Yes!

In sports, folks usually punch the air when they score a goal or sink a putt and then they clench their fist and shout "Yes!" In the putting world the legends of putter designers par excellence Scotty Cameron and Bettinardi are favourites among fans. While Odyssey and Ping sells an awful lot too. Have you heard about Harold Swash and Yes!? Yes! No? Yes. Yes! Golf entered the US market after Retief Goosen won his second US Open title using the same C-Groove putter he used in his earlier US Open victory.

Harold Swash


Harold Swash is a devotee of the science and art of putting. His other name is the "Putting Doctor". He has spent many many hours trying to produce something great then in 1995 he developed the most significant advance in putter technology. Every putter face force the ball to skip, skid and spin in the critical first few inches so he created what is called the C-Grove technology that makes a ball travel with an almost immediate forward roll, a straighter line and will not get deflected en route to the tin cup. At the time large manufacturers refused to embrace it but the people at Yes! was blown away and formed a partnership with Harold Swash.

Note: Yes! may have been affected in some ways by the financial crisis and in a very competitive American golf market just selling putters can be really tough. The last time a putter company was sold was years back when Odyssey was bought over by Callaway. So, along came the knight in shining armour when Adams Golf bought over Yes!

How It Works

Our naked eyes won't see it when a regular putter face impacts a golf ball it will result in loft causing skidding, side or back spin before the ball begin rolling forward. So even when struck on a right line it can lead to missed putts. The "C" groove of a Yes putter is there to correct this problem. SO what is special is that there is a secret which is a 20 degree upward slant of the C grooves concentric edges whereby upon contact the edges grip the ball and apply forces that lift the ball from a resting position to impart an over-the-top roll motion.

Robot testing was conducted to compare consistency of distance and line for balls struck with identical force many times on a 50 ft putt. The tests confirmed that due to its truer roll was more consistent in distance and line. By also hitting the ball from different points of the putter face it also proved that the C groove putter had the least variation in direction and off-centred hits.

By using 100-frame-per-second video camera they were able to show how C-Groove putter dramatically outperforms other putters. Forward roll is achieved within 8-10 cm while others skidded, spun and skipped before rolling forward after about 45 cm.

Accolades

The best advertisement for any product or service is "word of mouth". While many pay the pros to carry their products, the best endorsement seems to be for Yes! where more than 200 touring pros use Yes! putters without any endorsement revenue meaning that they actually purchased a Yes! putter to use. They use it because it works!

Rankmark, a premier American golf equipment testing company ranked the Yes! C-Groove putter as number one in 2002 among the top 60 putters in the world.


The Tracy II set a Canadian Tour Record low score of 58.


It is a top-ranked putter widely used n the LPGA.


http://www.yesgolf.co.za/WhySoGood.html


As the well padded head cover says: Yes! Technology in play. The magnetic closure is a welcome change from Velcro.

The use of a Winn AVS grip is a nice touch. It is thicker than that of a Scotty and a good measure of your grip pressure can be felt as it is easily compressed as it is very soft and a tad sticky. The colour of a poisonous snake of black,white and yellow makes it look deadly.

The satin vertical top line gives you a good contrast to the darkened back and perimeter weighting such that the single horizontal target line provides clarity for alignment.

It is also non-glaring under the hot sun with the classy titanium carbon finish.

It comes in a straight shaft with a 340g head weight which is consistent with what I would usually use. The toe hang balance of the stainless steel helps you feel the toe weight and closing or squaring on impact.

This is the Yes! Tracy II, a classic cavity back blade, heel-shafted toe-down putter which has a half shaft offset compared to a plumber neck which is a full shaft offset and is most suitable for those who putts with a slight out to in motion. It has a lie angle of 72 degrees and a lower than usual loft of 2.5 degrees (probably compensated by the C-Groove). Putters with face grooves usually comes in a lower loft. This one is at 35 inches an inch longer than my usual putter length which gives me a taller stance with less knee bend and would probably be "given" an inch longer and better than most of you. Ha ha.

The C-Groove technology on the club face that has the 20 degree upward slant to impart a forward spin and truer roll within 8-10 cm. Lesser loft is favoured when playing on dry and fast green. Let's see if I can detect mesmerizing visual effects with the ball hugging the greens with consistent heightened performance and if there are magic in the rolls.

There are so many models available and all with a lady's name. I will be taking Tracy home and hope it will be my constant companion and each time I hit the tin cup with minimum effort I would clench my fist, raise my hand, punch the air and shout Yes! Just don't tell the wife about it.


Golf as in life, play as it lies.


Tribute To Seve Ballesteros


Ballesteros won 87 titles including three Open and 2 Masters. He was a man of considerable strength, his large hands enabled him to grasp 11 golf balls all at once. He had a great personality and a certain glamour about him. He was also the youngest Masters champion at only 23. Seve had a soaring drive and the kind of short game among the best ever seen on a golf course often making the impossible possible. He was a master of the bunker and chip shot. A magician no less. Seve often played with flair and dare as he quipped before: "The more you get into trees the more practice you have". "It does not matter how you drive if you make the putts."

Watching the Spanish legend whose full name is Severiano Ballesteros Sota is liken to watching Barcelona, Spain or Lionel Messi in soccer. He was also a great ambassador for the sport and his country. Even the great Tiger Woods said that Seve was one of the most talented and exciting golfers to ever play the game. Let's watch Seve when he was in action:


The Matador - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5iXjc322Zk


Simply Seve - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joliLViLo2A (the rhythm of flamenco music never fails to lift me - so expressive!)


Seve Drives Into Carpark - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpcBFvZlyDk


Bunker Lesson - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No9deDe9Ti0&feature=related


Trouble Shot - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqof5Fp7Wlk&feature=related


Amazing Shots - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mIm8cOC0hQ&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5JfA1D1pkc


The Funeral -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSlmntXoeZU

This is the reason why I carry a golf bag with "Seve Ballesteros's" name on it. I was hoping to play like a magician or at least remember one.

Seve

Ballesteros





























Adios Amigo!