I waited a long time to receive the Odyssey Stroke Lab Black Big Seven Arm Lock Putter. Eight long weeks to be precise. When I eventually put it to the test, I was expecting to hole everything I looked at. In reality, transitioning to an arm lock putter has proved to be more difficult than I anticipated.
In the end, the Big Seven Arm Lock hasn’t managed to knock the Taylormade Spider X out of my bag just yet. I will still put some time into practicing the arm lock method, and it’s reassuring to know that I have an entirely new putting method to turn to if things go pear shaped down the road.
In a way, it feels like I’ve spent big money on a superstar footballer, only to bench him in every single game. My attempt to transition to an arm lock putter has given me a reference point for my current putting style (Tommy Fleetwood style claw grip). As it stands, I am better able to judge speed and distance with my regular putter, and the stability benefits haven’t proved significant enough to make a permanent switch.
Nevertheless, I will continue to practice with the Big Seven AL putter, and I am optimistic that transitioning to the JumboMax 17 grip could be the catalyst I need to actually put this putter in the bag on game day. For now though, I’m sticking to the Spider X.