I got my first taste of the TOMI (The Optimal Motion Instructor) putting system while researching a story at Miles of Golf (www.milesofgolf.com) near Ann Arbor, Michigan.

It was enlightening. I’ve always thought myself a horrible putter. TOMI (www.tomiproseries.com) analyzes eight key points: alignment at address and impact, path, rotation, shaft angle, impact spot, speed of the stroke and tempo.

After going through a fitting session, TOMI, a distant relative of the SAM Putting System, gave me hope in my stroke. I’m already believing I can make more putts, maybe that alone is more important than having the perfect stroke.

I’ve always known I cut across the ball, like Billy Mayfair, so I aim left on purpose, hoping I slice the ball into the hole. Needless to say my odds of making the putt are more miss than hit.

The TOMI camera told me I open the face but not too bad and my tempo wasn’t as stellar as it could be (that explained my penchant to 3-putt on long lag putts) but everything else checked out, especially my alignment at address and impact when fitted with a different putter without lines. Miles of Golf’s Brent Norton showed me how well my putts rolled off the putter face, then compared it to a local college player who bounced her putts like a ping-pong ball. It was a feel-good moment that gave me hope for next spring. If you get the chance to use the TOMI, go for it. It’s an eye-opening experience.

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