GolfWell Podcast · Cordie Walker - Formerly Golf Science Lab

Should You Switch to Armlock Putting? (Ping Expert Explains)

·1 hr 2 min·4 clips

Ping's VP of Fitting reveals the biomechanics behind armlock putting - and why your wrists might be the problem.

The show opens with armlock putting. Marty Jertson, Ping's VP of Fitting and Performance, is brought in to unpack the technique, the equipment, and the practical reasons golfers keep asking whether the setup makes sense. The focus stays on use over theory. The conversation keeps coming back to what changes when the putter is anchored against the forearm, why that can help some players, and where the method asks for a different feel than a conventional stroke. Lag putting comes up quickly. The guidance is straightforward enough to apply: if you are going to lag with armlock, think of it like a mid-length putter, let the shaft come off, and keep your attention on ball speed rather than getting lost in launch, skid, or other technical details. That part lands cleanly. The episode treats ball speed as the real job on long putts and compares the mindset to chipping with a seven iron, where distance control comes first and everything else sits behind it. Tour examples give the talk some structure. Webb Simpson and Will Zalatoris come up as examples that suggest the method can produce real putting gains, especially in the mid-range, though the conversation stays careful about reading any one player too literally. The fit questions matter too. Jertson and the host spend time on what specs a golfer should look at, and the discussion keeps circling back to how equipment and technique need to work together instead of fighting each other. The drawbacks are not glossed over. A big one is named plainly, which keeps the segment from sounding like an ad for a trendy setup and makes the whole thing more useful for a golfer trying to decide whether the switch is worth the trouble. The tone stays curious and explanatory. There is enough back-and-forth to make the details feel testable instead of abstract, and the show is comfortable leaving uncertainty visible when the answer depends on the player. This is also a kickoff. The episode begins a series on fringe gear ideas, with armlock first and long broomstick putting next, because the point is to dig into the equipment, the coaching, and the player patterns together. The bigger promise is clear. These interviews are meant to become one main guide later, so the conversation is building a practical library rather than just a one-off gear chat.

As heard by us

A practical, gear-minded look at armlock putting, from setup to tradeoffs.

The discussion treats armlock putting as a practical, equipment-first topic. Marty Jertson of Ping covers setup, fit, the upside, the drawback he notes, and the putter specs that matter. It keeps its attention on what solves the problem, not on novelty.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

If you are wondering whether armlock could actually help your putting, start here.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from GolfWell Podcast