Putter questions - offset, loft, lie etc.

[KIDDEREK]

So can someone school me on how the offset, loft and lie affect the result?

If someone swung a putter exactly the same way each time, what would happen to the ball when it's struck with a putter that has:

no offset vs. full offset?

3* loft vs 4* loft?

toe-up lie vs heel-up lie?

[Matthew77]

I am not as convinced that the lie of a putter effects the outcome as much as the loft and off set. I say that based on the putter never makes contact with the ground. (Or shouldn't.) That is what the major effect of lie is on irons. Toe down, grabs face opens, balls go right. Toe up, grabs shank, closes face, ball goes left.

IMO I would say that the loft and offset would effect the average person more. Loft would depend. I have seen people putt that their first movement is to close the club head. This would de-loft the putter. So a higher loft putter might help them.

Offset. If a person putts with their hands way ahead of the ball, pulling a lot of puts left. Then they need minimal offset. If a person tends to push puts, they need the offset to get their hands closer to the ball.

I just, sort of, helped my wife fit a new putter. All I did was ask here which putter felt good to her, at address. I looked at how she held the putter. (IE flat to the ground, toe up, ect.) Then watched her putt a few balls. Had her try some offset and non-offset. In the end she would pull a lot of putts with the offset. She holds the putter VERY level to the ground. (She ended up with an Oddessey mallet.)

I use a Ping Zing that has standard lie/loft. (Although my irons ar 5* up and 1 1/2" over.) I feel I have more control since it is minimal offset. I can open the club just slightly to push a putt or close it to try and pull.

[KIDDEREK]

  Matthew77 said:

Offset. If a person putts with their hands way ahead of the ball, pulling a lot of puts left. Then they need minimal offset. If a person tends to push puts, they need the offset to get their hands closer to the ball.

I've used a full offset and just recently tried a half offset and my putts are all over the place, mostly pulling. I occasionally push, but I think that might be my overcompensating for the pulls.

I always thought an offset helps to NOT pull since the club head would be behind the hands.

[Matthew77]

  KIDDEREK said:

I always thought an offset helps to NOT pull since the club head would be behind the hands.

I am in no way a pro...we need someone who really can set this straight, verses my seat of the pants theories.

[KIDDEREK]

Anybody else? Help. Please