Golfers use the putter more than any other club in the bag, yet it Putter fitting rarely gets the attention it deserves. 43% of the average golfer’s shots are struck with the putter. Yet how do most golfers buy a putter? By trial and error, with the emphasis put almost entirely on the “look” or the design features of the putter head, instead of the 4 critical putter fitting elements which, if properly fit, could strip strokes off your score.
Granted, it’s a fact – if the golfer isn’t confident with the look of the putter behind the ball, they won’t have the confidence or the ability to accurately line up the putt. On the other hand, if the putter’s Length, Loft, Lie and overall weight balance are not matched to each golfer’s style of putting, there is little chance the putter will lower your score.
Putter Length
When you think that golfers are so different in their height, arm length and putting posture, it’s logical to think that the length of the putter must be custom fit to ensure a smooth putting stroke. Arms scrunched up into the body or stretched out to the point of tension while stroking the putt are not conducive to putting consistency.
Putter Loft
The loft of the putter must be matched to the golfer’s hand position at impact to ensure the ball rolls smoothly. Does the golfer forward press to start their stroke or position the ball back of center in their stance? If so, they need more loft. Is the golfer a wristy putter or do they position the ball ahead of the center to front of their stance? If so, they may need less loft.
Putter Lie Angle
Since putters do have loft, that means if the toe or the heel of the putter is off the ground at impact, the face is pointing somewhere other than the intended target line. For consistent accuracy, the putter’s lie angle must be adjusted for each golfer so the putter sits perfectly in the center of the sole from heel to toe.
Putter Weight Balance
There is a weight balance for putters that will allow every golfer to be more consistent. One of the most interesting developments in modern putter fitting is to add weight in the grip end of the putter. Counterweighting, as it is called, with a 60 to 100 gram weight installed in the grip end of the shaft is proving to allow many golfers to develop a smoother stroke which results in more on center hits with the putter and more consistent distance control of the putt.
When you think about custom fit golf clubs or when you act to book a custom Clubfitting appointment, be sure you talk to your custom Clubmaker about fitting for the putter too. If you do, your handicap index will be on its way to heading south on a permanent basis. So don’t hesitate, go and FIND A CLUBFITTER and you will most definitely see dramatic improvements in your putting this year!
About Tom Wishon
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Great thoughts on putter fitting. However, there are couple of more factors that come to mind. One is the grip. K.J. Choi for example with his large grip. Grip shape and feel can affect the stroke.
One more factor that is key for many golfers is the putter’s shape. The way a putter looks (head shape, offset, alignment marks, shaft bend, etc.) can sometimes affect how it can be aimed. A putter that naturally points in the desired direction can go a long way to having a putting stroke without any manipulations to correct for miss-aim.
I have a 365 gram head but don’t use a counter weight in the grip…would you suggest starting with a 60 gram weight?
Brian:
With putters, and with one that has a 365g headweight which is higher than normal, I’d start with an 80g counter weight to better offset that much headweight.
TOM
I have finally found a putter I am able to swing back-thru without
my hands twitch/twisting/rotating. I am curious of the characteristic that makes this putter easy to putt with.
It is the new Ping Sydney 33″ and I love it but not ready to drop
$250 for one.
Anybody know if a putter could be buikt to match this?
It appears to have a great balance feel between the grip end and
putter head itself. I would like someone to check this putter out
and give me some feedback if possible.
Hi Tom, Just discovered your fitting service and very, very satisfied. Not thought of fitting a putter tho’.
Recently had a 2 Thumb (the make & type) grip added to an Odyssey putter because I wanted to make my body square to the putting line. However I found the most benefit came from its built-in counterweight, its been great at improving my distance control.
What are your views on 2 thumb grips and if your putter is already counterweighted, wouldn’t the addition of more counterweight from the 2 Thumb grip be too much?
BILL
You hit a big part of the nail on the head by recognizing that a very large and heavier 2 Thumb putter grip will definitely work like a counter weight on the putter. For MANY golfers, having a lot more weight in their hands will help calm the stroke action to bring about more putting consistency. Whether adding a high amount of weight to the grip end of the putter should be done with a huge, heavy grip or with a counter weight secured in the end of the shaft depends on the golfer’s grip size preference. If you like a really big grip, then fine. If you don;t, then you have to go with the counterweight inside the end of the shaft with a normal putter grip installed.
But no question that how every golfer perceives the FEEL of the putter grip is just as important if not more important for doing all that can be done to make each golfer’s putting stroke action be controlled and repeatable.
TOM
Is there any advantage to adding butt weight to a belly putter
39 through 42″ with a 17 to 20″ grip and a 350, or a 450 gram mallot head?
Vern:
I don’t believe that there is any real effect on performance of a belly putter that you put a heavy counter weight into the grip end or for using a heavier grip. The reason is because the very butt end of the grip is anchored to the body and remains in that position during the stroke. The reason counterweighting in the butt works with a conventional putter is because the grip end is moving through the stroke. Thus having more weight in the hands as they move during the stroke can have the effect with a fair number of golfers to help calm down the hands to thus allow the hands to move in a more controlled manner to offer more stroke consistency. With the grip end anchored, that negates this possible improvement.
Now a heavy head most definitely will be felt when you stroke a belly putter because a substantial weight increase in the head is then far away from the hands and thus felt more pronounced – because the putter’s MOI goes way up when you put that much weight into the head, that far away from the grip end.
TOM