Using Blade Putters for SBST Stroke?

[marvin]

I'm currently using a blade (Anser style) putter. Bought it about a year ago simply because of the looks and price. I didn't think about swing arc, balanced face, etc at that time.

The more I play golf, the more I realised that my natural putting stroke is almost straight back and through (SBST) with very slight arc. I felt I'm much more consistent and have more control with it. I'm averaging 1.6-1.8 putts with this method.

I read The Art of Putting's Stan Utley and tried my best to incorporate his method. Unfortunately, I lost my distance control. I feel that I'm not really connected with my forearms and wrists. My putting average dropped to 2.4-2.6.

Am I doing this incorrectly? Should I go back to my natural SBST? Anyone doing this like me? Opinions? Thoughts?

[Golfingdad]

I'm currently using a blade (Anser style) putter. Bought it about a year ago simply because of the looks and price. I didn't think about swing arc, balanced face, etc at that time.

The more I play golf, the more I realised that my natural putting stroke is almost straight back and through (SBST) with very slight arc. I felt I'm much more consistent and have more control with it. I'm averaging 1.6-1.8 putts with this method.

I read The Art of Putting's Stan Utley and tried my best to incorporate his method. Unfortunately, I lost my distance control. I feel that I'm not really connected with my forearms and wrists. My putting average dropped to 2.4-2.6.

Am I doing this incorrectly? Should I go back to my natural SBST? Anyone doing this like me? Opinions? Thoughts?

I'm not sure what your first paragraph has to do with anything, but what stands out to me is:

I was putting one way and averaging 1.7 putts with decent distance control.

I read a book about putting and then tried to putt like the guy in the book and now I have no distance control and average almost an entire stroke higher per hole.

I'm no brain scientist or rocket surgeon, but if you ask me, I suggest you burn that book, forget whatever you "learned" and go back to your old style of putting.

[Harmonious]

If SBST is what you think works for you, then stay with it. I think it's valuable to read a bunch of different ideas, and Stan Utley is certainly one of the gurus of the short game. But some methods won't work for some people.  You now know what works for you, and that's a good thing.

In theory, a face-balanced putter works best for SBST.  Toe hang works best for arc putting.  But I haven't seen any data that proves it one way or another.

My advice:  Keep doing what was working for you.

[boogielicious]

It would help if you filmed your putting stroke and showed us.  It is unlikely that you do actual SBST putting, but more of a slight arc.  The Utley method is based on an arc and the actual arc with respect to the ground depends on your set up.

[David in FL]

I'm no brain scientist or rocket surgeon, but if you ask me, I suggest you burn that book, forget whatever you "learned" and go back to your old style of putting.

^^^^^^This^^^^^

My advice:  Keep doing what was working for you.

^^^^^^and this^^^^^

[GaijinGolfer]

If you putt with a slight arc (because theres no such thing as true SBST), a blade really isnt the best for you, unless its center-shaft because my its very nature, a blade wants to open and close through the stroke.

[iacas]

If you putt with a slight arc (because theres no such thing as true SBST), a blade really isnt the best for you, unless its center-shaft because my its very nature, a blade wants to open and close through the stroke.

That's closer to old wive's tale than fact (golf has a lot of these old sayings that are less than true). Heck, we swing every other club on an arc and I've not yet seen a center-shafted driver or irons. The putter face should open and close if it's swung on an arc, as I'm sure you know - and any resistance to opening on the backswing would be countered by resistance to closing on the downswing, resulting in almost a net zero effect anyway.