Get more from your putting stroke the Hurrion way
By Pete Simm : The Kent/Surrey Golfer
AS the well-known saying goes ‘you drive for show but putt for dough’, but how many of us have really paid attention to improving our putting techniques. Yes, you might drop a few balls and have a few practice putts before teeing off in your monthly medal or Stableford but, hand on heart, can you honestly say you’ve looked at the mechanics of your putting stroke?
I know I can’t and have always regarded five or ten minutes on the practice green as ample time to get my eye in and hone my stroke. I’ve always regarded myself as being a pretty solid putter who enjoys more good moments than bad on the greens and holes more than he misses. However, when the invite came from Matt Johns, head professional at Royal Blackheath Golf Club to have my putting stroke analysed in his new custom-fitting putting studio, it was an invitation that was too good to turn down.
Johns opened his new state-of-the-art centre at his club the start of last month and uses the revolutionary GEL Fitting Procedure designed by renowned sports biomechanist and putting guru Dr Paul Hurrion. Using a series of high-tech cameras which take 200 frames a second, every angle of your putting stroke is analysed to determine the angle and amount of spin that you impart on the ball when striking it. The final aim of the technique is to improve the quality of the strike so that you can get the ball rolling more smoothly towards the hole and, having spent an hour-and-a-half being enthralled by the science behind the technique, I’m now beginning to realise just why the professionals hole far more putts than us amateurs.
“While amateurs spend hundreds of pounds on new drivers and smashing balls at their nearby driving range, they tend to overlook the putting side of things but it is one of most important parts of the game,” said Johns.
“During an average round of golf, you use your driver a maximum of 14 times but you use your putter at least double that amount. It usually makes up around a third of a player’s score and even the best putters in the world average around 28 putts a round.”
The technology behind Hurrion’s putting centres is hugely impressive and the case for having a custom-fit putting lesson is strengthened further when you consider his clients include European Ryder Cup stars Lee Westwood, Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy and Oliver Wilson. Hurrion has developed a unique fitting procedure, equipment and drills using the biomechanical and practical principles he uses when fitting Tour players.

Just putt-fect: Paul Hurrion with his GEL Fitting Procedure equipment
Each GEL Fitting Centre benefits from the use of his specially-designed GEL equipment which comprises a fitting tool, mirror and ProStance aid as well as the Quintic 2010 Ball Roll v2.4 Software designed by Hurrion, to ensure the highest level of customer care and a fitting experience like no other.
Hurrion explained: “As a result of being specially fitted for a putter, golfers are both amazed and impressed as immediately they are able to see and feel tangible results for themselves. “And with the GEL Fitting Procedure costing just £25, this is probably one of the best investments a golfer can make to assist his putting stroke.”
Having witnessed first-hand just how custom-fit putting session could help your game and come away with a new and fresh approach to holing putts, I can recommend it could be the best £25 you ever spend.
For further details and to book a custom-fitting putting lesson, phone Matt Johns at Royal Blackheath Golf Club on 020 8850 1763. http://www.royalblackheath.com/

http://www.gelgolf.co.uk/fitting-centres-1207-0.html