Different Types of Putters: Which Should You Choose?
by Bradley Turner Keiser University College of Golf Director of Online Golf Instruction – MBA, PGA
If you are in the market for a new putter, you are likely struggling to make putts. The search for the perfect putter is something that many Hall of Fame golfers like Harry Vardon, Ben Hogan, and Arnold Palmer were famous for as they kept trying to find the magic putter. If your putting has digressed to complete frustration or the dreaded “yips,” you need a new putter! For those experienced golfers that are mentally frustrated with putting, current scientific understanding is to change something to force the brain to build new neurologic pathways. It would help if you caused a change in your golfing mind, so a new putter can be a good start. It is good to know that science supports the idea of spending money on a new putter. Here are a few ideas to make sure you find the best putter for you.
Putter Fitting
Getting fit for a putter is always a great idea and something I recommend to any serious golfer. The two most important variables to get correct in choosing your new putter are the ideal length and lie angle for you. These two variables are predicated on some anatomical factors such as height, arm length, and an excellent putting posture in the set-up position.
Putter Length
There are too many golfers that adjust their putting posture to accommodate the length of the putter instead of adjusting the length of the putter to a good sound posture. My experience in putter fitting has revealed that many golfers use putters with too much length. A 35’ length putter continues to be a common length available at big box golf retail stores. I use a 33¾” putter, and I am six feet tall. It does not make sense to give a five-foot tall golfer a 35” putter, but we see this more than you may imagine.
Putter Lie Angle
The lie angle of the putter must be flat to the ground in the set-up position. This can be accomplished with the correct length putter, along with a slight adjustment to the hosel of the putter if necessary. A quality club fitter or your favorite golf retailer will have a loft and lie machine to make these adjustments. Make sure to get these two variables right before moving on to some other design features.
Putter Head Designs
The variety of putter head designs appears to be endless when shopping for a new putter. At the end of the day, the decision on the putter head design comes down to personal preference. Technological innovation in putter head design focuses on improving the roll of miss-hit putts. If you are a highly skilled putter and can strike your putts in the center of the face, you can putt well with almost any putter. Each putter manufacturer will describe the features and associated benefits of their putters. This can be very confusing to the golfer, so here are some key benefits about putter head designs.
Face vs. Toe Balanced Putters
A face-balanced putter reduces the amount of putter face rotation during the stroke. To identify a face-balanced putter, conduct a simple balance test by pointing the putter face directly up toward the sky; then, balance the putter shaft on the side of your finger. If the putter’s face stays pointing toward the sky, you have a face-balanced putter. If the toe of the club drops toward the ground, you have a toe-balanced putter. The term “toe hang” refers to the amount or degree the toe of the putter drops toward the ground in the balance test. Some will have a small toe hang of maybe 20 degrees, while others can exceed 45 degrees.
Face Progression vs. Face Offset
When you look down on the putter, from your set-up position, the putter’s face will either be in front of the shaft (face progression), behind the shaft (off-set) or directly in-line with the shaft. The ability to align the putter face to your intended target is a critical factor in putting success. Choosing a putter with either progression or offset is influenced by the player’s dominant eye. For right-handed golfers that are right-eye dominant, an offset putter head design may be best since the ball will be positioned under the right eye. Left-eye dominant golfers might prefer a putter with face progression as the left eye will be positioned over the ball.
Putter Material and Inserts
I am a proponent of keeping the putter material similar to my wedges. I like the idea of keeping the feel between wedges and putters very much the same. However, inserts on putters provide some additional advantages. Most putter’s insert material is lighter than the metal used in putter head designs. Therefore, more weight can be distributed toward the toe and heel, expanding the effective sweet spot of the putter. The other benefit is that inserts can soften the strike of impact. If you play on very fast putting surfaces, a softer insert might help you control your speed on the greens.
Alignment Aids
There are putters with single lines, double lines, triple lines, two-ball with lines, two-ball without lines, and putters with no lines. Once again, the only way to confirm the best alignment aid for you is to test out your ability to aim the putter face to the target. You will need someone to provide feedback, but research on aiming the putter shows that all putters are not the same!
What Putter Should You Choose?
We all have our preferences, so you will make the final decision. Finding assistance from a professional fitter is an excellent first step in finding your next putter. Remember that motor skill experts suggest that changing something will force your brain to adjust to the feel and look of a new putter. This gives players a new life on the putting green. Hope is a powerful emotion, and your new putter will do just that. Whatever putter you choose, you want it fitted for you and, of course, you need to love your new putter!
If you’d like to study with Bradley Turner and other PGA Master Professionals, contact the College of Golf today.
