Putter Fitting: Finding the Perfect Match for Your Game

The Importance of Proper Putter Fitting

All too often, golfers struggle with consistency on the greens, missing putts left and right. While many assume their stroke is to blame, it’s often the style of putter they're using that hinders their natural stroke. This article will help you determine if you have the right putter style for your game by exploring key elements of a putting stroke that can influence your putter choice.

‍

Types of Putters

1. Face-Balanced Putters
2. Toe-Hang Putters
3. High MOI Putters
4. Blade Putters
5. Mallet Putters
6. Center-Shafted Putters
7. Heel-Shafted Putters
8. Peripheral Weighted Putters

‍

Understanding Your Stroke

Before diving into the types of putters, it's crucial to determine your natural stroke path. Do you have a straight-back-straight-through stroke, or do you use a slight to strong arc?

‍

Straight Stroke or Arced?

To find out, place a few feet of masking tape on the ground parallel to your toe line and set your putter on top of it. Hit putts while assessing how much the putter veers off the masking tape’s straight edges. This exercise will help you identify your stroke pattern.

Useful Tip: The speed of the greens you typically play also influences putter choice. Faster greens fare better with lighter putter heads, while slower greens benefit from heavier putters.

‍

Choosing the Correct Putter Style

Now that you know your stroke type, follow these guidelines when selecting your next putter:

‍

Face-Balanced Putters

Best for: Players with a straight-back-straight-through stroke.

Features: These putters, including face-balanced mallets and blade/Anser style putters, have most of the weight in the face and no toe-hang, which keeps the putter square throughout the stroke.

‍

Toe-Hang Putters

Best for: Players with a slight to moderate arcing stroke.

Features: Anser-style putters are ideal for this stroke type. They are toe and heel weighted to provide a larger sweet spot and aid the natural in-to-out-to-in putting stroke.

‍

High MOI Putters

Best for: Both straight-back-straight-through and arced strokes.

Features: These putters reduce twisting and inconsistent roll on off-center hits, often being either face-balanced or mid-balanced (slight toe-hang).

‍

Determining Ideal Length, Lie, and Loft

Using the correct putter style is essential, but so is ensuring the proper setup of length, lie, and loft. Inconsistent contact on the putter face often results from poor mechanics or using an improperly fitted putter.

‍

Checking Your Setup

Professional Fitting: A professional club fitter can help determine the correct setup for your putter. If you notice off-center hits in the same general area on the face, your putter's length, lie, or loft may be incorrect.

DIY Check: Spray foot powder on the putter face and roll some putts. If the impact points are all over the face, you’re inconsistent. If they are consistently off-center, your putter’s length and/or lie angle may be incorrect.

Confidence is Key: While these guidelines are helpful, it's crucial to find a putter that looks and feels good to you, providing confidence over every putt. Confidence is the key to playing your best golf.

Get more out of your putting with Master Your Putting Skills with These Essential Golf Drills and Tips

Conclusion

Keep in mind, though, while these are generally accepted guidelines for finding the right putter fit, it's very important to find a putter that both looks and feels good TO YOU, providing confidence over every putt. Because, like anything in golf, confidence is always the biggest key to playing your best.

Proper putter fitting involves understanding your stroke type and ensuring the correct setup of length, lie, and loft. By selecting the right putter style and making sure it fits your stroke, you can improve your putting consistency and lower your scores. Remember, a professional fitting can make a significant difference, so consider visiting a club fitter to get dialed in. Happy putting!

‍