How do I select a Putter?

[cliff2222tx]

Hi Everyone,

Can someone tell me how should I go about buying a putter? I've read many posts here, and most of them would say select the one that "feels" good. Well, they all feel pretty good, but I don't want to feel good. I want to sink putts. Seriously, what are the key factors in the decision making process.

Thanks,

[wrx_junki]

What's wrong with the PRGR in your signature? If all of them feel good then choose one that you like how it sets up and feel most confident with. The putter isn't going to make the putt for you, the stroke is. When shopping if you can only try it in the shop's practice green it isn't going to give you a very realistic feel of how it will perform so it might take a couple tries. For me, I do pretty well with most premium anser style putters.

[Danattherock]

Same here on anser styles. Got a Rife Antigua that I love. On sale for $93 at The Golf Warehouse website. Several other models too. Look at Guerin Rife putters on that site and you will find it. Awesome deal. Everyone makes putts on the indoor practice mats in golf shops. A useless thing to do. If you want a putter and don't have a strong opinion, consider a Rife Aruba or Antigua. The Aruba is just like my Antigua but has a plumbers neck. Likely I would have bought it if available when I bought my Antigua last year. Incredible putter for $93. No doubt about it. Lots of older Rife threads here if you want to do some searching.


-Dan

Link below...


http://www.tgw.com/customer/category...1/refScid/1062



Go to the Rife website and read up on "roll face" technology. It is what puts these putters above others in my opinion...

http://rifeputters.com/technology/ro...ve-technology/

[zeg]

Don't overthink it. There's no right or wrong putters (well, maybe there are some wrong ones, actually, but among reputable manufacturers there aren't). At the level we're at, there just isn't a putter that's going to make a night and day difference in our putting (unless we've got one that's seriously misfitted). The key to improving is to practice more than anything.

There are, of course, differences in putters for different styles: mallet versus blade (essentially straight back-and-through stroke versus arcing styles), different face materials and textures (feel preference), different lofts, different amounts of offset, etc. There are some rules of thumb around, but I don't believe there's any way to be told what style is going to work, or even to figure it out by testing in the shop. I think you've got to just take the plunge and use one for a while. I know you said you didn't want this answer, but I think you just have to get something that feels comfortable and commit yourself to it for a while. Let the experience tell you what you need in a putter.

[Danattherock]

Good points Zeg.

Want to have some fun this winter and improve your putting...

Buy...

Phil Mickelson's 2 dvd set

Buy David Pelz "Putting Bible"

Buy Dave Stocktons putt to win (book and DVD)


That will make you a better putter. Spend a few hours a week, perhaps 3 fairly short practice sessions, your scores will drop.

[Da Caddy]

Putters are the most personal club in the bag. I love my putter (classic heel-toe weighted), but from time to time, I will switch to a mallet style to help reinforce that I am aiming properly. Mallet style putters will help you to line the putt up better because there is more mass behind the ball and they usually have a long line or something of a 'T', which gives your eyes more of a direct line to follow from the back of the putter to the ball and down your intended target line.

[Chewey56]

brand doesn't matter, it's all about what feels best to you. try out every style. and also think of a blade or a mallet. do you frequently leave the ball short? if so, then try a mallet to put more weight behind the ball at impact.

on a side note, it's not the arrow, it's the indian. i caddying for a guy once who had this bad boy shown above, and he was the greatest putter in the club. he made almost everything.

[James_Black]

Good points Zeg.

why buy all that stuff?

All you need is to remember to accelerate through your putt and practise, you don't need a putting bible for that. the rest is feel. if your thinking of buying a new putter look at yes! putters. They're starting to catch on with a lot of the pro's over here.

on a side note, it's not the arrow, it's the indian. i caddying for a guy once who had this bad boy shown above, and he was the greatest putter in the club. he made almost everything.

corey pavin has a putter like that too.

[Danattherock]

why buy all that stuff?

Dude, it is winter time, the question is why NOT to buy all that stuff. Ha ha.. I have learned a lot about putting from the above mentioned items. That is why. Most folks want a new putter. My suggestion is to "want" to learn how to putt better. -Dan

[cliff2222tx]

What's wrong with the PRGR in your signature? If all of them feel good then choose one that you like how it sets up and feel most confident with. The putter isn't going to make the putt for you, the stroke is. When shopping if you can only try it in the shop's practice green it isn't going to give you a very realistic feel of how it will perform so it might take a couple tries. For me, I do pretty well with most premium anser style putters.

Nothing is wrong with the PRGR putter. I thought it's time to collect another putter.

[cliff2222tx]

Putters are the most personal club in the bag. I love my putter (classic heel-toe weighted), but from time to time, I will switch to a mallet style to help reinforce that I am aiming properly. Mallet style putters will help you to line the putt up better because there is more mass behind the ball and they usually have a long line or something of a 'T', which gives your eyes more of a direct line to follow from the back of the putter to the ball and down your intended target line.

Great...I can use these objective criteria.

[cliff2222tx]

brand doesn't matter, it's all about what feels best to you. try out every style. and also think of a blade or a mallet. do you frequently leave the ball short? if so, then try a mallet to put more weight behind the ball at impact.

I absolutely agree that it's the indian, but this indian is going xmas shopping for himself. In any event, Furyk nailed the FEDEX cup with a $39 used putter right?

[bigoak]

Putters should move the ball on your intended line and with the intended speed. Never mind whether the ball goes into the hole. Did the ball move the way you wanted it to. I've mishit putts that went into the hole by accident because the read was wrong. That doesn't make you a good putter because you missed a putt into the hole.

[Danattherock]

I absolutely agree that it's the indian, but this indian is going xmas shopping for himself.

Best line I have read in long time!! Have fun shopping. Rife Antigua or Aruba on TGW for $94 is a sweet deal. Check out the Yamada 85029 (musashi) if you want something special. Might order one tomorrow myself. Been thinking on it all week. http://www.yamadamilled.com/musashi.html

[Jell0b0y]

Doesn't the swing path also have an influence on the type of putter whether its face balanced or heel balanced? I am in the process of shopping for a new putter since I have been using the 2 ball I don't feel reel comfortable with it and have been using my $8 Dunlap Wal-mart special and Christmas is coming up and I got a putter at the #1 spot since its the weakest part of me game.

[xXSal09Xx]

Putting need to be a very confident and strong part or your game. To start a putter selection you need to have a base putter. So use your current putter as base of performance feel roll control and alignment/looks. For example rifle is a great putter but if u and that club dont get along or u just dont match up your game will hurt. So I say hit a demo a dick sporting good that has a FULL putting green and just start taking all different brands and styles that you like you are eventually will find the 1 right for you. In my experience ever1 told me go buy a odessy 2 ball instead I got a rossa monte carlo 7 and i love it. So like I say let the club or in this case let the putter pick you out of the 1s u picked that interest the only thing no matter you buy a rosa odessy nike rifle heavy putter yes scotty cam adams all that matters is if u feel confident when you hold it and it puts a smile on your face ever time you make a put

[B-Con]

A putter that fits your putting style, and I don't just mean "general feel" by that. I

shared some of my thoughts on that topic in another similar thread.

1) I think the primary difference to examine is face-balanced versus full toe-hang (and the variations between). To me, they felt very different on take-away and through the stroke, and I couldn't force either one to fit its opposite stroke well. Face-balanced only felt good for straight-back-straight-through, and only strong toe-hang felt good for gating. I would determine which of those you like the best first.

Figure out what putting style you have, what you want it to be, and what your mistakes are. Then keep those putter categories in mind when you go looking at them.

[enis750]

A putter that fits your putting style, and I don't just mean "general feel" by that. I

finally some advice that makes sense

to the OP choosing a putter is WAAAAAAY more than buying one that feels good in your hands to get the most out of your putter you need to be fit for YOUR STROKE TYPE.....yes thats right.....you can be fit for your putter there is a SBST (straight back straight through) or an ARC or GATE type stroke first step is finding out what type of putting stroke you have...THEN choosing a putter that fits that type of stroke there are a million different types of head styles, offsets, lengths and inserts once you have been fit for your stoke type, suitable putter type & lenght, then narrow your choices down based on insert (or none), offset, look and price range yes the putter is ONE of the most personal items in your bag but if it doesnt suit your swing path then you just wasted your hard earned money you use you putter ON EVERY HOLE.....make a smart choice and get fitted i didnt think it made a difference and went through s tonne of different types of putter i was originally fit for a heel shafted half mallet (chose the Rife Abaco) but didnt like the roll face technology tried 3 other putters was fitted again .......guess what for....a heel shafted half mallet (by a completely different fitter too) settled on the Odyssey White Ice #9 34" - the white ice insert felt best to me my putting improved DRAMATICALLY since i started using this putter (to little to late tho, it was the end of the season when i got it) you dont need the $400 OTR putter to putt good bro....just the right putter for your stroke