Putter type discussion: Mallet, Mid-mallet, Blade

[cignatz21]

Check out some putters online and fine ones that you would be comfortable standing over during a round. Once you find a few that fit your eye, go to your local golf store or pro shop and test the putters out. Its really up to you, if you like the feel and look, you will sink more putts. Go with what you like. Good Luck finding one.

[Gibby]

To be completely honest, out of all the clubs you can buy out there, the putter is the one thing I honestly think technology is almost pointless for. Think about what you're doing on the greens. You could do the same with any stick and a flat surface on the end. In the end, confidence with a putter will improve your scores much more than some insert with amazing high-tech magic or whatever magical groves that cause an upward spin on the ball. I'm not saying you can't go and buy a Scotty Newport like everyone else - if you feel the most confident with that, you will putt better. Two things that matter much more than anything is weight and balance. If you like the look, weight, and the putter feels balanced when you putt, you will putt better than a $250 putter that supposedly has super high-tech stuff in it. I bought a Maxfli Crossbax 1.0 because I loved the look of the classic Wilson 8802 blade putters. It was $30 and a MAXFLI....I putt well with it, and I love it.

[Dub]

A Scotty Cameron Red-X is not a large, high MOI mallet like the Odyssey Sabertooth.

Yup. It's a sweet mallet that works okay for both type strokes. Really great feeling wand.

[Crey23]

To be completely honest, out of all the clubs you can buy out there, the putter is the one thing I honestly think technology is almost pointless for. Think about what you're doing on the greens. You could do the same with any stick and a flat surface on the end. In the end, confidence with a putter will improve your scores much more than some insert with amazing high-tech magic or whatever magical groves that cause an upward spin on the ball. I'm not saying you can't go and buy a Scotty Newport like everyone else - if you feel the most confident with that, you will putt better. Two things that matter much more than anything is weight and balance. If you like the look, weight, and the putter feels balanced when you putt, you will putt better than a $250 putter that supposedly has super high-tech stuff in it. I bought a Maxfli Crossbax 1.0 because I loved the look of the classic Wilson 8802 blade putters. It was $30 and a MAXFLI....I putt well with it, and I love it.

Easy to say with a 9 HC....

What I men by this is that with some one, with less expertise, can mess up the putt...call it confidence, call it track, call it yips....but there is a certain level of technology into these putters that do tend to help you keep you line. For instance, the TM Itsy, is well know for aiding the face stay in line (helps prevent opening or closing). I think most mallet in generela aid in this, but the Itsy IMHO is the best at it. I have heard the in a pinch you could putt with a wood or hybrid....I have in fact used the 3w from the fringe to chip and worked very nice, but I still feel uncomfortable to use it on the green. I guess I'll have to join a 5 club round one of theese days to see how that pans out

[Howie]

So depending on the face of the putter, "feel" allows you to have an idea of how far the ball will travel dependent on the strength of your stroke. Does that sound right to you guys?

[FHopper]

Yes but as someone mentioned before, the ball can giveth or taketh away. make sure you are using a ball that can provide a discernible feel through the club. I practice with Titleist and Srixon, both feel through the putter, someone, (grandson), slipped a Maxfli on my carpet the other day and I thought I was hitting a rock.

[Zeph]

I play only putters without inserts, don't like the feel of them.

Played a mallet putter before, but changed to a blade putter. Changed from straight back and through to arced swing also. I'm very pleased with the change, like the feeling of an arced swing with blade putter better.

[Dub]

I play only putters without inserts, don't like the feel of them.

I'm in the same boat. I was struggling and searching for help. Got a tip from a buddy and read the Stan Utley book, "Art of Putting". It described in very simple terms what I needed at the time.

It's worth a read before you commit to an expensive putter. You'll be able to read it in an hour or two and then refer back later as needed. The

[rcubed3r]

This may sound strange if you've never thought about it.............

I like a shallow mallet, BUT.......after finding one that is pleasing to the eye, weighted right, and feels good, IT MUST NOT TWIST WHEN DROPPED ON THE LINE BEHIND THE BALL!
In other words, I will line up a putt, address the ball and then loosen my grip so much that my putter head falls to the ground. I still have the grip in my hands, but very loosely. From this point I retake my grip at the point where the putter will be just above the surface of the green when I swing. If when I initially 'drop' the putter the head twists, I am completely out of my routine. It amazes me how many putters (and even woods) will do this. Try it next time you are at the pro shop!

Ron

[ohiolefty]

I think a blade is the best, at least for me, but it's the most sensitive. It's almost akin to (and if you disagree PLEASE don't jump all over me) the different iron configurations (players, GI etc.) although not as correlated to skill. Whatever feels the best, gives you the most consistent control of SPEED...go for that.

I found a blade that felt good on off-center hits. Whenver I hit putters, I hit some 'solid' puts and then I purposelly hit bad, off-center putts. I want a blade that feels at least okay, or rolls okay, on an off-center hit. For me, the issue with mallets is that they feel TOO good on off-center hits and don't give specific enough feedback, so it's harder (for me) to correct what I might do wrong on a stroke.