What exactly do you look for when buying a new putter? I dont notice any difference...

Ive demoed everything from a $20 putter to a $250 putter and I cannot tell any difference whatsoever. Ive lost all confidence in the putter Im currently using, an old Dunlop pewter blade, no insert, nothing fancy. I just about broke the think today on the course to insure that I buy something new. I realize its 90% the puttee, not the putter, but Im set of getting something new.

So back to the question, I like the length of the one I have now, 35". But Ive tried everything and cant see any noticeable difference on a practice green at the store. Aside from aesthetics and whether or not it has a ball pick up, I stumped at to what I should buy.

Putters are all about feel. When you demo a putter it should feel like it is a part of you. Sounds funny but it doesn't matter what it looks like or who made it. You have a stroke you use for putting, when you make that stroke the club in your hands must feel like it is a natural extension of you. It it is too short you have to compensate, if it is too long you have to compensate. If it turns easily because you hit it off center you have to compensate, but some of us have found the one putter that when we stroke it, it seems to line up the sweet spot with the ball and is just the right length that it brushes the grass but doesn't catch and doesn't deflect. When you hold it it seems naturally perpendicular to the line you want, and the ball rolls away without hopping into the air.  When you find that one buy it.

this may be stupid, but try it. pick two putters and test them out. pick the one out of the two that you liked better. now pick another random putter to match up to the winner before. keep going until you find one that you keep liking. yes, this is stupid, but it could work. I did this kinda when picking my putter. and I did eventually pick out a winner.

What part of your putting is the best?  What part is the worst?

There are ton's of great putters out there, and usually it's all about finding one that fits your eye and stroke.  Putter feel is important to many people as well.  Make sure you're taking the time to set up properly over the ball.  It usually helps to have the ball forward in your stance, and your eyes directly above and behind the ball.

For what it's worth, I just picked up a Rife Two-Bar Blade this spring.  I've never had so many putts drop from inside 15 feet.  I'm really enjoying this putter and I suggest you try one.

What part is best: None

What part is worst: All

As I alluded to, Im sure its 90% me and has nothing to do with the putter Im using. Also, its March 7, the greens arent exactly in great shape. They are very, very short, fast, and my distance control has been horrible. With this same putter the last 2yrs Ive putted much, much better, so maybe some of it is the greens. Ive not previously played this early in the year the last 2 season.

I just feel like maybe I should move on to something new, but at the putting green at Golfsmith or Golf Galaxy I cant see any distinguishable difference from one to the next so I dont know what exactly Im looking for.

Ill go back and spend a good 2hrs trying a bunch and settle of something I guess.

Techincal specifications, design and feel.

This is what I did.  Once you figure out the style of putter (mallet, etc) it is all about feel.  Does your ball typically go too far past the hole?  Maybe try a blade putter.  Come up short, maybe a mallet will be better.  I was in the PGA Tourstore and was lucky enough to have a teaching pro watch my stroke and give me pointers.  Just keep trying them out.  Forget the brands or prices, just keep playing the which one do I like better game.  You will find a winner for sure.

Simple

You buy the one that you can aim where you think you're aiming and gives you distance control.

One simple test is to find a straight line putt, get about 8 feet away and aim at the center of the hole with a ball -- then have a friend remove the ball, set something like a SeeMore Triangulator on the ground across the face, peg it  into the ground and you can move your putter. Take the string on the triangulator and see where it goes -- to the right, left, or at the hole.

That will let you know if you and your putter are in synch in terms of the hole.

Of course, that doesn't help with your loft -- you can have your friend see if your putter shaft is vertical or leaning back or leaning forward and that will help.

What happens if you're not aiming straight? You may need less offset or more alignment lines.

Lagging?

Spread a string across the green, get 10 feet away and see if you can land on the string. Move back and ahead. See your results.

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Okay -- that's one way of finding your putter.

Or you can just go to edelgolf.com, and find a fitter who will do all of that with you... and I think they're lowest priced putter is about $370. I think they also have the PIXL option -- very nice.

Worth it?

I don't think you'll be spending money on a putter for a long time if you go Edel ... so yes, it will save you money in the long run.

Before you buy a putter like that?

Have reasonably good setup and mechanics that are repeatable -- without that, it's a tough fit.

Find something along the lines of a  35" PING Anser 2 with a sight line as a starting point. You can probably find a good used one for $30-50. To me this is something of a standard--some forgiveness, a sightline, good on long and short putts, not too far out as far as high tech, not as demanding as something like a Bullseye.  Take it to the putting green and practice a lot. Game it for a while and get used to it.  You will either fall in love, or be left wanting something else. But when you go shopping, you will have a good point of reference to which to compare.

I started playing golf with the putter type with the L shape shaft at the bottom. Not a centered shafted putter. I like how it keeps the shaft out of the ball sight.

So my method of finding a putter is,

All putters must be a blade

All putters must have a shaft offset

Then after that, its what putter feels the best in my hands, which includes weight and shaft length

Then i look at the putter head design. Does it look good to my eye

Then i putt a few and see how the ball rolls and feels off the putter head.

Since i can get use to the look of the putter, i don't weight that more than how the putter feels and how it rolls the ball.

^^all the above^^

If you don't notice any difference, then just buy the $20 putter and don't look back.  Practice like crazy.  Don't try to find a difference where you don't feel one: your time is better spent putting with any putter at all than demoing putter after putter after putter.  If you can putt well but aren't, the right fitting and feeling putter may help; if you can't putt well yet, no putter is going to fix that.

I started with a $30 or $40 putter and only recently felt that I was at the point that I could identify problems due to the putter (in my case it was difficulty controlling distance and switching from a mallet to a blade helped).  That took 10 years, or about 3 years of active golfing, to happen.

If you do keep demoing putters, in addition to the suggestion to bring your own balls is to bring your old putter along.  This is for two reasons.  First, it's possible the one you've got is the one you're going to be happiest with.  Spending money may not necessary or even beneficial, so at least give it a chance unless you're so sick of it you can't seriously consider it as an option.  Second, I've seen some golf shops with putting practice areas that are subtly bowled down into the cups, which may just be poor construction, but I suspect is a trick to convince you that you'll putt better with that new putter you demoed in the store.  It just seemed you were reading the putts perfectly, almost like your ball was drawn down into the cup.....

go get the Odyssey protype82 and you will know what a good putter is suppose to feel like

Personally, I look for an Anser style putter and I like one thats really soft.  I prefer brass when I can get it, but any kind of soft metal will do.

Well I had someone give me an old Odyssey putter they didnt want any more, a dual force 662. The shaft looks to be about 2" longer than the one I was using. And the offset is in the shaft, not the putter head so it looks weird staring down at it. Im going to give this a try and see what comes of it before buying something. Ill just grip down to where I feel comfortable. I recognize that most of my issues are lack of practice, but the last 2yrs I putted much better with the same amount of limited practice so thats why I felt a need to change the putter.