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Quintic Ball Roll v2.4 The Launch Monitor for Putting

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Introduction

The putter… the most used club in the bag but the most overlooked part of the average golfer’s practice. Golfers around the world are using the technology available in today’s market to help analyse and improve their golf swing. Technology has transformed golf tuition and club fitting, offering golfers three dimensional frame by frame swing analysis, high-speed video and precise spin rates and launch angles that apply to the golf ball after impact. However, when it comes to putting, rather than analysing what our putting stroke and the ball are doing in detail, we simply opt to buy another putter with little more than hope as to whether it will truly improve our putting performance.

Quintic Ball Roll Technology

The brains behind the Quintic software is Dr Paul Hurrion - Quintic Consultancy Managing Director and international sports biomechanics adviser.

Paul’s passion for golf has led him to a specialism in putting analysis and advice, assisting European Tour Professionals, holding PGA accredited Putting Clinics and being an invited Member of the Titleist Performance Institute’s Advisory Panel. He is probably best known for his work since 2002 with Padraig Harrington, Paul also works with many other top Tour Professionals including Rory McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Oliver Wilson, Robert-Jan Derksen, Lee Westwood…

But what is Quintic Ball Roll Software all about… ?

Quintic Ball Roll software utilises a high-speed camera (up to 260 frames per second) tracking the golf ball for the first 12 inches (30cms) of the putt. It then instantly and clearly provides all of the information you need regarding the putt, graphically and numerically in a way that was formerly only available for full swing analysis software for irons and woods. Following a simple calibration procedure (right or left handed golfers), the software can be used indoors in a controlled putting studio or outdoors on the putting green with the same degree of accuracy.

Quintic Ball Roll v2.4 software instantly shows:

• Skid, Backspin & Roll • Launch Angle & Bounce • Ball Speed • Angular rotation & revolutions • Hook or Slice Side Spin • The point of True Roll • Push & Pull • The average of the last twenty putts, and the range & standard deviation for easy comparison of putters and putting technique

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Quintic Ball Roll v2.4 – Free 21 day Trial Version

To use the FREE 21 day Trial:

• download and install the program – QuinticGolfBallRTSpin2.4_setup.exe from the website: www.quinticballroll.com (Link on Home Page) • click Run & follow the directions on the screen. • once the install shield wizard is complete click finish. • a new icon has been created on your desktop called Quintic Golf Ball Roll v2.4. • double click on the icon. • click on “Register later” to access the program for up to 21 days • open the example files via the “yellow folder” icon at the top left hand • choose from the five folders, select one of the folders, then select an example putts • the selected putt will load into the Quintic Ball Roll program • view the statistical analysis • view the frame by frame movement of the ball • consider the statistics and graphs • think how you would use Quintic Ball Roll for putter fitting and recommendation? • think how you would use Quintic Ball Roll to aid putter sales? • think how you would use Quintic Ball Roll for analysis and coaching of putting technique? • think how you would use Quintic Ball Roll to increase the price of your putting lessons?

The FREE 21-day Trial Version of the Quintic Ball Roll v2.4 program has a number of sample putts you can view and analyse. In addition there are five example putting sessions collected from European Tour Players. To access the information, click on the yellow folder icon (top left of the screen) and select a putt from one of the five example putting sessions. To access a Putting Session, click on Summary, Load Putting Session, open the memo pad and select one of the five examples. (Please Note: It is not possible to film and record your own putting strokes within the FREE 21-day trial software)

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Button Functions

• The Composite icon witches you between seeing all the balls or just one ball in a single frame. • The Roll icon turns on and off the green line through the two left dots indicating skid and roll. • The Marker icon will put the 3 X's on the dots of the ball for the frame you are on. You can use this feature to see if it missed a dot in any of the frames. • The Ball icon will put a red circle around the ball showing you which frame you are on. • Underneath the main image, on the left you have your Play, Pause, Reset and Scroll Bar. These buttons enable the individual frame (composite turned off) to be viewed. It is also possible to scroll frame by frame by clicking on the arrows on the scroll bar. • The Loop icon when active will continual loop the video when in Play mode. • Centre of the Ball trajectory shows you the amount of vertical bounce of the ball. • The Camera icon enables the user to create a single jpeg image of the current screen. It is possible to copy, save or print the screenshot. • The Video Camera icon enables the user to create a frame by frame video file of the current putt. It is then possible to copy or email this video to your client. • State – Putt Analysis 97% frames valid – GREEN • Right Hand / Left Hand Putt • 200.66 fps – Recording Speed of the USB2 Camera • Create your own company logo

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Results Table

• Average Ball Speed: the average velocity the ball achieved during the first 12” (30cms). This is a very good tool for determining if the golfer is hitting the ball consistently out of the sweet spot. Have a person take ten putts of the same distance. If for example, the results show a range of more than 1 mph on a fifteen foot putt, then there is likely to be an issue with pace control for that golfer… Factors to consider would be, not always hitting the ball on the same spot (hopefully sweet spot) on the putter face, inconsistent ball position, too much acceleration or deceleration in the stroke…. One suggestion would be to try using a putter with a bigger sweet spot putter... Every putt is a straight putt, so unless the golfer has good pace control (consistent energy transfer from club to ball) then it will be very difficult to read a green correctly. It is also possible using the Vertical Bounce graph, to view the ball speed at each individual frame position. It is interesting to note how quickly a ball loses speed as a result of its contact with the ground, especially if it is bouncing…

• RPM Cut or Hook Spin: will tell you whether they are putting cut or hook spin on their putts. Again have the golfer hit 10 putts and look for patterns. If the spin rate is between 10–20rpm's (either cut or hook) the number will turn Orange, anything over 20rpms it will turn Red, under 10 it will be Green. Anything under 20 rpm's either cut or hook is an acceptable degree of spin and will not have a significance on the path. Once the RPM starts to go above 20 rpm you may need to change the fitting of the putter: for example lie angle, face balanced vs. toe heavy to correct the spin rate without changing the technique of the golfer. However, if you have a SPIN rate of above 40 rpm, you need to fix their stroke…. >20 rpm of Cut or Hook spin is enough side spin to cause the golf ball to change its intended path (i.e. miss the hole) when putting over a distance of 10ft!

• Start of Forward Rotation: will tell you whether the golf ball has positive RPM rotation or negative rotation at the point of impact. In certain instances during impact, the golf ball is imparted with backspin and hence has a negative rotation. In this instance the ‘Start of Forward Rotation’ is the point the ball stops spinning backwards.

• True Roll: is the calculated point at which true roll (roll with no skid) occurs. (Even a 7 iron ‘bump and run shot’ will eventually achieve 100% true roll). Research undertaken at Quintic Consultancy Ltd, has shown that the sooner a ball achieves true roll, the more consistent the ball is at holding its intended path. For example, compare two putts of the same distance: Putt 1, 190 degrees forward rotation at 12 inches, 35 RPM of Cut spin: Putt 2, 165 degrees forward rotation at 12 inches, 2 RPM of hook spin: Which putt achieves True Roll the earliest? The answer, Putt 2. Side spin is detrimental when trying to maximize the point of 100% True Roll (no skid!). True roll is ultimately what the design of the putter and your stroke mechanics should be trying to achieve. The ideal true roll number is <10% of the distance of the putt. For example a 20ft putt should be able to achieve True Roll by 2ft (24 inches)…

• Initial Launch Angle: provides you with the launch angle of the ball leaving the putter face. This is helpful to see if the ball is going too high in the air or being driven downwards into the ground and bouncing back up! The ideal launch angle is based upon the green speed and type of grass; however ideally you are looking for a launch angle of between 0.5 degrees and 1.5 degrees. Between 1.5 and 2.0 the number will turn Orange, but over 2.0 and the number will turn Red! For further analysis of the Launch Angle, click on the ‘Launch Angle’ Tab. Please Note : You can zoom in by left click and drag a rectangle. The rectangle you draw will be the new area…

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• Push & Pull: provides you with the predicted position of where the golf ball would have finished (right or left of the hole) based on a 1ft to 15 ft putt. The animation of the ball is to a distance of 8ft. The predication is based on a flat putt, there is no accounting for slope, grain, speed of green, wind, moisture, launch angle, rotation or even side spin. In the example below, it is predicted an 89% chance of holing the putt, with a 4% probability of missing left and a 6& chance of missing right. The predicted position at 8 feet is 0.06 inches right of centre. The diameter of the golf hole is 4.25 inches.

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• The example above predicted the ball position at 8ft to be 2.89 inched left of the hole. This results in only a 28% chance of the ball going in. The table highlights (green) when the probability is above 50% of holing (up to 5 ft in this example) and Orange between 45 – 55% and Red when below 45% probability of holing the putt… Research performed at Quintic, highlighted that ‘Putter Face’ angle determined approximately 80% of the starting line of the golf ball, while putter path direction determined the other 20%.

• The table below gives you the numbers for Roll Angle (degrees), Ball Roll (rpm), and Vertical Bounce (ins) for the putt, for each inch (1 to 12) travelled. Inches 6 and 12 are highlighted in yellow so you can use as quick comparison against other putts, technical changes or other putter styles.

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Ball Roll and Vertical Bounce Graphs

• On the right you have the Ball Roll Analysis graphs. This top graph, Ball Roll (Total), gives you the Distance, Roll and RPM values for each frame number. Additionally, there is a Vertical Bounce graph of the ball during the each frame. This is helpful to see if the person is launching the ball into the air, or driving it into the ground. Also included is the specific speed of the ball at each frame number. This information will help identify what loft they need on their putter to get a smooth roll. • The black vertical line on each graph indicates the individual Frame Number, Distance the ball has travelled along with either the Roll (degrees), RPM or Vertical Bounce (ins) and Ball Speed (feet per second). • Return to start position – indicates the distance the ball has travelled to return back to its original stating angle. Note: this will only appear if the ball has negative rotation as a result of impact. • Raw Data – click the icon to view the ‘Raw’ data on the graph. Hold the cursor over the line graph to see the values at that specific point. • Zoom In – using the mouse, left click and hold, draw a rectangle (Starting in the top left corner) around the area of interest on the graph, the graph will zoom in to the size of the rectangle drawn. It is then possible to use the left mouse to move around inside the window. To return to zoom size 1, draw a rectangle (starting bottom right corner).

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Ball Speed (Drop off over the first 12”)

This graph plots the ball speed over the first 12 inches of the putt. In the example above, the initial ball speed is 6.52 mph. The ball speed at 12 inches is 5.12 mph, resulting in a 21.57% drop in speed after impact. The type of surface you are putting on has a significant impact in the drop off percentage (for example, putting into grain) however; it is the slope of the graph that becomes very significant.

In the example above, after impact, there is a small drop in speed. This is followed by a constant ball speed to 4 inches, this can only be achieved if the golf ball is in the air (air resistance is significantly less than the friction created by the ball and the grass!). From 5 inches to 7 inches, there is a large drop of in ball speed, as the ball lands on the green, followed by constant ball speed from 8 to 11 inches (again airborne). Imagine if the ball was hit into the grain, the speed drop off would be even greater, down grain, not as much, thus making judgement of pace very difficult… it becomes very difficult to judge the correct line if the ball is jumping and slowing indifferently.

In an ideal situation, you should look for a constant slope for the ball speed as it slows down. Pace determines line, a uniform deceleration of the golf ball ensures the ball is hugging the ground, thus enables the golfer to have a better feel for pace and line.

The table below the graph, shows the ball speed during the 12 inches, and highlights the percentage drop off between 0-1, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4…

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Summary Session

Having the capability to view the averages, ranges and standard deviation of the putts (automatically updated after each putt and saved into a session folder) is crucial when working with a golfer. It is then possible to compare putting session results; for example, different types of putter; before and after changes to the loft / lie / length of the putter; and to demonstrate the effect before and after a putting lesson?!? It is possible to load numerous putting sessions at any one time.

It is also possible to remove a putt from a LIVE session by clicking on the green arrow (see example above). In addition if you click on the number (1-10) in the Results column, you can load the specific putt back into the main window…

Golfers will be encouraged to take check-ups and visually compare their performance month by month or year by year leading to a busy time for the teaching professional. For the PGA Tour Professional it is now possible to go as far as analysing how the combination of speed, grain and type of grass can significantly affect the ideal launch angle and roll of the golf ball… and consider a different putter set up for different courses and different conditions.

A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and text file can be found within the same file location as the SAVED putt. (For example: D:\Quintic Ball Roll\GEL-SedoII_1.xls) The file includes all the numerical data for the individual frame numbers and inch by inch results. It is also possible to view all of the individual data for each frame position by clicking on the Research tab. This is recommended for club fitting and research projects for Club manufactures.

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For the teaching professional it is now possible in less than ten minutes to accurately to fit a golfer with the most suitable putter for them - not just from a lie and loft perspective but also as to blade vs. mallet - centre shaft vs. heel shaft - face balanced vs. toe heavy…

For the putter manufacturer: Golfers will be both amazed and impressed by how simple and easy it is – no need to attach anything to the putter shaft or head, suddenly there are tangible results that the player can see for themselves. During recent PGA European Tour tournaments, the golf professionals just couldn’t wait to be anlaysed in order to enhance their putter fitting and putting coaching capabilities.

This software is fast, easy to use, simple to calibrate, no interference with the player and the computer does all the work for you. Quintic provide golf balls marked with three dots; however you can even mark your own balls using a regular sharpie marker and compare the effect of golf balls on your putting performance... The Ball Roll software recognises the marked golf ball and tracks it as soon as it starts to move - when the ball leaves the video area, all the required information appears instantly on the computer screen…It’s that simple… The interpretation of the data and how to influence and improve the performance of the golfer is over to you (the user).

On the following pages, there are examples of specific types of putts recorded using the software along with key points and common causes of such putts.

Quintic Ball Roll is ‘The Launch Monitor for Putting’…

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“Putting accounts for over 40% of the club golfer’s strokes and yet most players tend to buy a putter by taking a few off the rack and trying them in the shop or on the practice green – and often after a bad round. Until now, they could get a vague notion of the ball skidding and then rolling forward, but there was no actual way to quantify it and the thought of hook or cut spin on a putt rarely enters the players mind.

Now with Quintic Ball Roll v2.4, the golfer can clearly appreciate their levels of consistency, speed, spin, launch angle… and not only find which putter suits them best, but with ‘a bit of work’ how changing their technique can significantly improve their performance”.

“Putting is an art; however you must have the correct biomechanics to ensure no manipulation. Attaining correct lie and loft values will help the golfer, with the ultimate goal to get the ball to roll as soon as possible with as little side spin as possible. Quintic Ball Roll software shows me exactly what effect the putter and technique is having on the ball… by measuring the ball's performance (roll, skid, launch angle, side spin...) after all this is what truly matters..."

…you have to understand what is happening to the golf ball in order to teach putting!”

Dr Paul Hurrion

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"The Quintic Ball Roll Analysis Software provides unique data on how your golf ball reacts after impact. This information is invaluable when custom fitting your putter or improving the dynamics of your putting stroke" Padraig Harrington

"Quintic Ball Roll is the equivalent of 'Trackman' for Putting... it tells me the speed, spin and launch conditions of the ball as it leaves the putter face. The data is vital for checking my stroke mechanics" Robert-Jan Derksen

Since we attended a PGA Seminar with Dr. Paul Hurrion we have a new found passion for teaching putting. We now have a systematic way of working out why people putt poorly by looking at how the ball performs as soon as it leaves the putter face. As a result of this relationship with Dr. Paul Hurrion and Gel Putters we have increased our putter sales enormously and our reputation for giving excellent putting lessons has improved more than we could ever have imagined, I can’t thank the Doc enough for what he’s done for us. Not only that my putting has improved hugely because I am working on the correct things." Billy Fyfe - Director of Instruction, The Aspire Golf Centre, Aberdeen, Scotland

"We had the Quintic Ball Roll software installed at the London Putting Academy at the start of the year and it has been of huge benefit to every aspect of our business. It's simple to use and easy to understand data makes identifying any error within the stroke or the putter's suitability simple and measuring the improvements becomes a science rather than guesswork. Our putter sales have increased dramatically as it isn't a case of us convincing the golfer that a new putter can improve their fortune on the greens, the numbers don't lie and improved ball roll data will lead to improved putting performance. On the coaching side it is great to be able to keep a vault of information and show a golfer how they have improved over time which in turn results in satisfied customers and increased lesson bookings. Quintic Ball Roll has become an integral part of everything we do at the London Putting Academy and I would recommend it to any coach or player who is serious about getting the most from their putting performance." Matt Johns - London Putting Academy, Royal Blackheath Golf Club, Eltham, London

"I cannot thank you enough for all your help over the last few weeks; I am very excited to add Quintic’s Ball Roll Software to my Putting Academy at The Club at Cordillera! The data provided by your system adds much more credibility to the skid and roll videos that I show each client currently. This information coupled with the SAM Puttlab offers each student- the true “Facts NOT Opinions” about their stroke. It is really nice to actually be able to quantify what is happening as we alter a putter’s lie, loft, and length over time. Quintic is on the verge of something great with this simple analysis tool- every serious teacher should have this software on their computer!" Tom F. Stickney II - The Club at Cordillera

"I sold more putters in the first month I used the Quintic Ball Roll software than I did the entire previous year. It is so fast and easy to use, and gives you the results needed instantly, it completely verifies which putter is right for each customer. Thank you for putting life back into my putter sales" Eric Simonson - Pro Vision Golf

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Example Putts using the Quintic Ball Roll v2.4 Software

Ideal Putt

Why is this an ideal putt? • There is zero side spin (-0.61 rpm is negligible) • The ball started forward rotation immediately after impact.

Other information provided • Initial ball speed is 5.83 mph which results in the golf ball travelling approximately 18 feet on a flat green with a Stimpmeter reading of 12. • The point of ‘True Roll’ occurs after 15 inches (<10% of the travel distance). • The Launch Angle was 1.38 degrees and the result was a smooth forward roll for the first 12 inches. • The ball has rotated 244.58º after the first 12 inches of its path, with 891rpm of forward rotation at this point.

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Too Much Cut Spin

Scientific testing using a fixed robot and a high-speed camera (1000fps) proves that up to 20 rpm of hook or cut spin imparted to the ball is acceptable as having negligible effect.

As soon as side spin increase above 20 rpm, the side spin can cause the ball to bounce and stray from the intended line.

This example shows the negative effect of too much cut spin on the performance of the golf ball. The cut spin number (+76.18) turns RED to highlight more than an acceptable amount of cut spin imparted on the ball at impact.

This cut spin caused the ball to skid and slid for 6 inches before starting forward any significant forward rotation and it bounced significantly for the first 12 inches even though it had a Launch Angle of 1.32 degrees.

As a result, it has taken considerably longer (18” – 19%) to reach the point of ‘True Roll’.

Common causes of too much cut spin

• an outside to inside putting stroke • an open putter face at impact • striking the putt out of the ‘heel’ • putter with lie angle too low (heel high)

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Too Much Hook Spin

Scientific testing using a fixed robot and a high-speed camera (1000fps) proves that up to 20 rpm of hook or cut spin imparted to the ball is acceptable as having negligible effect.

As soon as side spin increase above 20 rpm, the side spin can cause the ball to bounce and stray from the intended line.

Above, the golf ball has -26.05 rpm of hook spin. The given value turns RED to highlight the problem. The increased amount of hook spin, even with a launch angle of 1.71 degrees has produced a ‘True Roll’ value of <15% of the putt distance. So hooking the golf ball can actually produce a quicker true roll, but still can cause the ball to be deflected, which is exaggerated on a right to left breaking putt (right-handed golfer).

Common causes of too much hook spin

• inside to outside putting stroke • a toe hang putter, when trying to use a ‘straight back and straight through putting stroke! • putter face closed at impact • striking the putt out of the ‘toe’ • putter with lie angle too high (toe high)

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Too Much Skid

This example shows a putt that has skidded too much.

While the ball is skidding it is easier for it to be deflected off line by imperfections in the green, for example, spike marks, pitch marks, footprints, grain… This deflection will cause a putt that started on the intended line to miss the hole and /or lose speed too quickly as a result of sliding into a slope or grain.

The above example has a ball speed of 6.22 mph, a launch angle of 0.86 degrees that results in the ball rotating backwards for the first 0.75 inches. The ball takes 1.38 inches to return to its initial starting position (See Ball Roll (Total) graph). By the time the ball has travelled 12”, the software highlights the fact that the ball has only travelled (143.61 degrees forward rotation – not even half a rotation).

Obviously, the harder a putt is struck, the more the tendency of the ball to skid.

Causes of unacceptable skid

• too much static loft on the putter • ineffective putter face technology • too much dynamic loft at impact • breaking the wrist (flipping) just before impact • having the ball too far forward in the stance

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Launch Angle too High

The ideal launch angle for most greens is between 0.75 and 1.50 degrees. Slow greens or greens that have a lot of grain may require up to 2 degrees of launch angle to get the ball up and riding on top of the grass.

If the launch angle is too high, as is the case with the putt (European Tour Green – Stimp 12) shown above (2.41 degrees), the ball will launch into the air, high above the grass and bounce as it's moving towards the hole. Note the height of the second bounce, not just the first!

While the ball is bouncing, it has a greater chance of being deflected off line by either the side (hook or cut) spin or imperfections in the green.

Common causes of high launch angle

• too much dynamic loft at impact • breaking the wrist (flipping) just before impact • the putter having too high a rise angle through the impact area • having the ball too far forward in the stance • putter with too much static loft

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Launch Angle too Low

A launch angle that is too low will cause the same problems (ball bouncing as it leaves the putter) as a high launch angle.

The above example has a positive launch angle (0.43 degrees). As a result the golf ball is very close to being driven down into the ground. This will cause the golf ball to pop, hop or jump towards the hole. If the ball is actually hit with negative loft, the software will turn the launch angle value Red.

Common causes of low launch angle

• not enough dynamic loft at impact • hitting down on the ball with the putting stroke • having the ball to far back in the stance • the putter not having enough static loft

Note: The majority of putters come as standard with 3 or 4 degrees of static loft. This may OR may not be right for you. Analysing your personal putting stroke, your own hand position at address and impact and your preferred ball position will allow for the correct calculation of loft for your putter... (that’s if you can repeat it consistently!?!) It is advisable to hit 10 putts and look at the range in launch angle. This is crucial in order to optimise the correct static loft of the putter.

Ideally it would be advisable to select putters with different lofts depending on the type of green (grass type / depth / speed / weather) you are playing to optimize the correct launch angle.

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