Putting Stroke - Arc or Straight?

[elchene]

Like many things in golf, there is no right answer. I'm basing my reply on Stan Utley's book, The Art of Putting. Stan Utley himself believes in a slight inside-inside arc. On the other hand, teachers like Dave Pelz endorse a straight-back straight-through stroke. Most tour pros have somewhat of an arc but players like Loren Roberts are really successful with a straight stroke. Unless you practice a lot, a straight stroke is really hard to maintain because it involves a lot of little muscles. An arc is more natural. You don't swing your driver straight-back straight-through. If you prefer to have an arc stroke, make sure to find a toe-balanced putter like the Scotty Cameron Newport. You can make sure it's toe balanced by balancing the putter on your finger. If the toe points 45 degrees down, it is toe-balanced. If the face evenly points straight up, it's face balanced. You might want to read The Art of Putting for more info.

[Weightshift]

No, and you're in a very small minority.

Try standing on ice or similiar slippery surface. Another way would be to stand with each foot on a separate bathroom scale and you'll see what I mean.

If your putter shaft is vertical, you've got an illegal putter. Putters can't have a vertical shaft - the shaft must be angled at least 10 degrees.

Yeah, I made a mistake there. I was writing what I thought I was doing - but I was wrong.

The putter head is directly below my eyes. I use a Dunlop Vista, Model 4 putter. The shorter the putt, the more I grip down on the shaft. I spread my feet in a wide stance and lock my legs by pushing back my knees - all to make sure that my lower body is imoveable - and then bend forward from the hips.

[geezer]

I think this is a grey area for me. I try to keep my putting swing fairly straight back and through, although the toe always releases past the heel(looking at the toe of the putter) on the followthrough. But as the swing gets longer it naturally turns into a slight arc.

So I guess that means that my strake actually is an arc, just that the arc is imperceptible on the shorter putts...

[TheMarksman]

Do whatever's comfortable. I like the slight arc. It feels natural. Definitely get a blade with a cavity if you want the arc to be consistent and comfortable.

[goob3r]

Originally Posted by TheMarksman

Do whatever's comfortable. I like the slight arc. It feels natural. Definitely get a blade with a cavity if you want the arc to be consistent and comfortable.

This thread is 5 years old. I imagine he's got what info heed needs by now. Arc for me btw.

[Rip24]

[quote name="Weightshift" url="/t/8488/putting-stroke-arc-or-straight#post_86569"] My golf swing starts with the feet, doesn't yours? I realize this thread is 5 years old but...... You start your swing with your feet??? What does that even mean? I'm totally confused. You must have some serious sway in your back swing.

[Mr. Desmond]

I'm not a technical sort, but as a professional putting guru told me, if you stand to the side of the ball, and if you keep your hands quiet, you are going to arc. Look for a wide yet natural arc.

Note: crap, this is an OLD thread.

[saevel25]

Doesn't matter how you putt, as long as you get the ball into the hole. Billy Mayfair almost beat tiger woods using a putting stroke were he cut across the ball on purpose.

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by saevel25

Doesn't matter how you putt, as long as you get the ball into the hole. Billy Mayfair almost beat tiger woods using a putting stroke were he cut across the ball on purpose.

"Almost" is a key word, and Billy now has a long putter. Even though he thought what he did was awful, he tried to change for a while, went back to the cut, I believe, and is now long.

[rehmwa]

Originally Posted by iacas

If your putter shaft is vertical, you've got an illegal putter. Putters can't have a vertical shaft - the shaft must be angled at least 10 degrees.

Another new piece of info.  thanks

FWIW - I get pretty steep over the ball (eyeballs) and try to stay fairly straight in the stroke.  But the bottom of the putter isn't at any weird angle to the ground so I doubt if I'm manipulating anything beyond reason.  I don't know it that's straight or curved, but I'm getting good results and try to just be consistent in what I'm doing until I decide if this is good or not for me.  That means trying to stay smooth, keeping my wrists out of it, etc etc etc.  Lately, I've been sinking a lot more of the 5-8 footers that used to "barely and frustratingly" miss.  these tend to be difference between more birdies on a GIR, and par vs a bogie when I miss and (consistently also) dub that little short pitch/chip.

[xmanhockey7]

Arc

[fatclub]

Here's to old reviving old threads!

I'm an arc ;)

[dozu]

both can work... do whatever works for you

[IceDave]

I think I'm in the arc group, but to me it is just a matter of opinion/belief if you go SBST/Arc. After a lot of putting drills to me the most important thing of putting is aim and setup. Issues that never get discussed, so many mess up, and focus on other things. But again, I think I'm an arc.

[GaijinGolfer]

Originally Posted by IceDave

I think I'm in the arc group, but to me it is just a matter of opinion/belief if you go SBST/Arc.

After a lot of putting drills to me the most important thing of putting is aim and setup. Issues that never get discussed, so many mess up, and focus on other things.

But again, I think I'm an arc.

Theres really no such thing as a true SBST putting stroke.  You cant swing something around a fixed point in a straight line.  A better term for it might be, "square back, square through".

[Rip24]

I feel like I'm straight but its probably a very slight arc. I don't really know because my focus is on the back of the ball. For me it's all about quiet eyes, I find my line and then all I look at is the back of the ball

[IceDave]

Theres really no such thing as a true SBST putting stroke.  You cant swing something around a fixed point in a straight line.  A better term for it might be, "square back, square through".

Yes I do agree SBST was not the best name for it but the idea of Pelz I would believe is that you would try to hold the face as square as possible relative to the aim line during the stroke. Read both Pelz and Utley and have tried both approaches. Too me, and here I might be totally wrong, I think people have to basically look at these teachings as references for their own strokes. At least that was my finding. If you would analyse my stroke you would probably say I'm some kind of a mutant between these two approaches, breaking rules left and right, but that seems to work for me. My putting has been much better since I decided to use some ideas from Pelz and others from Utley. I cannot for example use a face balanced putter, and always end up with the same putter design (slight toe hang). And to my "amazement" when I consult my pro for help with my putting, there are always the same 2 things that are the basis for all my problems, aim and stance. If you break that rule, then no matter what grip, stroke or putter type you apply you will always have an uphill battle getting the ball on the right line. If there would be a 700 page putting book / bible focusing totally on aim and stance, that would be my book of preference regarding putting.

[dozu]

it's actually cart in front of the horse for beginner golfer to worry about arc vs. straight.

distance is 4X more important than line.... and aint got nothing to do with arc/straight.