"Trying Out" a Putter

[Wazzu8]

So I've had my mallet putter for about two years, but I am looking to try out a blade.. I played a blade style when I was younger, and putting was always the thing that saved me.

Now I am averaging 17 putts/9 but that is including missing a good 1-2. After hitting a couple yesterday I really like the TM Rossa, Yes! Tracy and Ping Anser.

The question is do I have to buy one to really test it out? I'm afraid I will get to real greens, putt like crap then want to sell it back. What do you guys do in this situation? Any Suggestions?

[wrx_junki]

I just sold my Odyssey Sabertooth this week and bought myself a Ping Anser 2. Although I had 37 putts which is a lot. It felt pretty good.

[bIGwIRE]

The question is do I have to buy one to really test it out? I'm afraid I will get to real greens, putt like crap then want to sell it back. What do you guys do in this situation? Any Suggestions?

Alot of club pro shops will let you demo putters on the putting greens, and most will let you play one for a nine if they think you might buy it. Expect to pay 20-50$ more than you would at Dick's or somewhere like that, depending on the putter, but you'll know for sure if you like it or not.

[Kcas77]

Buying a putter is all about the confidence you have in it which usually includes looks and feel.

[ApocG10]

Ya, You can demo a club for 18 holes for 8$ at my course. Then if you want to buy, they take 8$ off the price of a new one for each club you demo'd (if you demo'd 4 putters before buying one, they take 32$ off the price of the new one you bought)

I have an Oddyssee putter I didnt like much. Just didnt feel right. Demo'd a MUCH cheaper Wilson Staff 8875 Mallet putter, among other very expensive putters. I absolutely love it. It just feels perfect, and my misses are closer than ever. So dont necessarily look at all the most expensive.

I still have the oddyssee, plan on trying it again soon to see if its more comfortable after time away from it. It hits well, I just dont like the way it feels.

[Doctorfro]

So I've had my mallet putter for about two years, but I am looking to try out a blade.. I played a blade style when I was younger, and putting was always the thing that saved me.

You ought to give Rife a try. They have many different styles, the technology is excellent and they are offering a 90-day satisfaction guarantee when you buy directly from them.

[deafheaven]

I can relate. I switched this year to the Ping Redwood Anser after playing the Craz-E for the past 3 years. I went in to the store specifically with changing to a blade in mind so it was just a matter of selecting the one that felt best. I find I have to concentrate more with the blade but that's probably a good thing. I love my Redwood. Are you aware that your putting stroke should determine what type putter you use? I discovered I was opening the club face on the takeback, particularly on long putts. That's why I made the change.

[Wazzu8]

I can relate. I switched this year to the Ping Redwood Anser after playing the Craz-E for the past 3 years. I went in to the store specifically with changing to a blade in mind so it was just a matter of selecting the one that felt best. I find I have to concentrate more with the blade but that's probably a good thing. I love my Redwood. Are you aware that your putting stroke should determine what type putter you use? I discovered I was opening the club face on the takeback, particularly on long putts. That's why I made the change.

I notice I definitely open my face on long putts, thats why I always seem to be to the right. As for most others, I will look at my stroke during my time at the store tonight.

[Danattherock]

You ought to give Rife a try. They have many different styles, the technology is excellent and they are offering a 90-day satisfaction guarantee when you buy directly from them.

What he said. The Rife Antigua is the best putter I have ever used. Nothing else compares. Check out their website... http://rifeputters.com/

[Surefire]

I just bought a new Scotty studio select Newport 1.5.

I didn't just try things randomly though, I went and got fit for it. The place I went to used a SAM puttlab which analysed my stroke completely, and showed me timings, face positions, path of swing etc.

I didn't really pay attention to what clubs I was trying whilst I was being fit. Obviously I realised it was a Scotty by the red grip, but no idea which model etc.

One of the interesting things was that I was holing lots of putts with different putters, but with the putters that didn't suit me the ball was truck at different times, so I was manipulating the face a lot to keep it on target. Obviously this worked fine for me at the time, but is the kind of thing that can go wrong under pressure. For this reason I would definitely recommend getting fit over just trying putters as sometimes what you see isn't what you get.