When your ball finally reaches the smooth, manicured surface of the putting green, you primarily use one club: the putter. This special club is designed for precision and control, not power, making it the tool for rolling the ball into the hole. This article will cover everything you need to know about the putter, from the different types you can choose to the fundamental techniques for using it effectively, and even discuss those rare times you might consider a different club near the green.
Unlike every other club in your bag, the putter isn't designed to get the ball airborne. Its purpose is entirely different. It has a flat face with very little loft (usually between 2 and 4 degrees) designed to make the ball roll smoothly across the grass without hopping or skidding. You can think of your driver and irons as the tools to get you to the party, and the putter as the tool you use once you’re there.
The primary goal on the green is to control two things: direction and distance. The unique design of a putter helps with both. The flat face helps start the ball on your intended line, and the pendulum-like motion of the putting stroke helps you regulate the speed with remarkable consistency. While it might look like the simplest club to use, mastering the putter is a lifelong challenge that separates good golfers from great ones. In most rounds, you'll use your putter more than any other single club, which is why giving it the attention it deserves can dramatically lower your scores.
Walk into any golf shop and you'll see a dizzying array of putter shapes and sizes. At first, it can feel overwhelming, but they generally fall into two main categories: blades and mallets. Choosing between them often comes down to your personal putting stroke and what feels and looks best to you.
Blade putters have a simple, traditional look. They are usually more narrow from front to back and feature a clean, simple head shape. Players who have a slight "arc" in their putting stroke - where the putter head swings open slightly on the backstroke and closes on the follow-through - often prefer blade putters. This is because the weight distribution (more toe-heavy) naturally complements that arcing motion.
Mallet putters have much larger, more complex club heads. You'll see them in all sorts of shapes - semicircles, squares, fang-like designs, and more. This larger size allows manufacturers to push weight to the perimeter of the club head, which increases its Moment of Inertia (MOI). In simple terms, a higher MOI means the putter is more stable and less likely to twist on off-center hits. This is the definition of forgiveness.
Having the right putter is only half the battle. Your technique is what ultimately determines whether the ball finds the bottom of the cup. Just like the full swing, the putting stroke is built on a few core fundamentals. Let's walk through them step-by-step.
Unlike a full-swing grip designed for power, a putting grip is all about stability and feel. The main an is to keep your hands and wrists quiet during the stroke. There are several popular styles, and the best one is whichever feels most comfortable and gives you the most control.
Experiment with these grips. The goal is to find one that allows your shoulders and torso to control the motion, not your hands.
A consistent setup leads to a consistent stroke. Much like the setup for a full swing, it can feel a little strange at first, but this structured position is built for performance.
The best way to think about the putting motion is as a pendulum. The pivot point is your sternum, and you want your arms and shoulders to swing back and forth as a single, connected unit. The hands and wrists stay almost entirely passive.
Your backstroke and follow-through should be roughly the same length for a given putt. A short putt requires a short backstroke and short follow-through. A long lag putt requires a longer, smoother stroke. Focus on tempo and rhythm. The motion shouldn't be a quick, jerky "hit." It should be a smooth, accelerating "stroke" that moves through the ball.
While the putter is the only club you should use *on* the green itself, thingget a bit interesting when you're just off the green on the fringe.
The fringe is that ring of slightly longer grass surrounding the green. If your ball is lying cleanly on the fringe, using your putter is often the best choice. It's the most reliable option with the least amount of risk. Why introduce the chance of a bladed or fat chip shot when you can just roll it?
However, if the fringe is a bit thick, or if there's uneven ground between your ball and the green, a putter can get caught up in the grass. This is where you might consider a couple of alternatives:
This is a common question, and the answer is yes, the rules of golf technically allow it. However, unless you're a professional golfer playing a trick shot, you should never chip on the putting surface. It's highly likely to damage the delicate grass, which is a major a major breach of golf etiquette. Besides, a putter is always going to provide more control on a smooth surface. Stick to rolling it.
Mastering play on the green begins with knowing the right club for the job: the putter. By understanding your equipment, building a solid fundamental stroke, and practicing your distance control, you can turn putting from a source of frustration into a real strength of your game.
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