I recently read an article in Golf Digest about the hottest putting gurus. Their names are Stan Utley, Dave Stockton, Dave Pelz. Here you have three interesting styles and theories: Utley, former PGA Tour winner and 3 time Nationwide Tour winner(great short game..I have played with him and witnessed it up close) Stockton, Major Championship winner (PGA), multiple Champions Tour winner, Ryder Cup captain, and considered one of the top 10 putters who ever played the game. I actually have played with Dave Stockton,Jr. and spent time with him on the putting green various times in the early 90′s and was able to benefit from many of his Dad’s teachings through Jr. Then there is the former NASA scientist Pelz. He has been peddling his information for decades and has statistics to back up what he teaches. That is all the credentials he has because he has no clue what it feels like to stand on the 72nd hole needing a five footer to win a golf tournament.

I have known the difference in these guys theories for quite sometime. They will all make you a better putter, so how should you choose? Without getting into great detail about the differences in each putting style these guys advocate, I will say I lean towards some of Stockton and Utley’s information. I teach some of what Stockton teaches when it comes to setup, and some of what Utley teaches as far as stroke path( I like the putter to move on an arc) and hand placement on the putter. Even Phil Mickelson has switched to Stockton and away from Pelz.

I guess I am going to listen more to the guys who have been in battle more than a guy who has numbers to tell you why you should do this and why you should do that ! Sorry Pelz!