Odyssey 2-Ball Ten Arm Lock

[JTK37]

Putter arrived this morning. I’ve generally been a solid(not spectacular) putter. 3 putts are rare, but I always feel I’m not making some of the putts inside 15ft that I should be. Over the past 3 seasons I’ve struggled a bit With what I would consider “yips”, an unsteady right hand(RH player) getting flippy through impact. 
 

I’ve gone back and forth from conventional to left hand low grip. Left hand low helped quiet the right hand, but never felt natural, and didnt solve the problem. Generally I’m better on faster greens when a shorter back stroke is all that’s needed. 
 

So here goes the arm lock experiment- back in the day I had messed with a belly putter, Ody Tank Cruiser(long counter balanced), so this doesn’t “look” strange. 
 

Set up feels somewhat awkward, not really a natural left hand/arm position(conventional grip). The more

i drive the butt of the grip into my 

forearm the more locked in it feels-in a good way. The pendulum motion from rocking the shoulders and eliminating hand movement seems much more consistent. However getting the ball online relies on being very consistent in the process. Keeping the shoulders, hips and feet aligned, way more so than a conventional putter. 
 

it’ll be a few before I get it on the course but we’ll see how it goes 

 

[OspreyCI]

Nice. Let us know how it goes. I have been interested in this technique and this putter. Hope that have some at PGA SS to try out.

[blam89]

Interested to here how this experiment goes as well. I tried the ping piper armlock in store and while it felt uncomfortable i was making a lot of putts. 
 

is this a double or single bend? Would be interested to know if it’s possible to swap the head with the white hot insert head

[Tommyboi95]

Switched to armlock about 30 days ago but only have 3 rounds in it. I’m playing the evnroll 11 and it really has changed my game, jumbo max grip is something that shouldn’t be over looked!

[JTK37]

4 hours ago, blam89 said:

Interested to here how this experiment goes as well. I tried the ping piper armlock in store and while it felt uncomfortable i was making a lot of putts. 
 

is this a double or single bend? Would be interested to know if it’s possible to swap the head with the white hot insert head

Shaft is a single bend

[driveandputtmachine]

I am extremely streaky with the putter.  My shorts ones are average for my handicap(0), but my midrange from 7-20 feet leave a lot to be desired.

 

My start line is all over the place, while the short ones, my start line is good, and my start line and distance are pretty good with my lag putting.

 

I have a plumber's neck that I am experimenting with arm lock, but I need some more weight in it to make a good go at it.

 

HOWEVER, on a whim I bought a used V Line Tank( putter Webb Simpson uses, I think) and it is 39" long and is counter balanced.  It was better gripping down to normal with quite a few inches of shaft above my hands.  I thought worst case scenario, I might make it into an arm lock putter since it is already a little heavier(370 grams).  Then I was messing around with a split hand grip on my perfect putting mat and it was like a light bulb went off.  I was making everything from the 8.5 foot length, it is not arm lock, just longer and counter balanced with a 14" or so grip.

 

I have only played one round with it, but I did make 6 of 7 putts in the magical 7-15 foot length, where I normally would have made 2 or 3.  I only missed one inside of 5 feet.  Could it be honeymoon?  Absolutely, but it is much more comfortable and my hands just feel normal.  I concentrate on a good line and go.  Playing my clubs second round of 2 man match play this afternoon, so it will get another test.

[Treek35]

Can you take a pic of the amount of forward press at address to keep

the face square ?

[JTK37]

38 minutes ago, Treek35 said:

Can you take a pic of the amount of forward press at address to keep

the face square ?

 

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking.  The face angle is square, its not influenced by forward press, offset or loft.  Thats all independent to a great extent.  Just like a "normal" putter or any club, the face can be square regardless of forward press

[JTK37]

The work from home routine has been great for short game practice.  I've put a ton of time into it so far and this is what I'm fingind

 

With a standard putter I've been comfortable with a traditional grip or going left hand low.  That is NOT comfortable(for me) at all with the arm lock.  Messing around I've arrived at some sort of claw grip, gripping the club between my pointer and middle fingers on my RH(RH player).  Those fingers then kinda wrap around the bottom of my LH on the grip.

 

It feels extremely comfortable and has helped get that locked in feeling.  A few rounds coming up next week so we'll see how it goes

 

[Treek35]

1 hour ago, JTK37 said:

 

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking.  The face angle is square, its not influenced by forward press, offset or loft.  Thats all independent to a great extent.  Just like a "normal" putter or any club, the face can be square regardless of forward press

Ok good to know. Thought you’d have to forward press it with the amount of loft 

[JTK37]

1 hour ago, Treek35 said:

Ok good to know. Thought you’d have to forward press it with the amount of loft 

 

 

The set up creates a good amount of forward press- same as Bryson or Zalatoris.  To account for that the putter has 7* loft(off the rack), a lot more than traditional putters.  But the actual loft needed and how much forward press is all dictated by the players set up, stroke, and in some ways build/height.

These are google images that represent it pretty well

[Treek35]

That’s helpful, I probably should’ve googled it myself

 

I have some natural forward press so I think it would suit me. Will need to get fitted for the right loft I’d imagine 

[shaolingolfer]

Just get fit for this putter in the PGA superstore.  I know the fitter pretty good and he think this putter fit me the best, better than the arm lock LAB direct force.

 

He adjusted the loft to 6 degree and lie angle more upright for me, it feel so good.  It's time for the real test,  18 holes tomorrow.

[Alan_Tom]

On 6/18/2021 at 4:54 PM, shaolingolfer said:

Just get fit for this putter in the PGA superstore.  I know the fitter pretty good and he think this putter fit me the best, better than the arm lock LAB direct force.

 

He adjusted the loft to 6 degree and lie angle more upright for me, it feel so good.  It's time for the real test,  18 holes tomorrow.

Any updates on how the putter is working??

[shaolingolfer]

16 minutes ago, Alan_Tom said:

Any updates on how the putter is working??

I have 2 rounds and a few practice session, first time for a long time that I am getting  comfortable on the green.  My right hand is the problem and now I am full time claw grip now, basically swing my left hand straight and my right hand just there for the ride.  One thing I wish it has is the white hot insert, it feels better than the micro hinge.

[Alan_Tom]

14 minutes ago, shaolingolfer said:

I have 2 rounds and a few practice session, first time for a long time that I am getting  comfortable on the green.  My right hand is the problem and now I am full time claw grip now, basically swing my left hand straight and my right hand just there for the ride.  One thing I wish it has is the white hot insert, it feels better than the micro hinge.

What was the reason to switch to the claw grip from a conventional grip. We’re you having trouble pulling your putts?

[zonadub]

My experience has been that

1: The claw keeps the grip against my left forearm better. I tend to break down when I use a traditional grip and can still get yippy

which leads directly to

2: Using the claw grip allows my left hand and arm to be in control. The right hand is just ‘along for the ride’

 

and

3: Getting the right hand on top of the grip gives me a more stable guide on the backstroke and forward stroke.

 

Spent about 3 years trying to get the armlock to work with a traditional grip, but didn’t really have success with it until I went to the claw. Now aim is easier and allows me to focus more on the speed/distance. Contrary to most of what I read on these forums, my speed control is much better, and directional control is light years better than traditional, but it took a lot of practice to get comfortable.

 

And finally, I am very happy with the 2 ball Ten Armlock after less than a week.  

[shaolingolfer]

24 minutes ago, zonadub said:

My experience has been that

1: The claw keeps the grip against my left forearm better. I tend to break down when I use a traditional grip and can still get yippy

which leads directly to

2: Using the claw grip allows my left hand and arm to be in control. The right hand is just ‘along for the ride’

 

and

3: Getting the right hand on top of the grip gives me a more stable guide on the backstroke and forward stroke.

 

Spent about 3 years trying to get the armlock to work with a traditional grip, but didn’t really have success with it until I went to the claw. Now aim is easier and allows me to focus more on the speed/distance. Contrary to most of what I read on these forums, my speed control is much better, and directional control is light years better than traditional, but it took a lot of practice to get comfortable.

 

And finally, I am very happy with the 2 ball Ten Armlock after less than a week.  

What he said !

[OspreyCI]

Went back and tried it with the claw grip. That is the ticket!

[JTK37]

I played two rounds over the weekend, first time I've been able to get the putter outside since I got it.  I made sure I had plenty of time to take it to the practice green before the first round- I've only been working with it on the carpet in the house, and was concerned about speed control outside, especially on longer lag putts.

 

I was pleasantly surprised, distance control on longer putts was....... even better than the traditional putter.  Being locked in, taking the hands out of it actually made those putts much more consistent.

 

Once on the course, took about 5 holes to really feel comfortable with it and not question set up.  I had a few pulls in those first few holes.  While they were bad strokes(peeking early) the results were way better than the traditional putter had been doing, they were slightly off line, but gimme range.  After that things started feeling really good.  

 

I didn't take fewer putts than normal in each round, they were actually right on my average.  But they were stress free.  No worry of my hands getting flippy or missing my start line.  2 rounds and only 1 3-putt.  Knowing the ball is going to start right on my line(whether the read is right or not) was almost relaxing, and it kept the second putts a lot shorter.

 

Getting used to the Claw-Knuckle grip took a lot of repetition indoors, but on the course it felt normal and secure.

 

If you struggle with excess hand movement, a stroke that doesn't get the ball on the line you want, I would highly suggest trying the Arm Lock