H.A. Templeton,

Vector Putting the Art and Science of Reading Greens(Vector Golf 1984).

Hardback, 194 pp. Out of print. Templeton's book is the ONLY serious effort to bring science to bear on analyzing the dynamics of the ball-green interactions. Excellent analysis of human neurophysiology of slope or tilt detection research and good geometric, physics, and mathematical analysis of curving of rolling balls on tilted surfaces. Very good analysis of green speeds and ball-hole interactions for capture optimization. A vastly underappreciated book, although recommended in Gary Wiren's PGA Manual of Golf, the book's serious treatment of the subject apparently costs it in readership. The book was originally published in an edition limited to a run of 500, out of Texas where Templeton resides. Copies are difficult to come by for purchase, but a copy can fairly easily be obtained on loan through the Interlibrary Loan Service of your local library. I got my copy at the davis Undergraduate Library at the University of North carolina, in case your reference librarian can't locate a copy by his or her conventional ILS search method. And if all else fails, send me email and I'll try to help you!

Highly recommended.

T.J. Tomasi & John Monteleone,

The Little Book of Putting (Andrew McMeel 2001).

Paperback, 80 pp, $7.30. Tomasi is a Golf Magazine top-100 teacher, and has written quite a few golf instruction books.

Walter Travis,

The art of putting, (MacMillan 1904), 32 pp.

Hardback. Out of print. Travis, a native Australian and immigrant to America, took up golf in his mid-30s on Long Island when the game was first getting established here and soon dominated American golf for over a decade, especially 1900-1915. He brought to bear a powerful sense of logic and scientific inquiry to the art of putting, and golf generally. Affectionately called "the Old man" and chronically seen with his cigar jutting out of his mouth, Travis was most reknowned as a putter and was the first American to win the British Amateur, in 1904, largely on the strength of his putting with a borrowed Schenectady putter -- yes, the one the British then banned from competition for many decades thereafter! This book is contemporaneous with that win and appears to be the first book devoted exclusively to putting. Travis later edited the American Golfer magazine -- considered one of the best golf periodicals of all time -- and wrote Practical Golf after his playing career. (If you've seen the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance, set in the early 1930s, the opening scene of the star reading a golf magazine shows a collection of Travis' American Golfer magazine spread out on a bed.) He was widely sought out as a putting teacher and taught many famous pros, including Bobby Jones. A new biography was just published on Travis -- Bob Labbance, The Old Man: The Biography of Walter J. Travis (Sleeping bear Press, 2000).

Recommended.

Book auction info from PBA Galleries:

Travis, Walter J., Practical golf (New York: Harper's, 1909)

(Travis, Walter J.) Brzoza, Walter, Croquet Mallets, Mallet Heads and the Schenectady Putter (Schenectady, NY: Parkway Classics, 1991)
Travis, Walter J. & Jack White , The Art of Putting. ( London : Macmillan 1904)

Paul Trevillion,

The Perfect Putting Method. (Winchester Press 1971).

Hardback, 128 pp. Currently available as "Missing Impossible" $19.95. Paul Trevillion is a British illustrator who devised a split-hand, well-bent-over putting method for short putts that attracted considerable attention, and continues to attract fans today. The basic idea is to get the eyes closer to the turf for better visual control, and rely upon the right hand only to move the putter. Makes for interesting reading about the true fundamentals. Maybe he and Hubert Green share some insights.

Recommended.

USGTF,

Putting Tips (Usgtf Golf Series) (St Remy 2001), 24 pp. spiral bound.

Golfers spend almost 50% of their strokes on putts. The On the Go Golf Guide: Putting Tips, with its techniques and strategies developed by top United States Golf Teachers' Federation professionals, will help any golfer knock that number down.

Stan Utley,

The Art of Putting: The Revolutionary Feel-Based System for Improving Your Score

(Gotham Books 2006)

Popular teacher describes "feel" in his method. For a critique, see my article in "On the Clock".

PA Vaile,

How to put, and Training for golf (Thomas E. Wilson 1919), 63 pp.

PA Vaile,

Golf on the green (J. Wanamaker 1915), 108 pp.

PA Vaile,

Putting made easy, (Reilly & Lee Co 1935), 3 pp.

Putting Made Easy: The Mark G. Harris Method (Reilly & Lee Co 1935).

Hardcover, OOP, 95pp. Harris was a retired amateur in Chicago who took up golf late in life and se about to master putting. he became quite adept at it, and based his technique on the idea that the putt is a miniature full swing. He sank four 8-footers in a row on a newsreel and gained some fame.

PA Vaile,

The short game,

(London : Duckworth, [1936]), 136 pp.

PA Vaile,

Scientific putting (Beckley-Ralston Co; 3rd Ed edition 1927), 48 pp.

Frank D. Werner & Richard C. Grieg

How Golf Clubs Really Work and How to Optimize Their Design (Jackson, WY: Origins, 2000).

Paperback, 183 pp., $29.95. This is a physics book for golf club design, and half the book is devoted to an analysis of putter design physics. The authors derive empirical formulae from numerous laboratory and on-course investigations / data-gathering. The authors convincingly debunk much modern dogma about putter designs, proving that a standard putter from yesteryear is probably just as effective as one of the greatly overpriced specimens touted nowadays as "must-have". Practically no design features in putters matter much, with the exception of aiming aids. When all is said and done, it comes down to square contact with a squarely aimed face moving squarely at the target. Along the way, the authors also discuss true roll dynamics, ball-hole interactions, and the optimum speed for the ball. They offer more proof that Pelz is just simply wrong when he claims he has proved his so-called 17-inch rule, instead showing that the optimum go-by speed varies with grass type and condition. They also give a very detailed (if somewhat unnecessarily cumbersome) discussion and analysis of ball-capture physics. Werner and Grieg do not appear familiar with the physics articles on this subject by Brian Holmes and Tim Maloney, but their analysis leads them to very similar observations and conclusions. All together, this is a very nice treatment of the subject.

Highly recommended for Physics and Design Enthusiasts.

Jack White,

Putting, (C. Scribner's sons 1921), 48 pp.

Tiger Woods / John Andrisani,

The Short Game Magic of Tiger Woods: An Analysis of Tiger Woods' Pitching, Chipping, Sand Play, and Putting Technique s (Random House 1999).

Paperback, 136 pp. $9.60. Tiger's putting is not always that great, although he has flashes of brilliance (Masters 1997, his 2000 season). His technique doesn't enhance his superlative innate perceptive and athletic capabilities, although he personally has the natural talent to overcome these technical flaws. Ben Crenshaw had the good sense to write an article flagging others off his technique, recognizing the idiosyncratic character of his style, and hopefully Tiger will do the same, at least until he learns better technique. One of the most glaring instances of golf goofiness is the cover photo on Golf Digest (Dec. 1999) showing Tiger supposedly illustrating the optimal eye position at address in putting. While the article purports to recommend placing the eyes directly above the ball so the head tilt keeps the plane of vision in the plane of the putt (illustrated by holding a shaft up to match the puttline and then rotating the head and shaft together), neither the cover photo nor the article does this correctly. The photo shows Tiger with his eyes well inside the ball and his head tilted so that the shaft as turned towards the target is all akilter! Even so, we all know Tiger's scoring average has been plumeting ever since he joined the Tour, and broke the Byron Nelson barrier in 2000, with an average of 68.12. Lord help the Tour if Tiger ever gets a knowledgeable putting coach!

More Info from PBA Galleries Golf Book Auctions, San Francisco

Tracy Sumner & Ty Votaw,

Karsten's Way: The Life-Changing Story of Karsten Solheim-Pioneer in Golf Club Design and the Founder of PING (Northfield Pub., Nov. 2000)

Bill Vogeney & David Levine,

The Art of Putters: The Scotty Cameron Story (DB Golf Publishers LLC 2001).

Ray Cook, a Legend in Golf: Sixty-two Years of Studying the Art and Science of Putting (Publisher's Press 1994).

LA84 Library Search Aug. 18, 2007 for "putt*" and "golf":

Arnold, A. E. Putting and spared shots. London: Methuen, 1939.

Bost Enterprises. Secrets to the short game: pitching, chipping, putting. [S.l.]: Bost Enterprises, Inc., c1983.

Casper, Billy, 1931. Chipping and putting; golf around the green, by Bill Casper, Jr., with Don Collett. New York, Ronald Press Co. [1961]

Cleveland, Charles B. Approaching and putting; the key to a lower golf score. Detailed advice from twelve ourstanding pros as told to Charles B. Cleveland. New York, Crowell [1953]

Comer, John L. Putting : a new approach. Oklahoma City: Privately printed, 1962.

Cromie, Robert Allen, 1909. New angles on putting and chip shots. Based on the principles originated and perfected by the late Mark G. Harris. Drawings by William O'Brien. Chicago, Reilly & Lee, 1960.

Dunn, John Duncan. How to putt / by John Duncan Dunn. New York : T.E. Wilson, [c1922]

Evans, Charles, Jr., 1890. Chick Evans' golf secrets [sound recording]. [S.l.]: Brunswick-Balke-Collender, [1920].

Ferrier, Jim. Use of the driver and putter videorecording: with Jim Ferrier. [S.l. : s.n., n.d.].

Galvano, Phil. Secrets of accurate putting and chipping.ÊEnglewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall [1957].

Galvano, Phil. The gentle arts of putting and chipping. London, S. Paul [c1957].

Garrity, John. Sports illustrated putting : the stroke-saver's guide / by John Garrity ; photography by Bill Jaspersohn. New York : Sports illustrated Winner's Circle Books, 1991.

Golf digest. All about putting. Illustrated by Dick Kohfield. New York, Coward, McCann & Geoghegan [1973].

Golf digest. Golf Digest trilogy. [South Norwalk, Conn., 1963].

Harris, Mark George. New angles on putting and chip shots by Mark G. Harris ... Chicago The Reilly & Lee co c1940.

Jansson, Allen E. How to master the art of one putting. [N.p.]: Privately printed, 1983.

Jones, Dallas. Putting -- golf's end game videorecording / National Golf Foundation ; written by Dallas Jones ; production and direction, Tom Hilderbrand. North Palm Beach, Fla. : Athletic Institute [distributor], c1975.

Langer, Bernhard, 1957. Langer on putting / Bernhard Langer with Vivien Saunders ; illustrations by Chris Perfect. London : S. Paul, 1987.

Locke, Bobby. How to improve your putting. Buffalo, New York : Dunlop Tire & Rubber, 1949.

Low, George, 1912. The master of putting / George Low with Al Barkow. New York : Atheneum, 1983.

Metzger, Sol, 1880. Putting analyzed / Sol Metzger ; illustrated by the author. Garden City, N.Y. : Doubleday, Doran & Co., 1929.

Michael, Tom. Golf's winning stroke : putting / by Tom Michael and the editors of Golf digest magazine ; introduction by Cary Middlecoff. New York : Coward-McCann [1967].

Morley, Michael E. The art and science of putting. Scottsdale, Ariz. : Privately printed, 1982.

Palmer, Arnold, 1929. How to improve your putting. Arnold Palmer Creations, 1964.

Palmer, Arnold, 1929. Arnold Palmer's complete book of putting / Arnold Palmer and Peter Dobereiner. New York : Atheneum, 1986.

Park, Willie. The art of putting / by Willie Park. Edinburgh : J. & J. Gray & Co., 1920.

Pelz, Dave. Dave Pelz's putting bible : the complete guide to mastering the green / Dave Pelz with James A. Frank. New York : Doubleday, c2000.

Pelz, Dave. Putt like the pros : Dave Pelz's scientific way to improving your stroke, reading greens, and lowering your score / Dave Pelz with Nick Mastroni New York : Harper & Row, c1989.

Ray, Edward. Driving, approaching, putting, by Edward Ray ... New York, R.M. MacBride & Co., 1922.

Ray, Edward. Driving, approaching, putting / by Edward Ray. London : Methuen, 1922.

Rosburg, Robert, 1926. The putter book / by Bob Rosburg ; preface by Bill Casper, Jr. South Norwalk, Conn., Golf Digest [1963].

Sarazen, Gene. The Golf clinic, by Gene Sarazen ... [et al.] Photos. by Arthur E. Haug.Chicago, Ziff-Davis Pub. Co. [1949].

Slack, L. Ert. Golf putting / by L. Ert. Slack. Indianapolis : Bookwalter-Ball-Greathouse Printing, c1936.

Smith, Frank Stewart. How you can become a good putter, by Frank Stewart Smith. Philadelphia, Fox Manufacturing Co. c1925.

Smith, Horton. The secret of holing putts! / By Horton Smith and Dawson Taylor ; with forewords by Walter Hagen and Robert T. Jones, Jr. New York : Barnes, c1961.

Smith, Horton. The master's secrets of putting / by Horton Smith and Dawson Taylor ; with forewords by Walter Hagen and Robert T. Jones, Jr. ; photos. by Joaquin Bengochea and Ray Glonka. San Diego : A.S. Barnes ; London : Tantivy Press, 1982.

Smith, Horton. The secret of perfect putting / by Horton Smith and Dawson Taylor ; with forewards by Walter Hagen and Robert T. Jones, Jr. N. Hollywood, Calif. : Published by Melvin Powers, Wilshire Book Company, 1976.

Smith, Horton. The secret of...perfect putting! By Horton Smith and Dawson Taylor. With forewords by Walter Hagen and Robert T. Jones, Jr. Photos by Ray Glonka. North Hollywood, Calif., Wilshire Book Co. [c1961].

Soley, Clyne. How well should you putt? : a search for a putting standard / by Dr. Clyne Soley as related to David A Crawford ; book design, Larry Daniello, San Jose. [San Jose, Calif.?] : Soley Golf Bureau, c1977.

Stanley, Louis Thomas, 1912. This is putting. Preface by Ken Bousfield. Photographs by the author. London, W.H. Allen [1956?].

Stockton, Dave. Dave Stockton's putt to win : secrets for mastering the other game of golf / Dave Stockton with Al Barkow ; illustrations by Phil Frank�. New York : Simon & Schuster, c1996.

Utley, Stan. The art of putting : the revolutionary feel-based system for improving your score / Stan Utley with Matthew Rudy. New York : Gotham Books, c2006.

Vaile, P. A. (Pembroke Arnold), 1866. Scientific putting / by P.A. Vaile. Chicago : Beckley-Ralston Co., 1927.

Vaile, P. A. (Pembroke Arnold), 1866. Putting made easy / by P. A. Vaile ; the Mark G. Harris method ; illustrated by enlargements of motion pictures shown by the Paramount pictorial. Chicago : Reilly & Lee, c1935.

Whitcombe, C. A. Golf shots : niblick and putter. London : Niblick Pub., [1933].

White, Jack. Putting / by Jack White, with prefatory notes by J. H. Taylor, James Braid, Alex Herd, Geo. Duncanm and a commentary by Bernard Darwin. London : Country life, ltd., ; New York : C. Scribner's sons, 1921.