Sweet spot. We all know the term. Hitting the sweet spot is the way to get the most solid impact and straight and longer shots ' in any sport using an instrument to hit a ball, like baseball. Wikipedia says, 'When hitting the ball, the bat (for instance) will rebound, but there is a location along the bat where this force is completely balanced out by turning forces of the bat. If the ball is hit closer to the end of the bat (the toe of a golf club or putter), the grip of the ball will try to rotate forward, out of the batter's hands. Whereas, if the batter hits it closer to the handle (the heel or hosel of a golf club or putter), the bat tip will try to rotate forward. There is a SMALL Sweet Spot where these two tendencies cancel out. The Sweet Spot on a baseball bat varies, however it is approximately 6 ½ inches from the end of the bat.'
Notice in the definition the reference to small. It does not say bigger or expanded, just small. And every time Sweet Spot is used in the definition Spot is singular, not plural, as in more than one sweet spot. There is one and only one sweet spot on every golf club and putter, and it is really small.
So, since hitting the sweet spot is so important for maximizing energy transfer to the ball for distance and direction, let's look at how you can check where the sweet spot is on your putter, especially if you have no line or dot showing it. Right now you may be saying that I know where it is because I have a line on it showing me. That's great, but we need to check it to make sure it is correct and accurate. It is amazing how many times those lines and notches are not.
In every golf school I teach or lesson on putting I give, the first thing I have all the students do is check to identify the exact place of their sweet spot. If they have no line or dot it is critical they identify the spot. If they have a line or dot it is still critical to see if it is accurate or if not then where is it exactly. Note: most companies that mark the sweet spot overall do a good job. But I still like to double check to be 100% sure my sweet spot is were it is marked. There is one type of putter, heel shafted heads, tend to be mismarked when the sweet spot line is set in the dead center of the head. Most heel shafted putters with a straight shaft (no bends in the shaft near the head) will likely have a sweet spot closer to the shaft and not dead center. The best and safest thing to do is test where your sweet spot is on your putter. It's easy.
Test to find the sweet spot by tapping the head with the tip of your index finger. To be more accurate I recommend using the tip of a golf tee as the sharp tip more accurately pinpoints the exact sweet spot. You start by tapping either from the toe to the center or heel toward the center. Wherever you start, the putter head will wobble when you tap it. When it wobbles you keep tapping and moving toward the center until you see the putter head go straight back with no wobble. When that happens, you have found your sweet spot. If your line or dot is correct they you are OK and done. If they are off, or you don't have a line or dot and want to put one on the top, you need to mark the correct spot with a pencil or magic marker. Once I mark it, I always like to get a hack saw and cut a permanent line in the top so I never have to worry about my mark rubbing off.
The best way to hold the putter to test and find the sweet spot is like you would hold it do to plumb bob to find the line. If you are right handed and will tap the putter with your right hand, then you hold the putter in your left hand between your thumb and index finger so it will pendulum in front of you. You want the putter head near eye height so you can clearly see the face movement when you tap it.
Knowing for sure where the sweet spot on your putter is will really help you in hitting more putts solid and accurate. They will be starting and staying on line with better distance control. Hitting the sweet spot consistently develops better touch and feel, especially in lagging long putts near the hole. Knowing your sweet spot and hitting it will help you make more putts.
The Surge!