Dr Paul Hurrion - Official Site of Putting Coach

A new (and better?) putter-fitting system

March 7th, 2011 | PGA European Tour Golfers, PGA Tour, Putting Biomechanics, Quintic Ball Roll

Monday, March 7, 2011 : Golf Digest / Golf World

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equipment/blogs/newstuff/2011/03/a-new-and-better-putter-fittin.html

Dr. Paul Hurrion is a sports biomechanist into whose putting expertise Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy have tapped. The rest of us can, too, provided we find a facility that has the Quintic Ball Roll Software and system that Hurrion has developed.

Here’s how the Quintic Ball Roll system differs from other putter-fitting software: “We’re tracking the golf ball,” said Jim MacKay, who heads Quintic’s U.S. operations. “Everyone else is tracking the golf club.”

The Quintic Ball Roll system is similar to a full-swing launch monitor, but was designed specifically for putting. It captures skid, backspin, roll, launch angle, bounce, ball speed, hook or slice sidespin, and the point at which true roll begins.

“The reason why it’s important to track the ball as opposed to the putter, you make adjustments based on what the ball is doing,” MacKay said.

Its sales pitch to retailers is simple. Have a golfer bring in his own putter, have him hit up to 10 putts on the system, then try other putters and find which works best for them based on the data collected.

The system works for fitting, instruction and even research and development. Ping and TaylorMade are among the equipment manufacturers employing the system on the latter front. Harrington is among the tour players who uses one at home, as does the LPGA’s Beatriz Recari, who won the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge as a rookie last year. Dr. Jim Suttie, who has two golf training centers and counts Loren Roberts among his students, has ordered one, MacKay said.

The cost of the system is $7,500, which features a Quintic 260 frames-per-second camera, a camera stand, calibration t-bar, light and template for marking golf balls, and the software.

“We’re really excited about what it is we’re doing,” MacKay said. “We think we’re pioneering what we’re doing. It will be a huge help to players and to manufacturers on how to build the putters. It’s a great research tool, a good fitting tool, a good coaching tool.”

John Strege

Keywords: Beatriz Recari, Dr. Jim Suttie, Dr. Paul Hurrion, Loren Roberts, Padraig Harrington, Quintic Ball Roll Software

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Putting for Dough

February 23rd, 2011 | GEL Golf, Putting Biomechanics, Quintic Ball Roll

Nick Bayly pays as visit to Horne Park Golf Club in Surrey, as it prepares to unveil a new state-of-the-art putting studio, which is being backed by Dr Paul Hurrion, one of the foremost putting experts in the game today…

Golf magazines – including this one have been banging on for years about the need for club golfers to get themselves custom fitted whenever they are looking to buy a new set of irons or a driver, but how often has this been mentioned when it comes to putters? The piece of equipment that is responsible for the most number of shots in any round is the forgotten piece in the custom-fitting jigsaw, with most golfers happily picking one off the shelf, giving it a couple of waggles on the carpet and marching to the till.

This is perhaps not that surprising, given that most putter manufacturers only offer lip service to the concept of a true putter fitting. They might offer different head styles, shaft lengths and grips, but these adjustments bear no relation to a proper custom fitting. A putter must match your putting style and posture an analysis that can only be carried out with a dynamic fitting from a qualified putter fitter and instructor.

The other reason that so so few people play with custom fit putters is that putter fitting centres are few and far between. Thankfully that is beginning to change, and the new Gel Putter Fitting Centre at Horne Park Golf Club near South Godstone is one of growing number of venues that are focusing their attentions on this vital area of the game.

The putting studio officially opens it doors to all golfers on March 1, but I went along for a sneak preview last month to receive an assessment which subsequently turned into a golf lesson from Dr Paul Hurrion, one of the foremost experts in the dark art of putting, who has teamed up with influential putter brand GEL Golf to roll out a number of GEL Fitting Centres across the UK which use his specially designed Quintic putting analysis system to ensure a custom fit like no other.

The studio is being operated by the Mike Yorke Golf Academy and is staffed by experienced PGA professionals Mike Yorke and Paul Williams, both of whom have been personally trained by Dr Hurrion to offer an outstanding custom fit service and coaching experience. When booking a session, golfers can chosen to custom fit an existing putter or one of the Gel putters, or any other brand, as well as receive expert putting tuition.

To read the full article please click here : Golf News Feb11-Putting for Dough - GEL

An hour-long putter fitting session with one of Horne Park’s qualified fitters costs £45, while a 30-minute assessment costs £25. Book by calling 01342 844443, emailing Paul at info@mikeyorkegolfacademy.co.uk or visit www.hornepark.co.uk for more details. Horne Park is easily accessible by road from the M25 jtn 6 or M23 Jtn 9 or 10.

Golf News : www.golfnews.co.uk : Feb 2011 : Nick Bayly

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On track & On line

January 4th, 2011 | GEL Golf, Putting Biomechanics, Tuition

Golf International Jan/Feb 2011 : p46-49 On track & On line

Whatever standard of golfer you may be, investing in a Putting Alignment Mirror is the quickest route to better fundamentals and a repeating stroke. There are numerous ways in which it can help you (visit my website for the comprehensive video lesson! http://paulhurrion.com/video/) but here are just a couple that will improve the path of your stroke and the quality of your impact with the ball – both of which are vital to hitting better putts more often.

DRILL 1 : Groove a better swing-path through the ‘gate’ Improve the path of your stroke and eliminate inconsistent heel/toe strikes for more accurate and solid impact…

Tiger Woods is renowned for the way he can stand on a practice putting green and hole out from four to six feet or so, running the putter-head through a ‘gate’ of tee-pegs. I have watched him stand and hole putts like this for half an hour and not miss a single one. He often favours using just his right hand/arm, and it’s like watching a machine. Apart from anything else, it’s an incredible feat of strength – which putting is to a much greater degree than you might imagine. Here is my own take on that drill. As I advocate the right hand low putter grip, I encourage my students to practice with the left hand only, as this engenders a terrific sense of feel for pulling the left hand/arm and the putter through the ball and down the target line. Placing the right hand gently on the upper part of the left arm reminds you that the stroke is created with the gentle rocking of the shoulders, the left shoulder moving down to create the backswing and then up to return the putter to impact and through to the finish.

To start, square your putter face to the target line, and then place a couple of tees just outside the toe and the heel of the putter (there are slots in the mirror specifically for this purpose). Thus you create a ‘gate’ to test the accuracy of your stroke (you can narrow it as you become more proficient). The aim of the drill is to make a full stroke without touching either of the tees on the through-wing. Keep your eyes fixed on
the back of the ball, your right hand comfortably on the upper part of the left arm, and gently rock the shoulders to create momentum. The left arm and the putter work in tandem. Gradually bring the tees closer together to reduce your margin for error and to test the path of your stroke even more.

DRILL 2 : Identify the correct putter ‘rise’ : Stay low to the target for a solid, consistent strike

To download the full article please click on the following link : GI_Jan2011_p46-49_On_track.pdf

Visit our website today (www.GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM) to watch Dr Paul Hurrion run through each of these drills step-by-step in a series of video lessons – The Paul Hurrion Putting Studio. With commentary and further invaluable insight from one of the world’s leading putting experts, this is an opportunity too good to miss. For more information on the Paul Hurrion Signature range of putters from GEL Golf, and details of your nearest GEL fitting centre, visit www.GELGolf.co.uk

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GEL ‘Hurrion’ Vicis filmed at 20,000fps…

December 9th, 2010 | Putting Biomechanics, Quintic Ball Roll, Quintic Video Software

This is high-spped video footage of a GEL forged ‘Hurrion’ Vicis hitting a 20ft putt filmed at a amazing 20,000 fps with a shutter speed of 1/20,000. The camera used was a Photron high-speed camera.

The golf ball is in contact with the putter face for ONLY half a millisecond! So the next time you miss a 6ft putt, can you really be sure where the putter face was aiming, the point of contact, your grip pressure, the speed of the putter head at the only one point that matters…. IMPACT! You have half a millisecond to get it right, good luck!!!

My aim for the golfer is to create a consistent and repeatable putting action that enables them to start the ball on the line that they have read, every time and under pressure! Therefore the need to create a stable and solid base during the putting stroke, along with a fixed pivot point from which to execute the stroke consistently is vitally important. The address position is the first stage in developing a consistent and repeatable putting technique. I would always use my high-speed camera and Quintic Biomechanics video software to give me instant feedback on head, shoulder and body movement and much more. However the oppurtunity to see the golf ball and putter collide at 20,000fps is incredible… The camera picks up so much that the naked eye just cannot observe.

For more information please visit www.quintic.com

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The Golf Show 2010 - Harrogate October 26-28th

October 29th, 2010 | Putting Biomechanics, Tuition

The Golf Show 2010 has been hailed an overwhelming success with more than 1,200 PGA professionals visiting Harrogate International Centre over the three days. Stands were packed throughout the event and suppliers reported large amounts of business written as delegates conducted their forward buying for the year ahead.

In addition hundreds of PGA members filled the education programme to hear a range of speakers, business and coaching panels and seminars including Dr Paul Hurrion. The show spanned three halls of the impressive centre where delegates were able to see latest products from suppliers such as TaylorMade-adidas, PING, Titleist, Nike, Callaway, Hi-Tec and Srixon Cleveland.

The show, organised by the PGA, Foremost and TGI Golf, was open to all PGA members from across Europe and the three parties reported positive feedback at all levels. PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: “I think the good news from the whole week is that from the first moment of the show, in fact even before it had officially opened, there was a buzz of expectation and a positive expectation that this was going to be good and that feeling has been maintained through the three days.

“The educational programme has been excellent with a wide range of seminars and speakers that have all been extremely well received. No one who has attended the show will go home without having learned something or benefited in some way and all I think are leaving with a feel good factor.”

SEMINAR TITLE: PUTTING BIOMECHANICS - Thursday 28th October 2010
Presented by: Dr Paul Hurrion :

Introduction
This is a condensed version of Dr Hurrion’s popular Putting Biomechanics all day seminar held at the PGA National Training academy. His knowledge and information about the Putting Stroke and Putting Technique and analysing the reaction of the ball to different putters is the same as is shared with the top European Tour Professionals he works with. This information should be of vital interest to every golfer who has ever had serious thoughts about understanding Putting.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will have a better understanding of:

• the human biomechanics of the putting stroke
• the technique of the putting stroke
• the reaction of the golf ball to different putters / techniques
• how to use this information to benefit of their own putting stroke
• how to use this information to boost putting lessons / putter fitting / putter sales
• use of technology for serious analysis of the Golfer’s technique, the Putter and Putter Fitting.

For further information please visit : http://www.golftradeshow.co.uk

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Better by Saturday - Putting

August 5th, 2010 | Putting Biomechanics, Tuition

Golf Monthly - October 2010 p86-87
www.golf-monthly.co.uk

An expert in biomechanics, Dr Paul Hurrion has given putting advice to Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Paul McGinley. Here he offers some very useful tips to use on the practice green, which could easily help you better your scores by a few vital strokes…

1 : Read putts accurately…
Before you even think about working on your stroke you need to make sure that you are setting up on your intended line. This is heavily influenced by whether, at address, what you perceive as a straight putt is actually straight. You can easily test this by finding a flat putt of around six feet. Place a line of balls from just behind the hole in a straight line back to where you intend to putt from (below). Set up to the end ball and line up square to the next ball in the line. Then look to the hole and see if the balls appear straight. For many they will curve one way or the other (right). If this is the case you need to adjust your posture to get your eyes directly over the ball until the line of balls appears straight.

2 : Square the face
One change can have a big influence on your green-reading. When on the putting green check whether your face is pointing at the floor, rather than at an angle with your eyes looking down. If your face is parallel with the ground it will make green-reading much easier. In the top image you can see that my face is at an angle, which makes depth perception much harder to judge. Think of this as if you are holding a book; you would never read at such an angle. Also the posture in the bottom picture is much better for the neck as it puts less pressure on the cervical spine and reduces muscular tension.

To download the full article please click on the following link : Golf Monthly p87-86 Oct10 - Better by Saturday

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Elizabeth Mallett wins English girls’ championship

August 1st, 2010 | Putting Biomechanics

Sutton Coldfield’s Elizabeth Mallett (pictured) turned a six-shot deficit into a one-stroke victory with a superb display of sub-par golf in the English girls’ championship at Seacroft, Lincolnshire. The event was sponsored by the sports scholarship consultancy, firstpointusa.com

At the start of the last day’s play, the 16-year-old from Sutton Coldfield Ladies was on level par and six shots behind the halfway leaders, Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) and Lauren Taylor (Woburn).

Over the next 36 holes Elizabeth had one eagle and 10 birdies – five of them in a row – as she compiled rounds of 70 and 69 to finish the championship on seven-under par.

It proved to be an unbeatable target. Heidi got to seven-under after 12 holes but dropped three shots on the way home. Lauren had birdie chances to get to seven-under – including one on the 18th to force a play-off – but the putts refused to drop and she finished runner-up.

Elizabeth completed her round a couple of holes ahead of her rivals and headed straight for the putting green. “Everyone was jumping around but I told them all to go away, I just wanted to calm down.” She stayed there until the final pair completed their round and the possibility of a play-off had disappeared. When she finally learned she had won she said: “I can’t believe it, it feels amazing.”

Elizabeth, who was the 2009 English U15 champion, came to Seacroft determined to win. She prepared well with three practice rounds, including one with a club member. “Since my exams finished on May 21 I’ve had time to work on my game and I’ve done a lot of practice and I’m swinging it the best ever,” she said.

She was also undeterred when Lauren and Heidi established their six-shot halfway lead. “Six shots is nothing,” she said. “If they make two bogeys and I make two birdies it’s all different.” However, she had no idea how the others were scoring as she played her final round. “I just had the attitude that I would need to birdie the last to get into a play-off. I tried to stay as relaxed as I could and not to push it. I just let it happen.”

Last year, as well as winning the U15 title, Elizabeth was runner-up in the British girls’ championship. “That was the best week ever, but now this has topped it,” she said.

Nottinghamshire’s Alex Peters played her way into third place with two sub-par rounds on the final day. She shot 71, 70 to finish on four-under par and just pipped Heidi Baek on countback. Lancashire’s Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham and St. Annes) was fifth on three-over par while Brogan Townend (Pleasington) shot a final round of two-under 71 to take sixth place.

Congratulations Elizabeth from all at Quintic, keep working on your drills…

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GEL Golf Rolls Out New GEL Fitting Centres at Royal Blackheath & Aspire Aberdeen

July 28th, 2010 | GEL Golf, ProStance, Putting Biomechanics, Quintic Ball Roll, Tuition

28th July 2010, London

GEL Golf UK has rolled out two new GEL Fitting Centres at opposite ends of the country, one at Royal Blackheath Golf Club just outside London and the other at the Aspire Golf Centre in Aberdeen, Scotland bringing the total number of Centres in the UK to a 13 locations.

GEL Golf, manufacturers of GEL Groove Putters, launched its first Centre in conjunction with renowned sports biomechanist and putting coach Dr Paul Hurrion last June, following the conviction that for the best results on the greens, putters need to be specially-fitted to the individual golfer.

To this end, Hurrion developed a unique fitting procedure, equipment and drills specially for the GEL Fitting Centres using the biomechanical and practical principles he uses when fitting Tour players. Over the past year Hurrion, best known in golf for coaching the likes of Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood, has been imparting his knowledge and teachings to PGA Professionals all over the country as GEL Fitting Centres have been established.

“Amateurs are more than happy to spend hundreds of pounds on a new driver and having one correctly fitted at the expense of their putter despite the well-known fact that on average you will use your putter twice as much as any other club in the bag,” says Billy Fife of Aspire Golf Centre, Aberdeen (www.aspiregolfcentre.com).

“For this reason, it is hugely important to have a putter that is individually fitted, to obtain the correct loft, lie and length of the club, to ensure that the set-up position at address is correct in terms of eye position (using a GEL Mirror) to see the ball “straight” over every putt and to maintain balance using the ProStance. By combining this procedure with Paul’s putting drills, golfers can shave several putts off their round every time,” concludes Fife.

The GEL Fitting Procedure costs just £25 making it one of the best investments a golfer can make to assist his putting stroke.

“Our new GEL Fitting Centre has enabled to us to offer a superior service to our customers which has directly increased both our sales, the number of lessons we are giving and the value we can add to those lessons,” says Matt Johns, head professional at Royal Blackheath (www.londonputtingacedemy.com).

“GEL’s attention to detail combined with Dr Hurrion’s undoubted teaching methods and his Quintic Ball Roll software, enable us to prove to the customer the huge benefits of a fitted putter. Added to this we can give help golfers improve their putting by practising Hurrion’s skills tests which provide significant results,” says Johns.

Further information can be found by visiting www.GELGolf.co.uk where a full list of all GEL Fitting Centres can be found.

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Get more from your putting stroke the Hurrion way

May 17th, 2010 | GEL Golf, Putting Biomechanics, Quintic Ball Roll, Tuition

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/