Geoff, there was some talk about putter path, putting arc, etc. in a recent post, "Body Putting." Just read my new July copy of Golf Digest and the "putting arc" is brought up in an article called "6 Killer Faults" by one of their teaching pros. One of the 6 faults discussed is "Three-Putting!" I'll quote the article, "Wristy putting was in vogue 40 years ago when greens were slower and golfers had to hinge and unhinge the putter to get the ball to the hole..." and so on. The article then provides an overhead photo showing the putting arc advocated along with the title, "Putt on an Arc."...then goes on to say, "Putting with your shoulders and arms-not your wrists-can be efficient, but avoid making a straight-back, straight-through motion. The putting stroke should be on a slight inside-to-inside arc, and the putter face should stay square to that arc. The only time the putterhead is square to the target is at impact."
Even though he does suggest a slight inside-to-inside arc, he says to "Avoid making a straight-back, straight-through motion!" I certainly disagree and I one-putt MANY greens using the straight-back, straight-through stroke and try to avoid even the slightest putting arc. This is why...if one makes that "putting arc" stroke, even the slightest, one must absolutely make perfect contact with the ball at precisely zero degrees and be perfectly square to the target line at impact. In my opinion, one cannot do that consistently! Here's an exaggerated example: very young kids starting out in baseball use a tee-ball arrangement and hit a fixed ball off a tall tee...of course, when they make contact the ball can fly in any direction. Take a baseball professional and use the same tall tee with a fixed baseball...their line of flight or target line will be to hit directly over the second base into center field every time they swing...can't be done! I know this is an exaggeration and of course the baseball player is swinging much harder than one that is putting, but it's very similar in concept to the putting arc even though a stretch...the bat swinging at a stationary baseball on a tall tee is comparable to the putter making an arc and contacting the golf ball.
Even for longer putts of say 40-50+ feet or so where the putter blade must be taken back a little further than usual, one can still use the straight-back, straight-thru stroke without the putting arc. I feel the only way to consistently one-putt is to use the straight-back, straight-thru method...squarer contact and less room for error.
Regards,
Larry
theputtingedge.com
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