Norman Lindsay at Lindsay Putters says that a low center of gravity (and a recessed COG) plus impact high on a minimally lofted face reduces backspin and promotes overspin. Actually, he says that the impact point has to be higher than the COG, not higher than the center of the putter face.
The folks at Aserta Putters believe in a high center of gravity, but don't talk specifically about impact point.
A forward press usually results in less loft and a higher impact point on the face. dave Stockton Jr. has tested at a phenomenal overspin rate, and he uses a forward press.
Harold Swash teaches a small forward press and a hit upward with the putter delivering a "tangential" blow high on the back of the ball and high on the putter face.
I teach a neutral address position without a forward press, using minimal loft, and no specific effort to make impact other than what occurs naturally when the stroke bottoms out in the middle of the body and rises into the back of the ball. This stroke seems to deliver impact a little low on the face, but the slow tempo and "hitless" stroke still rolls the ball just fine. So I don't see a great benefit from a lot of effort to "improve" the roll or reduce the backspin -- the neutral, mild-tempo stroke works good enough for the roll and better for the line and distance.
In general, the rule of "fry the biggest fish" applies. To me, the payoff is bigger for a straighter stroke with good touch than it is for a questionable improvement in roll at the expense of hand manipulation or specific impact dynamics while the stroke is in its critical phase. I'd rather worry about "straight" than about "true roll."
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Theorist and Instructor
Geoff Mangum's PuttingZone http://puttingzone.com
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