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Did you know that on average, putters are used at least twice the amount of times as drivers? As such, we place a lot of emphasis on the range of putters we offer, including options with various head shapes, lengths and even adjustable lies, to suit your specific golfing technique.
Buying advice for Golf Putters
General Tips On Buying Putters
If you are very new to golf it is wise to get a reasonably priced putter at first, as your first putter will always act as a stepping stone to a better second one, and a better third one. Things like the “feel”, the sound, and the alignment aid on the club can be a lot to consider if you haven't at least owned a putter before.
Players get the most out of their putters by hitting the ball out of the centre part of their club face. This is something that develops over time, along with your posture and use of any alignment aid that may feature on your putter when you stare down on it.
The good news is, putters are exempt from the sizing restrictions of other clubs, which means they come in all shapes and sizes, often matching you instead of you having to match the club. Cheaper putters still perform very well overall, but more expensive ones include top quality materials that provide a better 'feel' and roll. We would advise you commit to one putter, one putting style and one ball, all at the same time to ensure all three combined help you form good habits.
Blade Putters
Classic blade putters do not have any heel-toe weighting and so make them very unforgiving for all but the best golfers.
Heel-toe blades have been around for a long time and are still on of the
favourite designs among professionals, offering some forgiveness and
good feel.
A decent heel-toe putter is a great start for a beginner golfer as you don’t have to spend much to get a good one.
Mallet Putters
Mallets are
typically quite large compared to blade putters, with the club extending
back far from the face of the club. This is done to promote a better
roll on the ball as well as allowing perimeter weighting and a more
forgiving club on off-centre hits. With the club shaped this way, many putters also have visual aids to help
line up the putter with the hole.
Choosing The Right Putter For Your Putting Stroke
Different putter head shapes tend to suit different putting strokes. If
you are unsure of your putting stroke don’t worry about this. Classic
blades and heel-toe blades are more suited to putting strokes that take
an inside to inside stroke (creating a shallow arc around you). Mallet
putters, especially face-balanced putters, are designed to suit a
straight back and straight through putting stroke.
Inserts
After the putter head shape, you can decide what type of insert (if any)
that you prefer. Many people prefer a soft insert in the face of the
club which makes the ball move more slowly on impact. Hard inserts are
also available, but this is a matter of taste rather than
anything else.
Shaft and Hosel Options
As putters are so personal, there are many different styles in the market at any one time. Typically, variances exist in the shaft length, the shaft offset, the hosel type, the length and the shaft location.
As everyone is a different size with different preferences, these can
change how you view the ball. You should note that the industry
standard size for putter length is 35 inches, and this is too long for
most people! We have plenty of putters with shaft lengths from 32” and
upwards.
Putter Loft
Putter loft is not always advertised with clubs, as it is not a big
consideration for most golfers. Generally putter loft is between 1 and 6
degrees. Higher lofts are useful on greens with slightly longer grass,
but a loft of around 4 degrees is fairly standard.
Weighting And Putter Technology
As putting conditions can change from one day to the next (as well as
your preferences), some putter models have been designed to allow you
to change the weight of the putter in accordance with
the weather.
On slow winter greens you may prefer a heavier club head, while in the
summer; a light club head will be better for judging distance on very
fast greens. These putters have weight ports or plates that can be
exchanged or adjusted.
Getting The Ball Rolling...
Getting roll on the ball is key to prevent the ball from skidding off it's course on the way to the hole. This is done via a strong connection by the club face which promotes topspin and keeps the ball on course to the hole. Manufacturers pitch various ways to do this, especially as there is no set science or restrictions on how to design the club. Again, putters offer a grand array of design choices to assist you in getting the ball in the hole, so we suggest visiting a store like ours to try out as many putters as you can on a real or artificial green.
The Dreaded "Yips"
"Yips" are jitters and twitches that affect between one third and one half of all mature golfers, and sadly lead to players giving up on golf altogether. No brand thus far has been able completely improve your putting stroke scientifically.
However, if
you suffer from the “yips”, try out a putter that is heavily weighted at the head and butt of the
club and alleviates symptoms of the Yips. Typically this means involving the larger muscles in the shoulders rather than the smaller ones in the fingers and wrists.
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