Your Putting Style: Utley or Pelz?

[klaymon]

I think I have a hybrid swing. It's more square-square-inside. I pull back straight to keep my alignment, but right after impact I'm coming inside. It must work because I seem to make my fair share of putts.

[DBake]

What about Chris DiMarco style?

Just joking, I try to feel/think/do straight back, straight through

[elchene]

I putted with an arc before reading Utley's book. His teachings really aligned themselves with me when I picked up the book. An arc is definitely more consistent as it is more natural.

[powerfade]

I use the Pelz straight back and thru method. I keep my eyes over the target line, behind the ball (I've always done that). I then take the stroke straight back and straight through like a pendulum however just past impact (maybe 8" past) my clubface closes. I can't seem to keep it square to the finish. I'm thinking that it's not affecting my putting because I'm not pulling putts. I just wish I could keep it square all the way through to the finish.

I switched to cross-handed in the summer which helped keep my stroke online. (I play golf righty but am partially a lefty (I eat and write lefty) so going cross handed actually feels better because my left hand is the one used for precision type tasks.

Lately, I've been putting horribly but I think it's more to do with my green reading than the stroke.

[JonnyGolf]

I don't worry about what the club face does going back, only that is square at contact. I find that on longer putts, I definitely go inside, but on shorter putts, it is more in line.

[TheMizunoMan]

I put however, i dont really have a permanent stance, it just depends

[BigSlimDog]

whatever style I am using worked pretty well the other day, 6 one putts in my round... we'll not talk about the rest

[mikelz]

I don't worry about what the club face does going back, only that is square at contact. I find that on longer putts, I definitely go inside, but on shorter putts, it is more in line.

That sounds about right to me. On the short ones, I'm only watching the back of the ball. I have no idea what really happens. I have Dave's book. No I had Dave's book. I threw it away. Every chapter ended with a sales pitch for a practice device.

[Pimpslap]

Pelz for me, straight back straight through on short putts, slight arc on longer putts, requires slight manipulation with hands and wrists, whatever feels 'natural' to the individual. I believe it depends on whether you're an open faced or shut faced player (I think Utley mentions this in his putting book, short game should copy or relate to your full swing).

Regarding the Monty23 vs. the forum staff argument (this is what led me to joining, you guys have passion, and possibly too much time on your hands), poor monty, if you need to hear it from the horse's mouth then go to www.odysseygolf.com/en.PUTTING.PUTTINGTIPS.html (Eyes over the ball or behind the ball?), if you still think Phil is square to square, well.....good luck in life

[rydaddy]

Utley.

I just read his book and have put 2 rounds in since making some changes. I have noticed immediate improvement thanks to this book. I had rounds of 31 and 32 putts this past weekend, and my previous 2 rounds (before the change) were 35 and 36 putts. And I haven't nearly perfected the stroke part! I always putted inside-square-inside but pretty much changed everything else (grip, stance, stroke).

Maybe it's just me, but think many people claim straight back-straight through and don't realize they are on somewhat of an arc.

[ClintonM3]

Golf swing/putting stroke is not "one size fits all." So I don't endorse or preach one way or the other.

Mickelson swings lefty, Justin Leonard swings sideways, Furyk swings goofy. Obviously, their style work for them, but doesn't work for everyone. Same thing for putting. Arguing that one putting style is the superior makes no sense. Is like as if Mickelson preaching swinging lefty is the way to go, is superior, is natural...writing books, running schools for lefty swings.

My personal putting stroke, like many mentioned already, varies depending on length. If I am letting the putter do the work, I SBST. When I exsert more force in the stroke, I have an arc.

[neudi]

I am more of an arc kind of a putter...feel like it is easier for me to strike the ball solidly this way.

[redi630]

You are right. I have now come to the conclusion that you, the average golfer, infact know more about Phil's putting technique then his own short game coach and world renowned teacher who wrote the bible on Putting.

Phil admits to having an arc in his putting stroke on the Odyssey golf website.

http://www.odysseygolf.com/en.PUTTING.PUTTINGTIPS.html . Click on middle "phils tips" video and he talks about having an arc putting path.

[907golfer12]

Phil has a square to square stroke. You sit there on the couch watching him through a camera that is not on-line and without gridlines, which is not reliable. Even if you are standing there watching him putt in a tournament, your eyes will decieve you in the same way. You have to get your eyes on line, (or the camera) or vertically above the swing motion to see whether or not it's rotating. Untill then you can not conclude whether or not he uses the Pils Stroke or Utley's stroke.

I am confused, so when I am watching golf on TV everyone is really moving the club straight back and straight through on all shots? Driver, fairway metals, irons, wedges? I am going to agree with Iacas for sure, on TV you can see his putter face open, square up, and close. Also I am confused on how an angled view would make a club that stays square and doesn't open or close look like it in fact DOES open and close. Can you explain this to me?

More on topic I use the same stroke, open, square, close, also I putt cross-handed

[iacas]

I am confused, so when I am watching golf on TV everyone is really moving the club straight back and straight through on all shots? Driver, fairway metals, irons, wedges? I am going to agree with Iacas for sure, on TV you can see his putter face open, square up, and close. Also I am confused on how an angled view would make a club that stays square and doesn't open or close look like it in fact DOES open and close. Can you explain this to me?

Guys, let Monty go. You're quoting a comment from over a year ago and Monty hasn't been back to the site since March, 2007.

He was wrong about Phil's stroke and probably knows it.

[907golfer12]

Guys, let Monty go. You're quoting a comment from over a year ago and Monty hasn't been back to the site since March, 2007.

I'm sorry, I forgot to check the date

[Big_M]

I am a S2S... for me I am more consistent using S2S than going ISI. I have never practiced putting much (which I plan to change)... and have averaged about 32 putts per round for some time. I think using the S2S is easier when you don't practice as much, and perhaps this is why it works best for me. In 08' I want to start practicing putting more and really striving to make more 6-12 footers.

[ezmoney5150]

I use a belly putter. Straight back and through.