If an instructor recommends decreasing forward press at impact, the putter loft should be:

If an instructor recommends decreasing forward press at impact, the putter loft should be:

• A. More loft
• B. Less loft
• C. Same loft
• D. Change in length

Answer: (B)

Forward press affects how the putter face meets the ball by changing the dynamic loft at impact. When the hands are more forward at impact, the putter tends to deloft, producing a lower launch. If an instructor asks you to decrease forward press, you’re reducing that delofting effect. To fit with that change in impact dynamics and keep the ball on the intended contour and rollout, using less loft becomes the sensible adjustment. Increasing loft would raise the ball more than desired and keeping the loft the same wouldn’t account for the change in how the face is delivering the ball. Changing the putter length doesn’t address the loft at impact, so it’s not the relevant adjustment here.

Forward press affects how the putter face meets the ball by changing the dynamic loft at impact. When the hands are more forward at impact, the putter tends to deloft, producing a lower launch. If an instructor asks you to decrease forward press, you’re reducing that delofting effect. To fit with that change in impact dynamics and keep the ball on the intended contour and rollout, using less loft becomes the sensible adjustment. Increasing loft would raise the ball more than desired and keeping the loft the same wouldn’t account for the change in how the face is delivering the ball. Changing the putter length doesn’t address the loft at impact, so it’s not the relevant adjustment here.