"Straight back, straight through" is the most widely taught putting instruction in recreational golf. It's also geometrically impossible. The putter shaft sits at an angle at address — and any pendulum on an angled axis swings on an arc, not a straight line. Forcing a straight stroke requires constant face manipulation to override the natural plane, which is exactly the source of the timing inconsistency most golfers are trying to eliminate.
Brad Pluth debunks this myth in about 30 seconds — and gives golfers the physical reference to train the correct arc immediately. The full drill is at pathpalgolf.com/pages/pathpal-golf-putting-stroke-mythbuster-drill.
The arc is not a technique choice — it is the physical consequence of the shaft angle at address.
The drill
Brad Pluth — PGA Master Professional Teaching & Coaching (Class of 2025), Golf Digest #5 in Minnesota (2020), Golf Digest Best in State (2023, 2025, 2026), US Kids Master Coach (2013), US Kids Top 50 Coach (three times), former Authorized Instructor of The Golfing Machine, TPI Level I and II certified, Trackman, FlightScope, Swing Catalyst, and Boditrak certified, and coach of over 50,000 lessons at Dick's House of Sport — uses the pathpal to define the natural putting plane with two rods.
Setup
- 1. Ground rod — through the tunnel below the 35-degree marker, pointed at the target line as the baseline reference
- 2. Angled rod at 75 degrees — defining the stroke plane for the putter's natural lie angle
- 3. Feel the putter shaft, hands, and clubhead ride up and down the 75-degree plane throughout the stroke
The arc that results is not a technique choice — it is the physical consequence of the shaft angle at address.
Watch the drill
Watch the full drill on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=CgaWRefWbCo
Why it works
The 75-degree pathpal plane reference works because it gives the golfer a tangible model for what the correct arc actually looks like — and most golfers have never seen it clearly. When the arc is defined by a physical stick, the "straight back, straight through" instinct is immediately exposed as a deviation from the plane rather than adherence to it. The golfer can see that tracking the 75-degree rod produces the arc, and that forcing the putter straight back would require moving away from that reference.
Brad's dual-rod setup adds the target line baseline that anchors the plane reference to real directional context — the 35-degree ground rod confirms the putter is oriented to the correct target, and the 75-degree angled rod shows the plane that stroke should travel on for that target. Together they give the golfer both directional accuracy and stroke shape accuracy in a single setup.
This drill is particularly valuable for golfers who have been consciously trying to produce a straight stroke and experiencing the face timing issues that result — opening the face going back and flipping it closed through impact to compensate. The arc model removes both of those compensations simultaneously: the face stays square to the plane throughout, and impact just happens to deliver it square to the target line.
Who this is for
- ✓Golfers who have been taught straight-back, straight-through putting and struggle with timing the face through impact
- ✓Players who open and close the putter face inconsistently and have been unable to identify why
- ✓Anyone who's felt the arc naturally but been coached out of it
- ✓Instructors looking for a quick, visual, physically demonstrable way to introduce the arc model to students who have the straight stroke misconception
Try it
Set the pathpal at 75 degrees alongside your target line baseline and make 20 practice strokes tracking the putter shaft and hands along the angled rod — feeling the natural arc on the backswing and through-swing. Then place a ball and hit 10 putts from eight feet maintaining the same arc feel.
Notice whether the start line improves as the face manipulation disappears. Remove the pathpal and hit five more — the natural arc will persist without the physical reference once the correct plane feel has been established.
- Set the pathpal at 75 degrees with the ground rod pointing at the target
- Make 20 practice strokes — feel the putter shaft and hands ride the 75-degree plane
- Place a ball and hit 10 putts from 8 feet, maintaining the arc feel
- Remove the pathpal and hit 5 more — the arc should persist without the reference
Related drills
The arc model Brad teaches is one part of a complete putting picture. These three drills form a natural training progression from stroke shape through to on-course execution:
Putting · Jason Kuiper
Linear Putting Stroke Drill
The other end of the stroke spectrum — uses the pathpal at 70 degrees as a rail to produce a near-zero arc, highly linear path. Compare both approaches to find what fits your putter geometry and stroke style.
Putting · Cody Carter
Rail and Stroke Length Drill
Once your stroke shape is correct, train stroke length calibration for distance control. Cody Carter uses the pathpal's notch system to tie specific backstroke lengths to specific distances.
Putting · Mike Barge
Match Pace and Line Putting
The execution layer. Once stroke shape is solid, Mike Barge's gate drill tests whether your line and pace are matched correctly for breaking putts — the final integration step before the course.
See all pathpal drills: pathpalgolf.com/pages/all-drills
About Brad Pluth
Brad Pluth
Master Professional · Dick's House of Sport, Minnetonka, MN
Brad Pluth is a PGA Master Professional Teaching & Coaching (Class of 2025), Golf Digest Best in State (Minnesota), US Kids Golf Top 50 Master Coach, and Founder of Brad Pluth Golf Achievement™ at Dick's House of Sport. He has coached over 50,000 lessons and holds TPI Level I and II, Trackman, FlightScope, Swing Catalyst, and Boditrak certifications.
@bradpluthgolf · bradpluthgolf.com · pathpal on Instagram
Frequently asked questions
Why is straight-back, straight-through putting a myth?
The straight-back, straight-through stroke is geometrically impossible for a standard putter because the shaft is not vertical at address — it sits at an angle. Any pendulum that hangs at an angle naturally swings on an arc, not a straight line. Forcing a straight path requires active face manipulation on the way back and through, which introduces the timing inconsistency that most golfers are trying to eliminate.
How do I set up the pathpal for the Arc vs. Straight drill?
Use two rods in the pathpal — one through the ground tunnel below the 35-degree marker, pointed directly at the target as the baseline reference, and a second inserted into the 75-degree hole as the plane reference. The 75-degree angled rod defines the stroke plane. Feel the putter shaft, hands, and clubhead ride up and down that plane throughout the stroke, following the natural arc the putter's lie angle geometry requires.
Why does the arc make face timing easier?
When the stroke follows the correct plane, the face stays square to that plane throughout — the face is never actually opening and closing relative to the arc, even though it appears to relative to the target line. Forcing a straight stroke requires the golfer to actively open the face on the backswing and actively square it at impact. Eliminate the forced path and both compensations disappear simultaneously.
How does this drill compare to Jason Kuiper's Linear Putting Stroke Drill?
The two drills represent different points on the putting stroke spectrum. Jason Kuiper's drill uses the pathpal at 70 degrees with the heel riding the rod to produce a near-zero, highly linear path — suited to golfers working on start-line consistency with a more upright stroke. Brad's drill uses 75 degrees and trains the natural arc the putter's lie angle produces — suited to golfers who have been artificially forcing a straight stroke against their geometry. The pathpal's adjustable angle system is what makes both approaches teachable with the same tool.
Will the arc feel persist once I remove the pathpal?
Yes — the physical reference is a learning accelerator, not a permanent crutch. After tracking the 75-degree rod through 20 practice strokes, the plane feel is established in muscle memory. Brad's protocol finishes with five putts without the pathpal specifically to confirm the arc transfers. Most golfers retain the feel immediately, and continued practice grooves it without the reference present.
Train the stroke your putter was built for
pathpal's adjustable angle system makes the correct putting plane visible and tangible — so you stop fighting your geometry and start rolling it where you're looking.
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