My $99 putter search

[Machmood]

Ok first off this board is a lot of help, thanks guys. So I just bought my first set of clubs, used callaway x20s with hyper x woods. Got em cheap on craigslist but the guy didnt have a putter. I did some research online then headed to dicks. After searching I basicslly made up my mind I was gonna buy a cleveland hb-1 for 89.99$. Luckily they had the cleveland, odyssey #1 and Taylor made white smoke. I tried the cleveland first and right way I was upset. This thing was SOOO LIGHT. When I went to pull the putter back in my stroke it felt like a feather. I had no control and didn't feel any connection . Next I tried to white smoke and this felt much better, more weight, more controll , just a better feel. I don't really know what to look for, but as faras feel felt better. Lastly I tried the white ice. This was the heaviest of them all and you could really tell. It felt like a stronger build, almost like the cleveland was a toy and the white ice was a real putter. After going back and forth With the Taylor made and odyssey I went with the odyssey. I liked the heavier feel, I'm 6'1 210 so it suited me. Here's my quesrion. When I hit the white ice perfect in the sweet spot it feels amazing. I don't feel any vibrations, its soft yet feel firmly hit, not a loud clonky sound, it feels perfect to me. THE PROBLEM IS ONLY ONE OUT OF 10 FEEL LIKE THAT. I can't seem to get a consistent stroke where I hit it right. I find myself worrying more about that then making the putt. Is this normal, are putters like irons and have a sweet spot or will all Putts feel/sound different? I'm assuming the black aim/line on the putter is the sweet spot and should it the ball right in the middle. The black line feels like its more on the inside, closer to the heal then I would normally hit but adjusted to make sure the black line "cuts the ball in half" .Would now much loft I allow make a difference on the sweet spot? Any reccomendations would help, thanks

[WUTiger]

Just like other clubs, putters work best with a fitting. Find a putter which has good feel, and the get it tweaked.

A putter fitting includes length, swingweight (most putters are a little light), loft, arc matching and grip type.

Several of the club manufacturers have online software to help you select putters. You input your putting tendencies, and the software recommends a shortlist of putters you might want to try.

[Machmood]

^ cool thanks. Just started getting lessons so needed some clubs to get going. I debated getting fit for new clubs with trackman info but thought it would be a waste. Every shot I took would have drastically different numbers. One a slice, one fat, one thin, one topped, one perfect. How can you fit someone who has 100 different shots. Right now I am working on the fundamentals and getting my mechanics down. Once I am consistent and actually know what to do and how to correct I am going to get fit. I will say I am getting my clubs re gripped to mid sized grips, I have huge hands and my right hand my fingers come over the top of the meaty part of thumb/palm. Very tough to keep a consistent grip

[WUTiger]

IF you get early trends in your putting, an early fitting might help out.

For the other 13 clubs, you mainly need a basic static fitting: lie angle, shaft length and grip thickness. As you guessed, a couple of years from now you can get a detailed, dynamic fitting once your swing stabilizes.

[dennyjones]

I was fitted for a Ping putter and it has made a world of difference.   My putter is the Karsten 1959 with 1º of loft and it just feels right.   I believe feel is very important.   Find something that feels right.

Check loft with a camera.   I play with a guy that uses a standard putter and the ball skips instead of rolls.