Putter Buying Guide
The putter is often considered to be the most important club in a set since it is used most often during a round. Its purpose is specific and critical: getting the ball into the hole on the green. You win your game with the putter! One of the quickest ways to lower your average score is to improve your putting. Because of this, choosing the right putter can have a dramatic impact on your game.
Putter Head Construction
Putters are usually categorised into blade, mullet, and alignment putters. Blade putters have a long, thin head and, although requiring a greater degree of accuracy to the other putter types, are easier to use due to their slim shape. Mallet putters have a bigger, semi-circular shaped head and are more forgiving for putts that are off-centre. Alignment putters have an alignment aid built into the top of the putter, and are designed to shift the weight to the back of the putter to prevent the club head twisting during the stroke.
Most putter heads are made with a stainless steel head which makes them heavier and highly durable, but putters made from carbon steel blends, or aluminium, are also available for a softer feel.
The weight of the head is also an important factor in choosing the right putter. Generally, higher handicap players prefer heavier putters since they provide a smoother stroke through the ball. However, a putter that is too heavy will mean a stroke that is too slow, often resulting in the ball coming short of the hole. In the same way, putter heads that are too light will produce a fast putting strike, resulting in a player at greater risk of overshooting the hole.
1. Heel-shafted putters - where the bottom of the shaft connects to the head at the most inside point, or the "heel."
2. Centre-shafted putters - where the bottom of the shaft attaches at the centre of the putter head
3. Offset putters - where the bottom of the shaft has a kink in it so that it's bent back over the edge of the putter head.
Putter Shaft Types
It's very important to find the right length of putter to suit you body type and style of play. The wrong length of putter can lead not only to poor play, but to physical problems such as backache or muscle fatigue. Measured from the sole of the putter up to the top of the shaft, the average length of a putter is around 35 inches, and must be at least 18 inches long. Both belly putters and broomstick putters are longer in length and use the upper body to stabilise the putter when delivering the stroke. This stabilisation improves consistency since it reduces wrist movement, but these putters may present problems with trying to control distance due their additional length. Golfers with back problems may prefer longer shafts to help with a more upright posture, while those who prefer to crouch may benefit from a shorter putter.
Putter Grips
When lining up the putt it's vital to get your eyes directly over the ball with a grip that enables you to be relaxed, confident, yet in control of ever precise movement. Different manufacturers have produced varying types of grip in different sizes that generate greater or lesser feel. The grip on the putter is permitted to have a flat edge - the only club grip where this is allowed - and is usually placed facing away from your body. Search our website to find the putter grip right for you.