Tips for Buying Golf Putters

A golf putter is the most important club in your bag, because putting is close to 50% of the game. When it comes to reducing your score, a putter has the most potential of any club in your bag. Players of all levels live or die by their putting ability, and the choice of a putter is as much by personal preference of style, look and weight, as it is by technology. Choosing the right putter can be a difficult task because there are a greater variety of putters on the market than any other piece of golf equipment. However, we have provided certain guidelines to help you get started in the selection of a putter.

Putter Head Materials

Today, golf putter head can be made from a seemingly endless variety of materials: carbon steel, stainless steel, bronze, aluminum, brass, copper, zinc and tungsten. Beginners need to experiment with different types of putters to see what "feel" each metal produces with the ball at contact. Keep in mind, a putter head that is too light will contribute to a fast and "handsy" putting stroke, resulting in putts that run long. Heavy putter heads will produce a slow and consistent putting stroke, but putts tend to come up short.

Putter Head Shapes

The two basic head shapes are the blade and mallet. Today, the market is flooded with different kinds of putters but most are modified blades, mallets or a combination of both.

Classic blades are thin, flat putters that resemble a miniature hockey stick. They are the most popular among skilled players because they provide the best "feel" for the ball at contact. Modern versions of the blade tend to have a cavity back design to reduce twisting of the wrists at ball contact.

Traditional mallets have a large, round head that resembles a small hammer. The weight is usually balanced throughout the club, which provides golfers with a more consistent putting stroke.

Centered Shafted vs Heel Shafted

Putters can be centered shafted (the shaft connects near the middle of the putter head) or heel shafted (the shaft connects near the heel). Besides shaft placement, golfers should pay close attention to the hosel (where the shaft enter the putter head) design. An offset is a bend forward in the hosel to help keep your hands ahead of the putter head, thus promoting a truer roll.

Note - Most putters are built with stainless steel shafts. Since one is hitting the ball with much less force than one would with woods or irons, the material is not critical.

Putter Face Inserts

Putter face inserts can be made of metal, rubber, ceramic, plastic, glass, wood, and more. They are designed to deliver a softer �feel� on the putt at contact. The insert is in the face of the putter, therefore neatly defining each club's sweet spot.

Golf Putter 'loft'

Putters have loft just like a wood or iron. Most putters come with 3 to 6 degrees loft.

Tip � Keep your hands in front of the putter head for a smooth, true roll. All putters have loft, some as much as 6 degrees, the ball will hop or skip if you position your hands behind the putter head.

Putter lengths

A golf putter that is too short or long will throw off your view of the putting line. Determining the proper putter length for your frame is vital to your putting game. To ensure the proper fit follow these steps:

Assume your regular putting stance
Let your arms hang down naturally
Measure to the top of your hand for the proper length of the putter

Note - Many golfers are using putters that are too long for them. Most putters are 34 to 35 inches long. As a benchmark, the average PGA Tour length is 34 � inches, average height is 5� 11� and knuckles hang 31� above the ground. Have your putter cut down if there is more than one inch of putter grip visible above your hands.

Standard, Belly, or Long Golf Putters

Nearly all teaching pros will advise you, if you can putt with a standard putter, then you should play with a standard putter. If your stoke is plagued by the "yips" (putting nerves) or excessive wrist action then you might want to consider a belly or long golf putter.

Typically between 38 to 43 inches in length, belly putters are designed to use the abdomen as a third point of contact along with each hand, to deliver stability and balance throughout the stroke. The pros to using a belly putter is the reduction of wrist movement and the development of consistency in the putting stroke. The cons are reduction of "feel" due to a thicker golf putter grip and problems with distance control due to a longer shaft.

Generally in the 50 inch range, long or broomstick putters are made to rest against the chin or chest . Most players then employ a grip similar to the way you would hold a broom: one hand at the top, the other midway down the shaft. The advantages to using a long putter is the elimination of wrist action and the development of a true pendulum swing in the putting stroke. The disadvantages are further reduction of "feel" due an even thicker golf putter grip and more problems with distance control due to an even longer shaft.

Tip - Golfers with back problems would benefit from a long putter because the putting stance is upright.

Choosing your best personal putter

Since beginners tend to be inconsistent with their putting stroke, they should select a heavier club like a face-balanced mallet or a heel-toe weighted putter because they promote a straight back and straight through stroke (like a pendulum) and minimize the effects of mis-hits. Also, an offset hosel will benefit a beginner because it helps keep the hands ahead of the putter head when the ball is struck, which is a putting fundamental.

In conclusion, try out all the putters you can get your hands on and eventually, the putter will find you. Until then, stick with personal preference - play with the putter that provides the most comfort and confidence for you.

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