Arm lock putting with my 3 hybrid

DonM

Today I walked 9 with no putter. Hit 3 balls to every green. I did arm lock putting with my 3 hybrid, which is 40" long iirc.
It's amazing how accurate I am doing that. Not so accurate on distance though. Although by the end, I was doing very well all the way around. I made 2 or 3 nice long putts that I rarely make with a regular putter. And a handful of 5-10 footers. This winter I bought a DTG arm lock putter from James, but it's just not right for me. But I can see now that I need to get going on this.

Rickochet

DonM
I did a lot of tinkering with putters years ago when belly putters became popular. In my experience the most critical factor is head weight. In general if the head is too light you have distance issues and too heavy directional issues. Then take in other issues like length, face balance or toe hanger, heel or center mount, shaft bend and even where you grip the club can influence success with a putter. It is a difficult club to fit. I finally found my combo with a Mentorsports Triad II heel shafted that I have had in the bag for many years.

shokosugi

DonM

Very interesting - that setup would be about 125g lighter than a traditional putter with roughly 20 deg of loft - there is no way you could find a putter even remotely close to these specs lol but it might just suggest a lighter putter head would work for you. Of course if you keep practicing with this, maybe it will become your new putter!

I personally went left hand low with a heavy putter head and I am the best putter in my group...😜

DonM

shokosugi
I've been experimenting at home today. I have a home made belly putter. I bent the shaft up and forward so I could try this arm lock style. I think the head is around 370g. I definitely seem to prefer a lighter head in this setup. I just plain make a better stroke with the hybrid than this putter.

But I sure don't need the 19 degrees of loft. Even after the forward lean it was probably 10 degrees. The ball was backspinning before it rolled. Nor do I need the hot face or bulge and roll!

Also I was holding it on the actual shaft. That really took the right hand out of the power equation. There could be something to that.

ptjn1201

I recently picked up a 12.5 degree 1 hybrid head, TM clone. I put a Wishon S2S Red shaft in it and I'm going to try putting with it. I've been playing it off my rear foot, and it rolls pretty well on the mat -- 8 footers are pretty reliable. If I'm not rained out Thursday, I'll try it on the course.

garyt1957

I never putt off the fringe anymore, always use my 6 hybrid. I've even used it on the green for long putts. I find it just easier because you don't have to hit it so hard I guess. Whatever works.