert or what it is made out of?  Murph plays a lot at my course and did one for me after I bothered him for a month.  From what I am told only the tour guys are getting them for now and along with some lucky hacks like me.

[ToysRUs]

Teedogg, on 22 January 2012 - 10:16 AM, said:

Not sure how they made the insert or what it is made out of?  Murph plays a lot at my course and did one for me after I bothered him for a month.  From what I am told only the tour guys are getting them for now and along with some lucky hacks like me.

Sooo, If I send you my putter will you "bother" him again????

[Teedogg]

TigerStrong, on 22 January 2012 - 10:09 AM, said:

Give me a break...it's about a new product not approved by the FDA for a quick score and then you will never hear from them again...the dimples are to big is a joke and redicilious to even comment on...bob Murphy needs some extra cash so some yahoo bought his soul and now is going around using it... Wake up don't use this product you're just wasting your hard earned cash. Ask yourself this would or does the best players on the planet use the product and go from there.

I am glad the FDA is not approving it but rather the USGA.  It is USGA approved by the way.

[TigerStrong]

Teedogg, on 22 January 2012 - 10:28 AM, said:

TigerStrong, on 22 January 2012 - 10:09 AM, said:

Give me a break...it's about a new product not approved by the FDA for a quick score and then you will never hear from them again...the dimples are to big is a joke and redicilious to even comment on...bob Murphy needs some extra cash so some yahoo bought his soul and now is going around using it... Wake up don't use this product you're just wasting your hard earned cash. Ask yourself this would or does the best players on the planet use the product and go from there.

I am glad the FDA is not approving it but rather the USGA.  It is USGA approved by the way.

So is the alien wedge and hammer driver maybe you have the entire bag of garbage...I'm just stating facts don't get so defensive about this made for tv golf garbage.

[oneaugusta]

Surely this is a joke?  I wouldn't putt with one of those unless it made every putt.  What's next a pet rock in your left pocket to get rid of the negative mojo? LOL

Edited by oneaugusta, 22 January 2012 - 11:52 AM.

[runningbear]

Some putters have milled faces and many have inserts, I believe.  Many of the putter manufacturers use a variety of inserts with different face characteristics, e.g., soft, medium, hard, etc,   Golfers then choose based upon the speed of the greens, the sound of the ball leaving the putter face (see STX, Callaway, Ping, Titleist, et. al.), etc.  If inserts really don't effect the roll of the ball, are we to believe the designers and manufacturers of these putters design them with inserts only as a marketing ploy???  I would assume these manufacturers use a tremendous amount of technology when studying the effects of inserts, including high speed/high definition photography, statistical analysis, ........

IMHO, I believe inserts have a place and do effect roll and sound (proven to be critical).  I currently use a milled putter without an insert, but would not hesitate to go back to a putter with an insert if I truly believed I rolled the ball better - imagination or not.

As an earlier poster stated, the effects of this insert will most likely be noticed by highly skilled players, only;  the same players whom can detect the slightest changes in shafts, heads, weighting, ball flight, and ball spin.  Most of the rest of us probably do not have the consistency in ball striking/putting the pros do, so we may not note a change.

[igolfat8]

Not sure how they made the insert or what it is made out of?  Murph plays a lot at my course and did one for me after I bothered him for a month.  From what I am told only the tour guys are getting them for now and along with some lucky hacks like me.
[/quote]

Is the insert material milled smooth with the rest of the face? Was a hollow cavity milled out and the material poured into it and then allowed to cure level with the rest of the face? Is it soft like can you dig your thumbnail into it or is the durometer on the hard side? This kind of reminds me of the Brass Balls that Carbite used for a while but their insert was very hard though I suspect this material may be softer with an abrasive / gritty texture?

[runningbear]

Not sure about how the insert is placed in the putter face, but as Murph and other members state, it has to meet USGA specs, such as flatness and a minimum softness factor.  

I can't wait until this hits the market, as anything that may help us make more putts inside 6-10 feet (given the same amount of practice, skill, etc.), can only help the score.

IMO, I think Murph is really onto something here, and as the pros using this insert begin winning with it.....

[weaver93]

runningbear, on 22 January 2012 - 09:13 PM, said:

Not sure about how the insert is placed in the putter face, but as Murph and other members state, it has to meet USGA specs, such as flatness and a minimum softness factor.  

I can't wait until this hits the market, as anything that may help us make more putts inside 6-10 feet (given the same amount of practice, skill, etc.), can only help the score.

IMO, I think Murph is really onto something here, and as the pros using this insert begin winning with it.....

That is it!!! I am in!!! More putts without more practice or skill, I AM SOLD! Pour me one too!

[Splitter]

ToysRUs, on 20 January 2012 - 10:48 PM, said:

WOW!!
You guys are brutal.......

Well, we have a post by a WRX staffer basically re-posting something with almost no technical details a crappy picture and reads like a bad infomercial.  A reall bad combo for a site full of gear heads.

I think the only thing that's saved this from getting worse is that it was posted by a staffer who's done some good writing.  Imagine if some one post wonder put this ad up.

With much respect to Mr. Murphy we've seen these before.  Most of us don't really care about something that only the professionals get to play and that has no release date or way to play ourselves.

I believe in inserts but pretty much gave up on miracle cures when Rocco showed up on camera with a bra attached to a golf club.

Edited by Splitter, 22 January 2012 - 10:20 PM.

[acpar72]

If "Ol Murph" wants me to buy this then he can sign up for WRX and talk to us about it. Otherwise I guess Ill just have to keep rolling it sideways.

[runningbear]

weaver93, on 22 January 2012 - 09:23 PM, said:

runningbear, on 22 January 2012 - 09:13 PM, said:

Not sure about how the insert is placed in the putter face, but as Murph and other members state, it has to meet USGA specs, such as flatness and a minimum softness factor.  

I can't wait until this hits the market, as anything that may help us make more putts inside 6-10 feet (given the same amount of practice, skill, etc.), can only help the score.

IMO, I think Murph is really onto something here, and as the pros using this insert begin winning with it.....

That is it!!! I am in!!! More putts without more practice or skill, I AM SOLD! Pour me one too!

Very funny.  Do we not hit the ball better today with the "modern technology"  equipment given the same skill set, swing, practice, etc. as opposed to the clubs we used 30 years ago?  "Game Improvement" irons as opposed to "butter knife" irons of the 1970s???

[TigerStrong]

If this product was that great they would have their own line of putters already...can Murphy even hit a ball these days?

[vietnameeh]

TigerStrong, on 22 January 2012 - 10:58 PM, said:

If this product was that great they would have their own line of putters already...can Murphy even hit a ball these days?

... do you know what it takes to bring an idea.... turn that idea into a product.... and then market it and actually sell it?

whether or not you believe the idea... your being a little ignorant i think

whether it works or not... don't knock it till you try it

[weaver93]

acpar72, on 22 January 2012 - 10:26 PM, said:

If "Ol Murph" wants me to buy this then he can sign up for WRX and talk to us about it. Otherwise I guess Ill just have to keep rolling it sideways.

+1 or better yet pay the sponsor fee to tout his product.

Edited by weaver93, 22 January 2012 - 11:22 PM.

[TigerStrong]

vietnameeh, on 22 January 2012 - 11:07 PM, said:

TigerStrong, on 22 January 2012 - 10:58 PM, said:

If this product was that great they would have their own line of putters already...can Murphy even hit a ball these days?

... do you know what it takes to bring an idea.... turn that idea into a product.... and then market it and actually sell it?

whether or not you believe the idea... your being a little ignorant i think

whether it works or not... don't knock it till you try it

It's garbage...I know that already...This is infomercial quality stuff here...I understand people waste so much money on this stuff but I'm here to tell them to stop its not going to make a difference in the golf industry...stop wasting your money and time with this "great new material"

[weaver93]

runningbear, on 22 January 2012 - 10:31 PM, said:

weaver93, on 22 January 2012 - 09:23 PM, said:

runningbear, on 22 January 2012 - 09:13 PM, said:

Not sure about how the insert is placed in the putter face, but as Murph and other members state, it has to meet USGA specs, such as flatness and a minimum softness factor.  

I can't wait until this hits the market, as anything that may help us make more putts inside 6-10 feet (given the same amount of practice, skill, etc.), can only help the score.

IMO, I think Murph is really onto something here, and as the pros using this insert begin winning with it.....

That is it!!! I am in!!! More putts without more practice or skill, I AM SOLD! Pour me one too!

Very funny.  Do we not hit the ball better today with the "modern technology"  equipment given the same skill set, swing, practice, etc. as opposed to the clubs we used 30 years ago?  "Game Improvement" irons as opposed to "butter knife" irons of the 1970s???

Tell you what, I will take Luke with a set of 20 year old Mizunos and you can pick your clubs!

We are not talking about the hundreds of millions equipment manufacturers have put into R & D over the past two or three decades. You are talking about pouring some stuff in a cavity milled in the face of a putter. The same putter mind you that the manufacturer spent countless dollars and machining hours trying to get the face as true as possible. And it is made better by pouring this miracle compound in to a cavity in the face? Look at the face picture in the OP. If you enlarge it and look at the left edge you will see the insert is not straight as it runs down the left side. If it is poured in to the putter face as described earlier, then surface tension alone would cause the liquid to raise above the cavity the same way you can fill a water glass above the rim. Without milling I do not see how it could possibly be flat.

I am not trying to knock anyone that is trying to better himself and golf in general, but to come on here and randomly post some copied article about a miracle insert that eliminates the unpredictable roll of a putt due to the imperfections in putter faces and modern golf balls just seems a little far reaching to me.