Dr Paul Hurrion - Official Site of Putting Coach

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…

No Comments

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.

No Comments

The Science of Roll

June 30th, 2010 | Quintic Ball Roll, Tuition

By Dr Paul Hurrion

Photography : Andrew Redington / Getty Images
Location : Celtic Manor Golf Club
www.quintic.com

GOLF INTERNATIONAL MAG.COM JULY 2010 - 150th Open Championship Souvenir Edition

Quintic Ball Roll is the brainchild of internationally recognised Sports Biomechanist Dr Paul Hurrion (perhaps best known as Padraig Harrington’s trusted putting advisor and biomechanics analyst over the past six years). He works with many other Tour golfers including Rory McIlroy, Oliver Wilson, Paul McGinley, Robert-Jan Derksen (featured here) and Lee Westwood. He has also applied his top level skills, knowledge and experience into the design of his own range of putters with GEL Golf.

I have spent the last five years developing what is today known as Quintic Ball Roll Software and now use it regularly in all of my analysis when working with my clients on the putting green. Quintic Ball Roll v2.4 software is capable of analysing up to 240 frames per second, automatically recognising markers on the golf ball, and instantly producing fully digitised analysis of each putt. The software tracks the ball for the first 30cm of its journey on a given length of putt. It then instantly and clearly shows the ball speed, sidespin (cut or hook), angular rotation (degrees & RPM), vertical bounce, launch angle and point at which true roll occurs.

Crucially – and this is the most significant advance on Quintic’s already pioneering analysis tools – all of the above are reflected graphically and numerically in a summary sheet in a way that was formerly only available for full swing analysis software for irons and woods. The average, range and standard deviation of the putts are automatically updated after each putt and can be saved into a session folder. It is then possible to compare session results, for example, with different types of putter, before and after changes to the loft / lie / length of a putter and before or after a putting lesson. With the help of Robert-Jan Derksen, let me show you how it works.

“The software measures the performances of the golf ball, which at the end of the day, is what matters…” Dr Paul Hurrion

Golf International : The Science of Roll - July 10 : Please find below a PDF file ‘The Science of Roll’ - To download the full article please click on the following link : The Science of Roll - GI July 2010 : Golf International July 2010 - 150th Open Championship Souvenir Edition.

http://www.golftoday.co.uk/proshop/features/2010/science_of_roll.html

http://www.golfinternationalmag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=7&Itemid=30

No Comments

Quintic Ball Roll v2.4 is launched… 240fps!

June 8th, 2010 | Quintic Ball Roll

Quintic Ball Roll is the brainchild of Dr Paul Hurrion who is an internationally recognised Sports Biomechanist. Dr Hurrion is perhaps best known as Padraig Harrington’s trusted putting advisor and biomechanics analyst over the past six years. He works with many other Tour golfers including Rory McIlroy, Oliver Wilson, Paul McGinley, Robert-Jan Derksen, Lee Westwood… and also carries his top level skills, knowledge and experience into the design of his own range of putters with GEL Golf.

Dr Hurrion uses the Quintic Ball Roll Software regularly in all his analysis work. Quintic Ball Roll v2.4 software is capable of analysing up to 240 frames per second, automatically recognising markers on the golf ball, and instantly producing fully digitised analysis of each putt. The software tracks the ball for the first 30cm of the putt length. It then instantly and clearly shows the ball speed, sidespin (cut or hook), angular rotation (degrees & RPM), vertical bounce, launch angle and point at which true roll occurs.

Crucially – and this is the most significant advance on Quintic’s already pioneering analysis tools – all of the above are reflected graphically and numerically in a summary sheet in a way that was formerly only available for full swing analysis software for irons and woods. The average, range and standard deviation of the putts is automatically updated after each putt and can be saved into a session folder. It is then possible to compare session results, for example, with different types of putter, before and after changes to the loft / lie / length of a putter and before or after a putting lesson.

“The software measures the performances of the golf ball, which at the end of the day, is what matters…” Dr Paul Hurrion

Download Demo Version (www.quinticballroll.com)

Click on the link on the front page of the website (www.quinticballroll.com) to download a free 21 day trial of the program. The Demo has preloaded putts that highlight different key elements to look for. It allows you to view these putts so that you can see the fantastic range of information it provides.

Importantly you will begin to realise the unique benefits that a full understanding of the effect of a putting action on the ball brings to your own putting style, to accurate putter fitting, to the definitive choice of the correct putter to suit the golfer’s style.

Virtually every golfer whose putting is analysed with Quintic Ball Roll v2.4 will find it fascinating and will not be able to ignore the visual evidence that assistance with putting lessons is necessary. Quintic Ball Roll will then also demonstrate the effect of those putting lessons and in the following months and years the sensible golfer will have regular putting check-ups to stay on line…

“The Quintic Ball Roll Analysis Software provides unique data on how your golf ball reacts after impact. This information is invaluable when custom fitting your putter or improving the dynamics of your putting stroke”

Padraig Harrington : European / US PGA Tour Golfer
The Open - 2007 Carnoustie, Scotland
The Open - 2008 Royal Birkdale, England
USPGA - 2008 Oakland Hills, USA

“Quintic Ball Roll is the equivalent of ‘Trackman’ for Putting… it tells me the speed, spin and launch conditions of the ball as it leaves the putter face. The data is vital for checking my stroke mechanics”

Robert-Jan Derksen : European Tour Golfer

“I cannot thank you enough for all your help over the last few weeks; I am very excited to add Quintic’s Ball Roll Software to my Putting Academy at The Club at Cordillera! The data provided by your system adds much more credibility to the skid and roll videos that I show each client currently. This information offers each student- the true “Facts NOT Opinions” about their stroke. It is really nice to actually be able to quantify what is happening as we alter a putter’s lie, loft, and length over time. Quintic is on the verge of something great with this simple analysis tool- every serious teacher should have this software on their computer!”

Tom F. Stickney II : The Club at Cordillera

“I sold more putters in the first month I used the Quintic Ball Roll software than I did the entire previous year. It is so fast and easy to use, and gives you the results needed instantly, it completely verifies which putter is right for each customer. Thank you for putting life back into my putter sales”

Eric Simonson : Pro-Vision Golf

No Comments

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/

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

No Comments

Hurrion lines up new way to better putting

May 14th, 2010 | GEL Golf, Quintic Ball Roll

Quintic software helps determine the right club selection

By Paul Third : The Press and Journal

Published: 14/05/2010
Computer software started as a tool to analyse cricket developed into a major part of sport science and is now available at an Aberdeen golf centre.

World-renowned putting coach Dr Paul Hurrion visited the Granite City’s Aspire golf centre this week to launch his Quintic Ball Roll v2.4 software. Aspire has put two of its professionals, director of instruction Billy Fyfe and head PGA pro Stephen Murray, through one of Hurrion’s PGA-accredited courses, with the aim of developing a new putting programme.

Hurrion, who counts three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy among his clients, is amazed that so many people pay so little attention to such a vital aspect of the game.

He said: “Too many people buy a putter off the shelf because they like the look of it and there is no real rational thinking.

“People get fitted for drivers and irons all the time but it amazes me how little attention is paid to the club they use more than any other.

“The key thing for me is that people do not know the difference between a good putt or a bad putt and if you cannot determine what you are doing wrong how can you determine what you need to do to correct it? “That’s the basic ethos we follow with the professionals we work with.”

Mention the word biomechanics and it is likely to make the average golfer break out in a cold sweat, but Hurrion believes the process is more straightforward. He said: “The software we have implemented at Aspire will help golfers find the best putter for them. The software records eye perception, weight distribution and posture which will then allow the specialists to best tailor the club required.

“Technically speaking, the process is carried out by analysing how the ball comes off the putter face – the speed, sidespin and what the launch angle is. Factoring in all these results will help the golfer get the best club for them.” Golf is just one sport Hurrion’s company has become involved with, but interest in what he does stretches far and wide.

He added: “Myself and my father started the business in 1998. “The idea behind it was I wanted some software to help with the job I was doing in cricket at the time and it has developed from there. “We did two Olympics with Steve Backley, the javelin thrower, and it is amazing to see how the interest in what we do has grown.

“Today we do quite a bit with cricket. I work with the ECB and the ICC on bowling actions and we have people working in football, equine sport, bobsleigh, diving and archery.

“Basically, if it moves, biomechanics can analyse it and, hopefully, help athletes produce consistency.”

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1735390/?UserKey=

No Comments

GEL launches in Korea at the OneAsia ‘Maekyung Open’

May 9th, 2010 | GEL Golf, OneAsia

GEL Golf launched the latest ‘Hurrion’ Range of putters during the OneAsia Maekyung Open in Seoul. CEO Alec Pettigrew, Tour Rep Shane Warde and designer Dr Paul Hurrion were one hand to demonstrate the unique technical benefits of the GEL putters during the practice days of the tournament. As well as the new range of putters, the Quintic Ball Roll v2.4 software was used to highlight the benefits of the GEL putters to the professional golfers.

Terry Pilkadaris testing the latest ‘Hurrion’ Range of GEL putters during the OneAsia Maekyung Open

Kim Dae-hyun donned Korean golf’s Green Jacket after the big-hitting 22-year-old shot a second straight six-under-par 66 to win his first OneAsia title in front of massive crowds at the 29th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship. Kim’s 18-under-par total of 270 put him four ahead of Japan Tour star Kim Kyung-tae, who closed with a 70 at the Namseoul Country Club on the outskirts of Seoul. Australian pro Scott Arnold, the world’s number one amateur last year, shot a 69 to share third on six-under with Korean duo Han Min-kyu (67) and Kang Kyung-nam (72).

Terry Pilkadaris, Shane Warde & Dr Paul Hurrion using Quintic Ball Roll v2.4 software to analyse the golf ball characterists after impact of the putter…

An estimated 20,000 spectators – a tournament record – thronged the mountainous course on Sunday as the two Kims started the day sharing the lead at 14-under.

For more details please visit www.gelgolf.com

No Comments

Paul Hurrion and GEL Golf in Korea…

May 4th, 2010 | GEL Golf, Putting Biomechanics, Quintic Ball Roll

http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/05/04/2010050400018.html

For further information please contact Scott Rie : riescott@hanmail.net GEL Golf Distrubutor, Korea

No Comments

Rory shoots course record 62 to become youngest winner on the PGA Tour since Tiger!

May 3rd, 2010 | PGA European Tour Golfers, PGA Tour, Putting Biomechanics, Rory McIlory

What a final round, Rory McIlroy’s 10-under-par final round to win the Quail Hollow Championship on Sunday has drawn superlative-filled praise from the world of golf. The youthful star of European golf, made his mark in the United States last night when he won the Quail Hollow championship in record-breaking fashion, shooting a course-record 62, 10 under par, to become the youngest winner on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods.

Rory who will celebrate his 21st birthday on Tuesday, covered the first 17 holes of his final round in nine under par but saved his best until the last as he rolled a 45-foot putt into the centre of the hole for another birdie. There was a look of wonder on his face as the ball dropped and he was not alone in his astonishment. He finished his round with a run of six threes – two pars, three birdies and one eagle, at the par-five 15th – and his 15-under-par total beat the field by four shots.

“Ridiculous,” Rory said afterwards when asked to sum up his round. “I just got in the zone. I saw my shots and just hit them and I saw the line of my putts and they just went in.”

Quail Hollow has a reputation of being one of toughest courses on the PGA Tour – Phil Mickelson criticised its “ridiculous” greens the other day – and the Quail Hollow Championship traditionally attracts the best field outside the major championships. Yet McIlroy made a mockery of the course’s reputation and left the best players in the world looking ordinary.

Woods, the world No1, did not even make the cut and Mickelson, the Masters champion, shot a final-round 68 to finish in second place. On another day that would have been good enough to win, as the left-hander conceded afterwards.

“I was out on the course after five or six holes, thinking that 68 was the number [to win the tournament],” he said. ” I have got to congratulate Rory. To shoot 30 on the back nine to win this tournament, on this course; he is some kind of player.”

He really is and Mickelson was not alone in lauding the Ulsterman. It was noticeable that, when McIlroy stepped off the final green, a welter of players, including Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington, were waiting to shake his hand.

Yesterday’s victory was McIlroy’s second as a professional golfer – his first came at the Dubai Desert Classic 15 months ago – and his first on the PGA Tour, of which he became a member at the start of the this year.

Congratulations Rory from all at Quintic, all the hard work and hours doing your practice drills are starting to pay dividends… You have structure and a rountine to follow each week, plus your feel and tempo are improving each day as a result!!!

No Comments

All in the Set-up…

April 22nd, 2010 | Tuition

These images were shot in Abu Dhabi in the wonderful sunshine that greeted the European Tour in February, when most of you were at home looking out on the snow and wondering when you might actually get to set foot on the golf course. During those early-season events I tend to spend most of my time emphasising to layers the importance of adhering to proven fundamentals in terms of the set up and posture that governs good stroke. After any sort of layoff it’s easy to slip back into old habits so you really do have to work on re-establishing the ground rules for the putting stroke – and that means going over the details of your grip, posture, ball position and balance.

Across this page and overleaf you’ll find a number of tips and ‘reminders’ that will help you to cover the key points. If you haven’t done so already, go and see your local pro or contact your regional GEL fitting centre and get yourself a putter that is precisely fitted to your specs. I’m not saying that will guarantee you success, but it will certainly help you to enjoy a consistently better set up and posture, which will be reflected in the quality of your putting…

Golf International - All in the Set-up : May 2010 : To download the full four page instructional article from Golf International : ‘The Putting Doctor’ - Please click the following link : May 2010 : http://paulhurrion.com/tution/

No Comments