Golf Science Lab

If you’ve ever wondered why armlock putting didn’t completely take over the game, this is the conversation you’ve been waiting for. I sat down with Sam Bettinardi to unpack the real story behind the first mass-market armlock putter, how Matt Kuchar helped shape its design, and what Bettinardi learned after more than a decade of building these putters.We dig into the prototypes, the early challenges, the seven-degree loft decision, the offset, and why this thing almost looks like a chipper. More importantly, Sam explains why armlock saw a surge of early hype in 2013 but never became the dominant putting style many expected.⛳ In This Episode:• How the armlock idea started with Matt Kuchar• Why Bettinardi built 25+ prototypes before finding the right design• The reason early armlocks looked like wedges• The secret behind the “ski-pole” shaft• Why armlock exploded after the USGA anchoring ban• Who should (and shouldn’t) use armlock today• Inside Kuchar’s reverse armlock setup• Why long/broomstick putters are risi