Picking a Putter

These tips for selecting a putter are very good and easy to remember. I got them from Golf for Women" magazine.

No matter what shape or size putter looks good to you, keep this cardinal rule in mind when trying out new ones: Don't adjust your setup to suit a putter; pick a putter that comfortably fits your established putting style. Here are some tips that may help you make a choice.

LENGTH

Select a putter that fits your setup position. If you like to stand tall in your putting stance, try a longer style. If you like to crouch over the ball, consider a shorter model. Many teaching pros instruct their students to set up to their putts with their eyes directly over the ball; a putter fitted correctly for length will assist golfers in achieving this position.

LIE ANGLE

Generally, the longer putters need flatter lie angles, and shorter putters need more upright lies. The correct lie angle helps ensure that the club is both soled flush to the ground and aimed straight to the target line.

WEIGHT

Again, this is very much a matter of preference. However, be sure a shorter putter has enough head weight to yield sufficient feel. One school of thought says heavier putters work well on slow greens, because their added mass imparts needed force to start the ball rolling, and lighter putters excel on fast greens, because they allow the golfer better control over the speed of their stroke.

LOFT

Putters can range in loft from 0 to 6 degrees. Loft is generally linked with the hand's impact position and the speed of the greens. Higher lofted putters help get the ball rolling smoothly on slow greens. Golfers who either forward press (begin their stroke by a slight forward movement of the hands) or whose hands lead the club into impact tend to need more loft (upwards of 5 degrees), because their natural style effectively de-lofts the putter face at impact. Golfers who putt with their hands even with the ball need less loft (2,3 or 4 degrees), because their style utilizes the club's built-in loft or, in some cases, adds loft to the putter at impact. Too much loft can cause the ball to bounce off the clubface.

GRIP SIZE

A putter grip must first and foremost feel comfortable. Conventional thinking says that smaller grips (relative to hand size) can lead to a "wristy" stroke with lots of hand action, while larger grips promote a more desirable arm-and-shoulder pendulum-style motion.