How to choose a golf putter?

Does every three-putt give you a headache? Money is made on the greens.

Improving your game on the greens can affect your score more than 100% fairways hit.

Putting is an area of the game where a recreational player can be as good as or better than the best golf professionals. You don’t need fitness, strength, or mobility like the best players, because on the green every player can "reach" the hole. Two putts should be your main goal on every hole, and the right putter can definitely help you with that.

Is a mallet or blade better for you?

• Mallets usually have heavier and larger heads, which helps players who have trouble with long putts. Mallets generally have a higher moment of inertia and the ball will roll a longer distance even when hit off-center. Their heavier head is more stable than blades, so the head doesn’t open or close as much on off-center impacts. Another big advantage is the larger top surface of the head, which can have more symbols for easier aiming (long lines, dotted ideal area, round balls, etc.)
  
  
• Blades usually have a lighter head and can improve the game for players on short putts thanks to better tempo with a shorter backswing. With blades, you will have better feel and feedback when contacting the ball. This allows you to easily identify errors in your putting. Due to smaller heads, it is easier to focus on hitting the center of the head, which leads to better results.

The balance of the head determines which model is best for you.

You can check the balance of the putter head by placing the putter (shaft) on your index finger about 20cm from the head. The head will either stay horizontal, which is suitable for players putting straight to the hole, or the tip will rotate (about 45°) toward the ground, which is suitable for players putting on a slight arc. If the tip rotates almost 90° toward the ground, then the putter is suitable for players putting on a strong arc.

Putter length and the new Counter Balance trend.

Everyone has their own standard stance that feels natural for putting. When choosing a putter, take this stance and gradually try conventional lengths (33”, 34”, 35”) until you find one that feels best. If none of these fit, there are two options from the brand Ping, a pioneer in putter development for over 50 years. You can either have a Ping putter custom-made based on measurements with a fixed length, for example 31” or 36”, or choose a model with adjustable length from 31” to 38” using a wrench included in the package.

Recently, most manufacturers have introduced so-called Counter Balance models. These putters are basically longer, usually 38”, and combine a heavier head with added weight at the end of the grip. The goal of these putters is to improve tempo during the backswing and follow-through. Thanks to heavier heads and better weight distribution, these putters also have a higher moment of inertia (MOI), which means better control over putt length even when the ball is not hit perfectly in the center of the head.

Counter Balance putters are also a popular choice among PGA Tour players, who are gradually switching from Belly or Long putters.

Choosing a grip for your putter is very important, especially for comfort.

From our experience at CityGolf.cz, we can confirm that for women’s grips, color and softness are usually the main considerations, while for men thickness is the most important factor. There is a wide variety of grips on the market, from thin to thick, which also changes the holding technique.

Thick grips have the big advantage of reducing unwanted wrist activity. However, if you choose a thick grip, you must also make sure the putter with the thick grip fits through the top divider of your bag.