Debate: Putting Stroke SBST or Arc

[gmbtempe]

After a crappy round of putting one of my buds said my stroke looked all messed up to his eye, that it was closing down and releasing on the follow through rather then staying square to the target. I explained that is intentional and that I prefer a Crenshaw style stroke, open and close along an arc. He was pretty adamant that good putters don't do that and SBST is the best. I have used both, I feel more touch with a arc stroke but less consistency, a SBST stroke is more consistent, maybe a little better from inside 5' but more mechanical, more 3 putts.

Wonder what the board uses, I know its a debated subject so you can just click the poll if you don't want to type a reply.

[Richie3Jack]

You'd be surprised, but according to SAM Puttlab data...Loren Roberts actually CUTS ACROSS the ball with his putting stroke. Yep, the 'Boss of the Moss' cuts across the ball. Like I mentioned before, I'm more concerned about getting the backstroke and thru stroke to 'match'.

I think if they don't match, I would try and get the backstroke to match the thru stroke.

For example, if you are arced on the backstroke and pretty SBST on the thru stroke, then I would try to match the thru stroke and make that backstroke more SBST.

OTOH, if your backstroke is pretty SBST and your thru stroke is very arced, then I would try to match the strokes up by making the backstroke more arced.

Just my .02 on the subject.

But what's really more important is reading the greens first and getting the speed down pretty well. Once you get those, then quality of contact and where the face angle is pointing at impact is more important.

I think golf instruction has placed way too much emphasis on the SBST vs. Arced. I don't think there's a guy on the Tour that is SBST or extremely close to it, but it's more or less a big arc vs. a small arc. But I think green reading, feel and aim are so much more important.

I haven't used a SAM Puttlab in awhile, but I've been trying to become more SBST since my time on SAM Puttlabe showed an arced backstroke and a Straight Thru stroke. So I tried to match them up.


3JACK