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I wonder how many more tournaments Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, and Charles Howell III would win if they used a belly length putter.

Not sure about Adam Scott and CHIII but Sergio Garcia has really been held back by his putting. If he could improve his putting, he would have won many more tournaments by now. He seems to switch putters all the time. Just yesterday, I believe he was using a Yes! putter.

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I agree with you in concept. I wonder why the group on your list and others like (DL III and Tom Lehman) do not at least try different putting methods. I know Lehman finally went to a longer putter in recent years, but this group of young players should be focusing 150% of their practice time on the one area that has held them back. Clearly, Garcia's short game around the greens is not the problem, but his putter is. I would expect to see the young guns at least try alternative approaches and equipment. The Hamy, DiMarco's grip, Langer's grip, others, but yet they simply stay the same. I give Vijay a lot of credit for at least trying other methods.

It is surprising to me, but how many athletes in other sports really change their main approach to pitching as an example.

If were Garcia I think I would try just about anything new his putting is horrible compared to the rest of the golfers on the PGA.

The year that he putted his best was when he used the putterball.

Evidently he's compensated for endorsing it...I wonder if he ever uses it anymore.

Shade

from an interview with geoff ogilvy.

GolfDigest.com - Best mate

I don't know where I saw it but someone referred to Sergio as the best ball striker on Tour. Too bad his putting is off. Hopefully Ogilvy is correct when he says Sergio will be back.

It's interesting how many comments a Sergio thread will engender. The OP mentions both Garcia and Scott, but virtually every response addresses the issues with World #12, while the 4th ranked player goes unmentioned. The Spaniard is a lightening rod.

I have heard both referred to as one of the best or the best ball striker on Tour. Hmmm....

Sergio ranks 68th in GIR, Adam 12th.

El Nino is 117th in Total Driving, the Aussie is 39th.

The original question refers to their putting skills. Garcia is 24th in putting, Scott 13th (average putts per GIR).

Garcia is 35th in birdie conversion, Scott is 2nd.

The gap between their ball striking skills was similar in 2006, with Scott ahead in every significant category.

Back to the original premise, I think either might benefit from the ideal pendulum stroke achieved with a belly putter. I would add Camilo Villegas as another good young ball striker who desperately needs to find a consistent stroke.

Those are pretty good observations, BPC. I've heard those "Sergio is the best ball striker" comments too but your stats paint a different picture.