putter loft

[jzatl04]

interesting article (Studio B)

So much has been made in the last year or so about putting launch conditions. If the ball skids too much it gets off line, etc., etc. I found this article online about one of the guys that runs Studio B. In the article he's quoted as saying that the ideal putter loft is between 1* and -1*. I've never heard of negative loft on a putter, not even in the 10 months I've been a member here. Does anyone here use less than 2* of putter loft or even negative loft? Just wondering your guys' thoughts on this.

"The standard putter is 35 inches long with 4 degrees of loft and a lie angle of 71 degrees," he said. "That is so wrong for most golfers."

The key to good putting, speaking scientifically, is to get the ball rolling end over end as quickly as possible after it leaves the face of the putter. A ball that skids on the surface of the green, even if only for a few inches, is easily thrown off-line.

"Loft is the biggest problem people have and it's so important," Brownlee said. "At 4 degrees of loft, the ball is skidding on the green."

Most people, he added, should be using a putter with anywhere from plus-1 to minus-1 degree of loft.

Studio B

[animalistic]

intersting....thats v low loft compared to the standard alright...might give it a try

[Geo]

Great article jzatl04, thanks for posting. I tend to put the ball a little bit forward in my putting stance, so have been aware of loft for a little bit and gravitate to lower lofted putters. I am glad that many putter guys are giving loft more attention. Serge (sergizmo) makes his putters, or at least the HCOG blade to have a higher center of gravity (see where that HCOG comes from ;) ), lofted at 2.5*. I have nothing to back it up except for a LOT of green time with it, but it puts a beautiful roll on the ball, which is effected by the combination, me thinks. FWIW, Pelz mentions negative lofted putters I have never seen one (as well as putters with onset) in his Putting Bible. You would have to be playing the ball VERY forward to take advantage of that spec.

 

beruo

[xxio]

Oh oh. I had my 360TR, BB16H, and MC2 all bent flatter couple of weeks ago. It was weird that they were all 1/1.5 degree of loft only so I had them bent to 3 degrees. I hope I didn't screw them up. I haven't had them played since then.

[KingOAces]

I have a forward press when i putt, so i probably do have that much when i make contact with the ball. Still seem way low to have standard.

 

KinG

[longskate87]

I play my putters with 0* or so, I tend to play the ball off my front foot, and have my hands slightly behind the head. Honestly, bend it utnil it rolls well, I wouldn't worry about the actual # as long as it works for you.

[stage1350]

It may be related to the faster and firmer modern greens. Loft was needed on slower greens. Today's greens roll so quick and smooth that you only need enough loft to get the ball out of the depression that it sits in. Tour greens are hard and firm, so there is less need for loft unless you have a large forward press.