The
innovative design of the IOLAR®
putter is entirely performance driven.
The IOLAR® objective is to help
a golfer achieve the correct putting set
up and a simple, consistent pendulum stroke.
The design focuses on the three key elements
of effective putting:
1. Distance Control.
2. Face Alignment.
3. Stroke Path.
The IOLAR® design
priority is to promote a pendulum stroke
in which the arms are swung from the shoulders
with no involvement of the hands or wrists.
This is accomplished with the heavy head
weight and upright lie of the IOLAR®.
Compared to conventional popular putters,
the IOLAR® head
is 20% to 25% heavier (400 grams) and
its lie is 6 to 7 degrees more upright
(13 degrees from vertical).
The weight and lie of the IOLAR® are
similar to those of some long chest/belly
putters and provide better performance in
a traditional length. Also, the IOLAR®
is much easier to adapt to than the long
putters.
The IOLAR® design requires the golfer
to stand closer to the ball with an upright
stance, which aids the pendulum stroke
and, puts less stress on the back and
arms. A heavy head weight provides resistance
to encourage the use of the large muscles
of the shoulders for the pendulum stroke
and inhibits hand/wrist action that can
cause major face alignment and distance
errors. The small
muscles of the hands and wrists are susceptible
to nervous tension and adrenaline reaction
- the cause of the "yips."
While feel and judgement are important in
distance control, an inconsistent stroke
and/or setup makes developing these skills
very difficult. A simple pendulum stroke
with an IOLAR® putter results in consistency
that allows a golfer to develop a very accurate
feel for distance.
To achieve accurate face alignment, the
IOLAR® putters have a broad, flat
sole and alignment marks engraved on
the top of the club head and the back
flange. The sole design helps the golfer
place the head flat on the green and
avoid raising the heel or toe which,
because of the face loft, can create
a significant error. (Raising the toe
or heel by 10 degrees will result in
a putt that is off-line by one inch for
each 10 feet of distance.) The IOLAR®
alignment marks, when properly lined up,
place the golfer's eyes directly
over the ball and the line of the putt.
A common error affecting distance is scuffing.
Scuffing occurs when the sole of the putter
is below the top of the grass at impact.
Many scuffs are minor and may not be felt,
but can cause a significant loss of distance.
A tenth of an inch scuff can result in a
loss of distance of 10% on a 15 foot putt
and 25% on a 5 foot putt. To minimize the
effect of scuffs, IOLAR® putters have
a rounded leading edge (1/4 inch radius)
and the back flange is raised 1/4 inch on
a 30 degree angle to avoid a back swing
scuff or catching the longer grass of a
fringe or green side rough.
A note about heel/toe weighting: Many putters
incorporate heel/toe weighting to reduce
the effect of off-center hits-to make
them
"forgiving." However, for a
reasonably skilled golfer, this is a source
of negligible error. A
heavy head weight makes IOLAR® putters
as "forgiving"
as heel/toe-weighted putters.
IOLAR®
putter heads are CNC-machined from a billet
of 303 stainless steel and are hand finished.
The
monogrammed leather head covers are hand
made by Phil Dunn, the custom saddlemaker.
IOLAR® putters
and components are made in the U.S.A. and
conform to USGA rules.
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