A putter is the single most-used club in your bag, the one you turn to when the big-hitting is done and finesse takes over. This article is your guide to understanding this specialized club a little better. We'll break down the different parts of a putter, explore the various styles available, and give you some solid, practical advice on how to choose the one that works best for your stroke.
Unlike every other club designed to launch the ball high and far into the air, the putter has a much more humble - but incredibly important - job: to roll the ball smoothly across the putting surface and into the hole. On most golf courses, the area around the hole is a specially prepared surface called the 'green,' where the grass is cut extremely short. This is the putter's territory.
You’ll use your putter on almost every single hole. If you shoot a score of 90, it's very likely that 30 to 40 of those shots were made with your putter. That’s more than a third of your total score! This is why it’s often called the "scoring club" or the "money club." Hitting a booming 300-yard drive is fantastic, but if you can't follow it up by getting the ball in the hole in two or three putts, that great drive won't do you much good on the scorecard. Mastering the putter is one of the fastest ways to lower your scores and feel more confident on the course.
At first glance, putters may seem simple, but modern designs are full of technology aimed at making your job easier. Understanding the different parts will help you demystify the wall of putters you see at the golf shop and make a more informed choice.
The head of the putter is where all the action happens. The two most common designs you’ll see are Blade and Mallet style putters.
The face is where the putter makes contact with the ball. Modern putters have different face technologies to influence the feel and performance.
The hosel is the small piece of metal that or shaft that connects the clubhead to the main shaft. You might not think it’s important, but its design has a major influence on how the putter feels and performs.
The design of the hosel determines the "toe hang" of the putter. If you balance the shaft on your finger, you’ll see the 'toe' (the end of the clubhead farthest from you) either point down towards the ground, sit level, or point up slightly.
The grip is your only connection to the club, and with putters, the style can have a big impact on your performance. Unlike other clubs, putters can have grips with flat or non-circular sides.
With all these options, how do you pick one? It comes down to matching the putter's design features to your personal putting stroke and preference.
Do you have an arcing stroke or a straight-back-and-through stroke? Here’s a simple way to get an idea:
Place two golf balls about 6-8 inches apart on a practice green to create a "gate." Now, take your current putter and try to swing it between the gate without hitting either ball. Observe your natural tendency. Does the putter head want to swing back slightly to the inside, move back to square at impact, and then swing left back to the in inside again? That's a Slight Arc Stroke. Or does it feel more natural to keep the putter head moving straight back and straight through along the target line? That's a Straight Stroke.
Putter length is critical. A putter that is too long forces you to stand too tall and too far from the ball. A putter that is too short makes you crouch over too much. Both can lead to inconsistency.
To find a good starting point, get into a comfortable, athletic putting posture. Let your arms hang naturally straight down from your shoulders so your hands are directly below your eyes. Have a friend measure the distance from the floor to the top of your hands. This measurement is a great ballpark for the putter length you should be looking for (most standard putters are between 33 and 35 inches).
There is no substitute for trying out putters in person. What looks good online or feels good in the hands of a tour pro might feel awkward to you. Go to a golf store with a practice green and grab a few different models based on what you’ve learned.
Confidence is a massive part of putting. Often, the "right" putter is simply the one that looks good to your eye and makes you feel like you can't miss.
The putter is a specialized and personal piece of equipment, responsible for more strokes than any other club in your bag. Understanding the differences between blade and mallet heads, face inserts, and hosel designs moves you from just grabbing one off the rack to intentionally choosing a tool that complements your natural putting motion.
Once you’ve found a putter that feels right, the a an important part of the battle is fought with smart strategy on the greens. With me, Caddie AI, you can get tour-level advice right in your pocket. I'm here 24/7, whether you need help reading the slope on a tricky downhill putt or working on a drill at home. You can even take a photo of a complicated break and I’ll give you a suggested line. The goal is simple: to help you make smarter decisions and step up to every putt with more confidence, so you can turn all those good shots into lower scores.
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