Why ‘straight back, straight through’ is bad putting advice
Should your putter swing straight back and through or on an arc? Here's a drill to help you find out and know for sure.
Stephen Denton
Should your putter swing straight back and through or on an arc? You’ve heard arguments from both sides.
Here’s mine: It has to arc because of the lie angle built into the shaft and hosel. You can go with straight back and through, but, more than likely, you’ll cut across the ball and miss your start line immediately.
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Try this to find out what’s best for you. Place two of your irons on the green as shown above, with the clubs set just far enough apart for your putterhead to swing between them, mimicking your target line. If you truly “force” the putter straight back, it’ll run into the club on the far side of the track. Not good.
Instead, use the inside club as a guide, watching your putterhead arc to the inside and get closer to it as you start back. Then swing through so you see the same thing on the target side of impact (i.e., putter closer to the inside shaft than the outside).
Practice this little arc stroke and you’re bound to sink a lot more putts.
Carol Preisinger is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher who teaches at the Landings Club in Savannah, Ga.
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