Increasing the loft on your putter ?

Many putters come with a loft of 2 - 4 degrees, mine is 4 degrees.

Utley says it should be 5 degrees ..... (or more) bc. a ball nearly always sits in the grass of a green ...... I figure he knows what he's talking about and by having a forward press the actual loft might be even less on a standard putter.

Anyone increased the loft of their putter to 5 or more ?

I think it really depends on your stroke, and how much forward press you play. I think Phil plays 6* because he's got so much forward press.

depends on ball position in your stance too.  5 degrees is a good standard.

Milled a couple protos with 6 degrees, definately needed a noticable (1/2 inch at least) forward press to get the best roll.

I bumped mine up to 6.  Then I wished I hadn't and bought a new putter.  Loft changes the look completely at address.  Now I just play a 4 degree putter and move the ball about a balls width forward with hands slightly back.  It gives more dynamic loft at impact with better right hand involvement in the stroke, IMO.

so many styles ...... I wonder when Stan Utley works so close with Scotty Cameron, most Cameron putters are 4 degrees ..... I used a Rife Abaco before and that was only 2 degrees..........

I kind of wonder what bending my 4 degrees SC FB 1.5 to 5 degrees might bring !?!?!?!!????

I have the Stan Utley arcticle saved from Golf Digest from about ten years ago.  If I recall I think he said his personal putter is something like 7 or 8 degrees.  Its pretty amazing, I just cant imagine trying to use that much loft and/or press.

In his books he is taking about 5.25 degrees as being optimum ....... The fitter I visit now and then for checking my lofts and lies, has learnt me to do this myself on his machines, but there is no way to bend anything to 0.25 or it must be slightly over 5 degrees.

7 or 8 degrees was maybe only used to prove something in the article......

Yeah, bending is not an exact science for sure.  Its why if someone requests a custom build/loft (upto 6 degrees) - I mill the loft right in the cnc. very precise.