My golf game is very influenced by hockey. I'm often told that it looks like I'm taking a slap shot when I drive the ball. There's no doubt that my natural ability to hit down on the ball with my irons comes from my artful slap shot. I'm even known for bringing out my Happy Gilmore swing every few rounds when faced with a wide range-like fairway. I like to end my practice sessions on the range hitting drives like Happy. I make good contact just about every time, but unlike Adam Sandler in the movie, the ball really doesn't go any further! Anyway, when I recently learned about a new Hockey Stick Putter designed by David Graham, I spent my birthday money and bought one.



In 2003, Graham wanted to get his dad and brother a hockey stick putter for Christmas. He searched the Internet for days and couldn't find anything close to what he wanted. Christmas that year came and went but he couldn't get the concept out of his head. It was at that time that he started to carve a putter out of a hunk of wood in my brother's basement that resembled a hockey stick. After finishing the wooden Hockey Stick Putter, he found that although it looked like a Hockey Stick Putter, it wasn't functional.

He then began designing the Hockey Stick Putter that's now available - a real precision weighted putter. He took no short cuts, wanting the putter to be something you could actually use on the golf course. The putter has a compression molded graphite shaft with a cast aluminum head. The weight and balance is that of a real golf putter.

Although the putter is not USGA approved due to it's wide shaft, it's really easy to putt with. I took it out and played 9 holes yesterday right after it arrived from UPS. I found it very easy to line up short putts and even found myself lagging long putts to tap-in range.

Part of my reason for buying this putter was to remind myself to just have fun playing golf. It's hard to take yourself too seriously when you're putting with an Anaheim Ducks hockey stick! However, I'm thinking my opponents won't take me seriously either, until I take their money on the 18th.

Labels: Hockey, Hockey Stick Putter, Putting