A side saddle putter is also known as the Sidekick putter and this model is developed by Sidekick Putter Golf Company. This putter is most effective on short putts. The inventor of side saddle putters is Robert A. Riseley. He developed this special design of putters as he felt that such a design allowed the putter to be more specifically aligned and is accurate more mechanically. He was among the 120 finalists who were selected for their unique ideas in the world of golf by Golf Channel.
Riseley’s putter is considered an innovation that has dramatically changed the entire concept of designing a putter. The side saddle putter surprised and awed people al over the world. While deciding the invention which was worth being chosen as one of the best designs in golf, Fore Inventors Only, hosted by Vince Cellini came across more than a thousand applicants. All of them had emerged with something unique and interesting. But the finalists who were chosen among the top 120 were those who indeed had something special to offer. The sidekick or side saddle putter idea was not only different, but was very simple. In fact too simple and could be passed aside as being churlish. That could be one of the reasons why this concept of a putter hit the headlines.
How does a side saddle putter work?
All the golfers all over the world know one style of putting only. And that is to align the putting ball along the putting cup and determine a line of put. Then establish a putting stance at 90 degrees to the line of put and expect to make miracles. That is, to allow the ball to sink. But this is usually difficult to happen.
Riseley claims that instead of being 90 degrees to the putting line, it would be wiser to use the side saddle putter and establish a line of putt firstly. Then with the same position and alignment, one must attempt to give the perfect putting stroke. The greatest merit in a side saddle putter is that it can be used for both conventional strokes as well as follow the usual simple pendulum motion. A putting stroke delivered by the side saddle putter is most effective as it allows the merits of a simple pendulum as well as not breaking the line of putt along the vision line of the golfer.
But the question is: - is the side saddle putter legal?
The side kick putter or the side saddle putter is legal. USGA norms (rule 16-1e) states that the stance of a golfer must not b set very astride and that none of the feet of the player touches the line of putt. Thus, any putting stance is allowed as long as the golfer is not touching e putting line.
Many golfers have attempted to give their putting stroke in a side saddle style. However, they have failed or not succeeded as the putter they had been using just could not deliver mechanically the way they wanted. Now, Riseley had offered a solution by designing a sidekick putter that serves the purpose. The side saddle putter provides the best mechanical leverage and visual line as well. When a golfer is 90 degrees to the line of put, he/she has to rely on the peripheral vision only. Now, that can be solved by using the side saddle putter. As the hosel of the putter is 180 degrees to the ball, the golfer is mechanically at a better position to give the perfect putting stroke.
