Stan Utley on the Golf Channel

codylowrygolf · January 31, 2006

straight back vs. arc?

Stan went through his methodology on the Golf Channel tonight. I am at a putting crossroads. I have been taught all my life staight back straight through. Unfortunatley that method is not making me any money. Though I would ask the peanut gallery which they adhere to (if any) and why.

animalistic · January 31, 2006

theoretically if you swing straight back and through you will putt better, obviously, but i often find the stroke becomes a bit too mecahnical and loses feel in this type of stroke.i see alot of people struggle with it because we all cant bring it back and thru straught without losing feel or something else

i prefer the arc[inside square inside] it just feels comfortable and i hole putts!!!

if it works use it[whether it be arc or straight back straight through]!!!1 :cheesy:

raehtz10 · January 31, 2006

It sounds funny, but when I struggle with my stroke, I put a few rounds with a bellied lob wedge...it will instantly tell you what you are doing wrong, and you have to hit it just right to make putts. I am a arc putter as well. It makes sense, it is just a smaller version of a swing.

Sam-Tee-Time · January 31, 2006

I believe in Utley's methods of a natural arc, which follows the more natural path of your arms and wrists, assuming you rotate your SPINE properly. While the Dave Pelz "PILS" stroke seems more logical - I can't help but imagine that it requires some manipulation of your shoulders/arms, and the "triangle" to hit a putt properly.

To me - Utley's methods feel better, seem more natural, and are easier to maintain my putting style than a PILS stroke. I would give it a try, and see how it feels.

PS: I also like his theories about putting the ball more in the middl eof your stance for short CHIPS. This also feel smuch better to me to control direction and impact. (rather than placing the ball near your right foot).

dorfblee · January 31, 2006

Keep in mind that Utley's method involves having the shaft of the putter in line with your forearms and "swinging" the putter through that angled plane/circle without manipulating the face of the putter.

VTHOKIES · January 31, 2006

I watched the show last night and I will give it a try. Putting is the only thing really holding my game back. Last year I averaged over 15 GIR but 1.94 putts per GIR. Works out to 33 or so putts per round. I have always used the straight back and straight thru technique but with this I have missed a lot of 5 ft. and in putts. I hope it works for me.

codylowrygolf · January 31, 2006

Keep in mind that Utley's method involves having the shaft of the putter in line with your forearms and "swinging" the putter through that angled plane/circle without manipulating the face of the putter.

I do like the idea of the putter head staying square to the plane. I actually gave it a pretty good effort today and made a lot of putts on the putting green. Straight putts is not a problem, its the getting used to big breakers. Particularly left to right. Another thing that I noticed is that there is more ball speed. Less work to get it to the hole.

Audi A-Fore · February 1, 2006

Stan went through his methodology on the Golf Channel tonight. I am at a putting crossroads. I have been taught all my life staight back straight through. Unfortunatley that method is not making me any money. Though I would ask the peanut gallery which they adhere to (if any) and why.

I agree that the straight back and through feels mechanical. I putt better when it's more of an arc as well.

Don't forget to consider what type of putter to use when considering which of the two types of strokes to use. As theories go, you want a face balanced putter for straight back and through. For arc type putters, you probably want a more heel weighted or "3/4 hang" type putter.

I use a mil-spec on my arc type stroke. When I've used face balanced putters, I find that I push a lot more putts to the right. It may be something about my setup or my stroke, but it's a pretty consistent result.

eddie3392 · February 1, 2006

I am just glad that they had him on TV to explain in more detail about his method. I have tried to read all the articles I can about his method because I was struggling with putting. I really liked what he was saying about the elbows folding to each side - that made the feeling a little more comfortable for me. I have tried the straight back and through without success. I seem to be below average from 5 feet and in with this method because I have no FEEL.

Good luck to us all and good putting

slicefixer · February 1, 2006

All depends on your body angles at address........you set up for either stroke by getting the angles correct......IF not then you have to manipulate the putter to get a "square to square" stroke........it ALL depends on the "angles"........trying to putt "square to square" from bad angles is TORTURE.......IMOP....:cheesy:

ultra45 · February 2, 2006

I read the dave pelz putting bible this past winter and i think it would be a good idea if you read it too. If you're missing putts inside 5ft the first thing you have to do is find out why. pelz doesn't only preach the pils stroke, he tells you things you need to know/be aware of to be a better putter. whether you decide to use his ideas or not is one thing, but either way it will give you a different perspective of "the putting game"