Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group => Topic started by: David_Tepper on March 28, 2025, 04:11:23 PM
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Dave Pelz has passed at 85.
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/dave-pelz-renowned-short-game-coach-inventor-author-dies-at-85 (https://www.golfdigest.com/story/dave-pelz-renowned-short-game-coach-inventor-author-dies-at-85)
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Dave Pelz has passed at 85.
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/dave-pelz-renowned-short-game-coach-inventor-author-dies-at-85 (https://www.golfdigest.com/story/dave-pelz-renowned-short-game-coach-inventor-author-dies-at-85)
Check your subject title.
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Though DP left the state, he retained his membership at a club outside DC, where I was a member. He'd show up occasionally and was universally loved and respected by club members and staff. I often use some of his putting tips and think of his contributions to the short game. Well done, David.
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While Paul Runyan and Phil Podgers preceeded him, Dave Pelz was pretty much the first teacher to treat the short game (putting, chipping & pitching) as a separate part of the game and to specialize in teaching just that aspect of the game. Now many touring pros have both full swing and short game coaches.
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Pelz unequivocally proved that over time, leaving the pin in all-the-time, IS the proper course of action.
Last week heard an announcer repeatedly question a Senior Tour player's decision to putt all putts with pin in...
...reminds me of when Charlie Rymer said Bernhard's "career is over if he can't figure out something with the standard putter, that thing won't work in the wind"...!!
;D
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Pelz unequivocally proved that over time, leaving the pin in all-the-time, IS the proper course of action.
No, he didn't.
If I have a putt I know I'm going to control the speed well… I take the flag out, because it can only hurt me. If I have a putt where I am not sure I'm going to control the speed to within ± 3' or less… I'll likely leave it in. It helps overall.
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Pelz unequivocally proved that over time, leaving the pin in all-the-time, IS the proper course of action.
No, he didn't.
If I have a putt I know I'm going to control the speed well… I take the flag out, because it can only hurt me. If I have a putt where I am not sure I'm going to control the speed to within ± 3' or less… I'll likely leave it in. It helps overall.
Are you disciplined enough to make decisions like that in real time?
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Are you disciplined enough to make decisions like that in real time?
Yes. Overall, the flagstick in helps more than it hurts (not only with makes but keeping the ball closer to the hole), but if I am putting at a speed where the ball can go in without even really hitting the stick much, it can only hurt.
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I am not questioning your supposition -- I am questioning your ability to adhere to the parameters you have outlined...
...are you disciplined enough to do so?
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I am not questioning your supposition -- I am questioning your ability to adhere to the parameters you have outlined...
...are you disciplined enough to do so?
Yes. I've literally written a book about this kind of thing.
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Very sad when a simple tribute post to someone's passing, a bright and inquisitive man who has clearly contributed hugely to the understanding of playing the game, predictably descends into yet another purile debate.
::)
RIP Dave.
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Very sad when a simple tribute post to someone's passing, a bright and inquisitive man who has clearly contributed hugely to the understanding of playing the game, predictably descends into yet another purile debate.
::)
RIP Dave.
Point well made -- I will endeavour to do better.
I did once attend a session of his all-day/1-day Short Game School in CT -- it was fantastic. Have also read and retain both the Short Game and Putting bibles.
My favorite drill is his 20-Foot Drill which subconsciously changes the priorities/focus from this distance. It is amazingly effective and a fun drill to show others, their minds are blown when putts from 20-feet start pouring in!!
RIP Big Dave.
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RIP.
I never studied his techniques but...
if anyone on a public course in the late 80s/early 90s mishit a wedge or putted poorly, someone in the foursome ALWAYS suggested Pelz for "the fix."
He studied. He taught.
I think he loved what he was doing.
Pelz, Seve, Hogan in heaven. Seventy yards to the hole....
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Very sad when a simple tribute post to someone's passing, a bright and inquisitive man who has clearly contributed hugely to the understanding of playing the game, predictably descends into yet another purile debate.
::)
RIP Dave.
Point well made -- I will endeavour to do better.
I did once attend a session of his all-day/1-day Short Game School in CT -- it was fantastic. Have also read and retain both the Short Game and Putting bibles.
My favorite drill is his 20-Foot Drill which subconsciously changes the priorities/focus from this distance. It is amazingly effective and a fun drill to show others, their minds are blown when putts from 20-feet start pouring in!!
RIP Big Dave.
Can you explain the drill Chris?
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Pelz 20-foot drill
If you were to chart your putts in a single round, you’d probably find that many of your first attempts are from roughly 20 feet away. So it makes sense to feel confident over 20-footers. Here’s a drill to help. Mark two spots, 20 feet from opposite sides of the hole. From the first spot, putt in groups of three balls until you can stop them all within one putter-length of the back of the cup, without leaving any short. Having done that, go to the mark on the other side of the hole and repeat the drill. Keep putting this way for 15 minutes or until you can stop 10 in a row.
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Rob,
Daryl has highlighted the basics of the drill above -- a 20-footer from opposite sides of the hole.
That said, a few additional insights...
The Goal:
-- hit 10 putts in a row that don't violate the rules.
-- said putts are rolled 3 one direction, 3 the other direction, 3 the original direction, and 1 final putt back.
-- any time a putt violates one of the rules, your counter is set back to -0-.
The Rules:
-- counters are either made putts, or putts that stop in the Safety Zone.
-- the Safety Zone is defined by a 34" semi-circle (approx. a putter length) that starts @ back edge of the cup.
-- hence, putts that don't get past back edge of cup, or are more than 34" away from hole in any direction, don't count.
Thoughts:
-- in the beginning it's OK (if not a good idea) to start with a flat putt that has minimal to no break.
-- an important part this drill is building pressure, the first few times you make it to putt #8-9-10 you will feel some!
What Happens:
-- you will quickly lose your focus on the hole, which is good.
-- as feel develops and you become adept at the drill, putts will start going in a rate that will amaze you!
Later:
-- pick a 12-15 footer with some break, be sure it's the same amount of break both directions.
-- add a rule <--> any putt that crosses the straight-line, in front of the hole, is a violation (even if it ends in Safety Zone).
Have fun!
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Dave Pelz is my hero as he did an entire chapter on why plumb bobbing doesn't work. World class.
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While Paul Runyan and Phil Podgers preceeded him, Dave Pelz was pretty much the first teacher to treat the short game (putting, chipping & pitching) as a separate part of the game and to specialize in teaching just that aspect of the game. Now many touring pros have both full swing and short game coaches.
The Art of Putting by Willie Park Jnr, 1920 was perhaps the first book dedicated entirely to putting but before that many writers on the golf swing had separate chapters on putting and other parts of the game. If Pelz was a pioneer it was perhaps in specialising in this one area but again there might have been others before. Certainly in modern times he seems to have cornered the market as far as the average golfer is concerned.
Niall
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What Happens:
-- you will quickly lose your focus on the hole, which is good.
-- as feel develops and you become adept at the drill, putts will start going in a rate that will amaze you!
I'm struggling to see how losing focus on the hole is a good thing but agree that hitting lots of putts with some aim in mind helps develop feel.
Niall
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What Happens:
-- you will quickly lose your focus on the hole, which is good.
-- as feel develops and you become adept at the drill, putts will start going in a rate that will amaze you!
I'm struggling to see how losing focus on the hole is a good thing but agree that hitting lots of putts with some aim in mind helps develop feel.
Niall
The hole is still part of the equation, but is no longer the primary focus.
Obviously the hole determines the aim line, but the primary focus is now getting every putt to the hole, with proper speed -- if you do so regularly the hole will start getting in the way at a rate that will shock you. ;)