Do you see your putting stroke as a straight line or a gentle arc?
You may be using the wrong type of putter for your stroke, stance and setup preferences. This article will help you select the right kind of putter based on your natural putting stroke.
There are generally two schools of thought with regard to putting. Those that see the stroke as a straight back and through action and those who see the putting stroke as an arc which gently curves inwards as you swing the club back and then back out again on the forward stroke, curving back in again once the ball has been struck.
Arc stroke: The arc putting method is basically built around the shaft plane (the angle at which the shaft sits in relation to the ground at address). Imagine, or even grab a putter and try for yourself. Swing the club back along this inclined plane of the putter shaft - the result will be a gently arcing stroke back and through on both sides of the bottom of the swing arc. The putter face appears to open to the golfer as he swings back and then it rotates to square on the forward swing and then closes on the through swing.
Straight back and through: This is the putting stroke where the golfer feels as if he is taking the club straight back along a line which is parallel to the target putting line and then straight through again on the forward swing. The club face remains at right angles to this stroke line i.e. pointing at the intended target line throughout the swing.
Generally speaking this kind of stroke is encouraged by a putter that does not tend to rotate through the swing and that would be a face balanced putter. A face balanced putter will lay with the club face pointing straight up at the sky if you balance the shaft in the palm of your hand.
So what putter should you use with this kind of arc shaped stroke? You will be best using a putter that encourages a rotation of the club face around the shaft plane - one that when balanced on the palm of your hand will hang with the toe of the club pointing down. This kind of putter is sometimes referred to as heel-toe balanced.
Is there a right or wrong method? No, but one of them is likely to result in a better and more consistent action for you. So experiment - check your own putter out and think about how you perceive the stroke itself - what feels right to you?
You should try out a face balanced putter if you currently use one that hangs toe down and you think you are more of a straight line putter. Likewise, if you feel the swing should be an arc then try out different styles of putter. You may find that one with more or less balance toward the toe of the club hanging down is better for your stroke.
I hope you found this article helpful in explaining one of the key differences in putter styles and how to select the best type of putter for your putting stroke.
If you enjoyed reading this article please visit my website at http://www.greenseekergolf.com for more tips and information to help you play golf and lower your scores.
For more tips and advice specifically for your putting stroke, including examples of face balanced and heel-toe balanced putters and other useful facts and advice about different types of putters and how to select the right one for your game please click this link http://www.greenseekergolf.com/putting-stroke
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