How do I select a Putter?

[zeg]

finally some advice that makes sense

You're ignoring the chicken-and-egg problem: how do you know "YOUR STROKE TYPE" until you've tried (and I mean really tried, not just spent a couple minutes fooling around) different types? For someone in the mid 20s handicap index, I stand by my earlier suggestion of just finding something comfortable and trying it for a while. Maybe a fitting for length, but at this kind of experience level you're still working on what stroke type is going to work for you. Odds are good you'll go through more than one style before you settle.

The more detailed advice is certainly important, but IMO at this point it's backwards to pick a stroke and then find the putter for it. Use the advice to choose a stroke to use with a particular putter when you're deciding whether it's comfortable or not. Maybe get fitted for length/lie, but even that is going to vary as you adjust your stroke. Anyway, that's my advice based on my experience. Obviously I haven't gotten to be a great putter yet, but I know that my own technique has varied enough that having spent a huge amount of effort picking *the* putter would have been largely wasted as my technique evolved.

[enis750]

You're ignoring the chicken-and-egg problem: how do you know "YOUR STROKE TYPE" until you've tried (and I mean really tried, not just spent a couple minutes fooling around) different types? For someone in the mid 20s handicap index, I stand by my earlier suggestion of just finding something comfortable and trying it for a while. Maybe a fitting for length, but at this kind of experience level you're still working on what stroke type is going to work for you. Odds are good you'll go through more than one style before you settle.

a proper fitter can watch you take 1 or two practice strokes and tell you what type of putting stroke you have

i didnt know until i was fitted either and yes the type of putter you have will dictate how you putt with it, not just your "technique" a face balanced mallet centre shafter putter, is usually a good putter for a SBST stroke, not for a GATE or ARC style of putter and vise versa once you know your stroke type, the fitter can reccomend a style or type of putter that suits you THEN you can decide what kind of bells and whistles you want....... i have been fit twice by 2 different fitters.......and they came up with the same style of putter each time so for me, a half mallet, heel shafted putter w little loft and offset at 34" ......works for my "syle" of putting at least now.....its DEFINATLY not the arrow...its all me

[adamg]

Make sure to hit some lag putts. It's easy to find a number of putters you feel comfortable at hitting from 10 feet out. I find that you can start to really tell what putters work for you and what do not on long putts (30+ feet). If you can control the distance from afar, you have a winner. I also recommend trying on a real green before purchasing if possible.