Quote:
Originally Posted by tilter29
Putting is more mental than anything else, even ahead of technique. If you think a breaking putt is easier than a straight one then you'll make more breaking putts and vice versa.
As far as the scientific answer, every putt is a straight putt. If you read a putt to break 1 ball to the right, then you'll aim 1 ball to the left and make the same stroke. You aren't (or shouldn't) be changing your stroke or trying to roll the ball any different based on if it breaks or is straight.
For one to be harder than the other scientifically, then the ball would have to roll different for a breaking one than a straight one but this isn't the case. It doesn't wobble or roll different if it's a breaking putt or if it's a straight one. It rolls end over end and if the ground is sloped, it will go in that direction and if it is flat, then it won't. Gravity is gravity and the hole is still the same size and the stroke is the same so I don't think one is harder than the other.
Yes, putting is mostly mental, but this is more of a technical discussion. As far as you're other statements, you are missing some things.
Let's look at two putts, one dead straight uphill, one dead straight downhill. To make this easier to envision, let's make the putts on a 20 degree slope.
Putt 1, straight up a 20 degree slope. What happens if you start the putt 1 foot to the right? It will break right away from the hole. What happens if you start the putt 1 foot to the left? It will break left away from the hole. If you don't start the putt precisely on line, it breaks away from the hole.
Putt 2, straight down a 20 degree slope. What happens if you start the putt 1 foot to the right? It will break left towards the hole. What happens if you start the putt 1 foot to the left? It will break right towards the hole. No matter where you start the putt, it breaks back towards the hole.
So it's pretty obvious which putt is easier to make. Extrapolate from there and see what you come up with as to the title of this thread. Hopefully you have or will read the entire thread, while there is much laughable BS from certain posters, there are also some really interesting thoughts and proofs.