Switching Putters during season? Putting help!

[Elmer]

I have the dilema of having 2 putters. 1 is my cleveland classic 1 (34 in) which is my normal putter. my stand by is a 34 oddessey white steel #1, which used to be my everyday putter. When at home, in the basement I put with the Oddessy on a felt putting mat. My clubs reside during the year in the trunk of my car. I shoul note I only get to practice putting when I have snuck away to run a load of laundry in the basement.

My dilema is that I have never been able to find that "right" putter, but have settled on the ones I have (partially due to price and $).

Both clubs have pros and conns.

The cleveland has a bigger sweet spot, feels slightly lighter, has a mid sized grip and feels softer. Better for lag puts.

The Oddesy White steel, has a smaller sweet spot, feels shorts and heavier, has a little more pop and a smaller grip. More confident on shorter puts.

It should be noted I tend to 2 put, with a few 3 puts sprinkled in. I usually land the ball atleast 10 feet from the hole and then 2 putt.

When I am putting well, there is no question about switching. When I dont there is doubt about the flat stick I am using.

I play once a week in a league and less frequently in the off season, so it is not like I can switch every week.

I am going to be playing this week, in what looks like the last time this season and was considering switching putters, to give my old back up a try?

So my question are:

how often does anyone switch back and forth between putters?

Would you switch knowing you may never be content?

How do you know when you have found the "right" or "perfect" putter?

would you switch to your back up for the last round of the year?

Should I give up golf and just take up chess?

[Stacey_E]

Quote:

So my question are:

how often does anyone switch back and forth between putters?

Would you switch knowing you may never be content?

How do you know when you have found the "right" or "perfect" putter?

would you switch to your back up for the last round of the year?

Should I give up golf and just take up chess?

1.  I played the same putter for 5 years, then went through a spell for about 2 years where I used about 4 or 5 different putters.  Ultimately, I have my old putter back in the bag.

2.  I have, and switched back.

3.  It just wont go away from your rotation in the bag.

4.  No I would not switch back for the last round.  I would come more near switching on the first round of the year.

5.  NO

I'd personally say that if you don't have much time to practice, use the most forgiving putter that you have.  But I'd also go with the one which you are better at lagging the long distance putts.  You probably won't miss a ton of putts by more than 3 feet offline.  But leaving them 3 feet long or short can make for some knee knocking par bogie or par putts.

[drglew]

i've done some "putter roulette" before when in a putting slump, but not surprisingly different putters didn't change the slump, especially when I was rotating three different mallets.

Your putters are pretty similar, i.e. both Anser-style.  Have you ever tried a completely different type, like a mallet or two-ball, or a center-shafted blade?  For me, I recently changed to an old Ping Anser 2 after years of various mallets.  It looks/feels very different than what i've been using for years, but i'm finding the results far superior.  I'm not sure if the new putter had to do anything with the improvement, vs practicing more with the new stick--but either way, i'm happy with the results!  Almost feels like a fresh start.

And although practicing on a felt mat is often the best one can do (i've got one too), it's still not the same as the real thing, as you don't have to read any break, the speed may be quite different than the courses you play, and you can only practice at most a 10-footer!  I think all those mats are good for is grooving a good stroke on short putts--which is certainly important, as missing a bunch of 5-footers wrecks your score as well as your confidence.

[lumpuckeroo]

how often does anyone switch back and forth between putters?  When ever the urge hits me, sometimes I go months, sometimes weeks.

Would you switch knowing you may never be content?  I'm always content, kind of like eating food, I love steak, but don't eat it every meal, I'll throw in hamburgers now and again.  I really like all my putters and feel that switching between them keeps me sharp with the putters.

How do you know when you have found the "right" or "perfect" putter?  I have 3 of them and getting a 4th one in the off season!

would you switch to your back up for the last round of the year?  I have been know to do that.

Should I give up golf and just take up chess? Never!!!