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When the ball is struck by a putter it will generally leave the ground slightly because of the loft of the putter – 4 degrees is preferable – and the upward direction of the head path. The ball will remain off the ground for about 3 to 4 percent of the overall distance of the putt. It then will slide or skid for another 10 to 11 percent of the distance of the putt. Thus the total distance that the ball goes before it takes on pure rolling spin is about 13 to 15 percent of its total distance.
For example, on a 10-foot putt you can expect the ball to be in flight for 3½ to 4½ inches and then it will start skidding and start a forward roll for 12 to 13 inches – a total of about 15 to 17 inches before taking on pure rolling. Thereafter the ball will be rolling with pure forward rolling spin and will be slowed down by rolling friction (dependent on green speed) and gravity, if it is uphill. A downhill putt will slow down less because gravity is helping it on its way. Gravity – in the form of slopes in the putting green – will also influence how much it breaks left or right.
There is no such thing as a hook putt or a slice putt, even though the ball in some cases might leave the club face with a little side spin component. However, eventually it will take on pure rolling spin and travel on a line influenced by gravity.
Back-Spin Slide and Roll:
When the ball leaves the putter face, it will have a small amount of back spin – about 2 revolutions per second. Soon the spinning ball will turn to sliding or skidding, and after about 15 inches or so – on a 10 foot putt – it will take on pure rolling spin, or top spin.
It is almost impossible to get pure rolling top spin on a ball as it leaves the putter face – in spite of the claims of some manufacturers -- unless you strike the ball at point about two-thirds of its diameter above the ground. This will drive the ball down into the ground and give it a healthy first jump out of its nestling position in the small depression it settled in from the last stroke.
Trying to hit a ball on its center will also drive it into the edge of its settlement nest and result in a few bounces before it starts its slide and roll to a state of pure rolling. In addition to the uncertainty that these bounces introduce in the putt, as well as the fact that the settlement nests are not all the same size, it is best to get the ball out of it as soon as possible and to do this consistently.
To do so, it is wise to launch the putt slightly upward using a slight loft – about 4 degrees – and with a slight upward head path – about 1 to 2 degrees above the horizontal.
