What Type of Putter Should You Play?
Putters are the most important club in the bag, so it's important to make sure the club is helping, and not hurting your game. There are three important characteristics to consider when picking out a putter:
Putter Balance
Toe-hang : Toe-balanced putters are designed to allow the toe to release and swing a little bit more. This putter type favors players with arching strokes and is a great option for players who like to use more of their trail arm when they putt.
Face-balance: Face-balanced putters are designed to not open as much on the backstroke, and not close on the follow-through. This type of putter favors more linear-style strokes and is the most forgiving type of putter.
Putter Shafts
Center-Shafted: Center-shafted putters help stabilize the face through impact and reduce your ability to open your face too much.
Heel-Shafted:: Heel-shafted putters are great for players who have a longer swing. This club type encourages more face rotation.
Putter Head Design
Mallet Putters: Mallet putters give more forgiveness on miss-hits, and are a little easier to coordinate.
Blade Putters: This putter type may be easier to aim and manage, with a smaller overall appearance.
Pick the Right Putter for Your Game
The most personal club in the bag is the putter. Golfers use it on every hole to pay off a good shot or save their score following a poor one. Having the right tool provides the ultimate confidence to stand over a putt knowing it’s going in the hole. All that remains is to visualize the line and make a solid stroke. Over time, though, the magic can fade.
If you’re looking to jumpstart your game on the greens, we’re here to help. With so many combinations, though, you might need a little patience while finding your new best friend. Are you a blade or mallet player? Face-balanced or toe-hang? Perhaps it’s even time to try a style you’re not as accustomed to. Some putter heads are made from a single piece of metal and others use more materials than the space shuttle. Many heads feature design properties borrowed from full-swing clubs, such as back weighting or a particular center-of-gravity placement, to limit the effect of slight mis-hits. And there are putter faces with firm inserts, others that feel and sound quite soft, and a few that don’t have an insert at all.
Beyond the physical properties, you’ll find models that are built to swing in a variety of ways. That’s because some players prefer a straight-back straight-through stroke while others use an “arc” stroke, where they rotate the clubhead more open or closed. Many putters are also designed to help you align the clubhead correctly and swing the putter with accuracy thanks to visual aids on the clubhead such as lines, dots, even wings or rails.
As you pursue your passion, go ahead and try out different models in the putter corral at a nearby Golf Galaxy store. While there, ask a trained rep to recommend putters that match your stroke.
