Follow Your Arc

Andrew Penner

Posted 2005-02-05

I can’t really put my finger on the reason why, but there are many – and I mean many – things I’d rather do than practice my putting stroke. I’d rather eat a stale bran muffin. I’d rather go for a jog around my block in a lime green tracksuit. And I’d rather have a staring contest with my goldfish (I win every time).

But, sure as lime green isn’t my color, my putting stroke does need some work. Big time. So the other day, after all the bran muffins were consumed and the fish died (my kid put a pound of fish food in the tank and yesterday she floated, rather still-like, to the top), I decided to work on my stroke. But I had some help. The Putting Arc – one of the newest, most popular putting aids on the market (14 of 24 Ryder Cup Players used it in 2004) – was my companion. Now, after a few sessions with this slick little tool, I might not have a new hobby, but I’ve definitely gained a friend.

The Putting Arc is an easy to use board-like contraption that you simply set on the ground and use as a guide for your putter. The edge on the Putting Arc is, lo and behold, slightly arced (based on ridiculously complicated geometric formulae discovered by an old Greek guy) and will guide your putter along the ideal putting path. That is, ever so slightly to the inside.

What I found particularly pleasing with this tool was how natural the stroke felt when I used the arc. Nothing felt forced or awkward. Good putting is acquired though solid technique, plenty of practice, and a high level of confidence – something this aid facilitates. All of which begs the question, when fish die, do they go to heaven, too? www.theputtingarc.com.

Andrew Penner writes for a number of publications in Canada and the United States. He can be reached at andpenner@shaw.ca.