Putter Fitting – The Most Important Club to Custom Fit
Golfers use the putter more than any other club in the bag, yet Putter fitting rarely gets the attention it deserves. 43% of the average golfer’s shots during a round of golf are struck with the putter. Yet how do most golfers buy a putter? By trial and error, with the emphasis put almost entirely on its appearance or what pro on tour plays the particular model instead of the 4 critical putter fitting elements which, if properly fit, could strip strokes off your score.
Granted, if the golfer isn’t positive about 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 help lower your score.
Putter Length
When you consider 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, consistent, repeating putting stroke. Having the arms scrunched up into the body or stretched out to the point of tension while stroking the putt is not conducive to putting consistency.
Putter LoftÂ
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 likely need more loft. Does the golfer adopt a wristy putting stroke or do they position the ball ahead of the center to front of their stance? If so, they may need a lower loft. Do keep in mind that bending the hosel of a putter to change loft will cause the putter head to fall into an open or closed face position when the sole of the putter is rested on the ground. If the hosel is bent to change loft, the golfer will have to consciously hold the putter face square behind the ball to be able to benefit from the loft change.Â
Putter Lie Angle
Since putters do have a little bit of loft, typically between 3 and 5 degrees, that means if the toe or the heel of the putter is tilted 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 adding a substantial amount of 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 has proven 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. Counterweighting only works with conventional putters. The most likely candidates for success with a putter counterweight are golfers who struggle with one or more of the following problems in their putting – 1) tendency to push or pull the putt; 2) distance control; 3) hitting putts off-center frequently.Â
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!
Tom
Just had a LA Golf graphite putter shaft installed into a Scotty Newport 2. Swingweight was D8 with Scotty grip. I changed to a SuperStroke grip that was 25g lighter so was going to insert a 25g weight into the SuperStroke grip but it won’t fit. Now Swingweight is E4. Are graphite putter shafts typically smaller diameter than steel?
CLIFF I am sorry but I am not 100% sure I understand your situation. Are you saying the grip core size won’t fit over the shaft’s butt diameter or are you saying you can’t get a 25g weight into the putter grip because the weight’s diameter is different than the core of the grip?? If you want to bring the swingweight down by adding weight in the butt end, you can always use a counter weight or even a Clevis pin from a hardware store inserted down the butt of the shaft with the grip then installed over the butt… Read more »
Hi tom. I went for an edel putter fitting about 3 months ago. Was so excited to finally find end the search for something that I knew fit me perfectly. The fitting determined that I needed a zero offset neck. The sO neck style had me lining up the laser perfectly. Also the fitter said I needed some weight under the grip. 3 weeks later my putter arrived; I’ve never had such a hard time finding the sweet spot on the putter. Also, I really struggle over short putts now. I feel maybe it’s because this putter is toe down… Read more »
MARK: Situations such as what you describe in terms of lack of performance should always be handled by a back and forth between you and the clubfitter. Really do try to focus on what you seem to feel and notice about everything in the stroke with the putter when you are in the fitting shop making everything vs when you are outside not doing well. You will need to try to spend enough time to be able to offer comments to the clubfitter about what you feel, sense when you putt poorly vs putt well with the putter. Of course… Read more »
Tom, In my eternal quest for optimal putting, the current weapon i am working with is a smooth 5 i got last year. I am playing without weights in the head currently, with a medium size grip(~80g). I really like the soft feel off the polished aluminum and i like the visual of a semi-mallet/extended block flange look. The material and in-between blade/mallet look is why i chose it. ( after having a great fitting experience with your 560 irons and 775 hybrids). I need to tweak the alignment of the shaft a little (i have a single bend ust… Read more »
JON Lots to go over based on your questions, so please bear with me as I address your questions one by one. 1. You’re going to have to be the judge of how much of a length reduction you need/want because for me to offer any assistance, I would have to see you set up to the putter and execute your stroke to get a feel for what length may be better based on what change in stance/posture you have in mind that brings about your desire to go shorter by a lot. As to the headweight, this too is… Read more »
I have a Yes! Hannah mallet face balanced putter. I shortened the shaft by 2″ so that my arms hang straight down when I putt (before cutting it this worked best as it took out the parameter sensitivity of crooked elbows, but I had to almost grip onto the metal shaft). Now I short my putts (10 three putts yesterday). I understand swing weight and MOI. But it seems that at the relatively slow speed of the putter head these should not have a great influence. Is it not more the momentum “feel” that must be recreated, in which case… Read more »
Cecil: Even though the putter is only swung at a very slow speed compared to the full swing clubs, there is no question that putting consistency relies HEAVILY on the elements of weighting of the putter. This can be the swingweight, the total weight or the grip end weighting of the putter or all three. Each golfer can definitely be a little different in terms of how/what the weighting of the putter needs to be to enable them to achieve their most consistent putting stroke. You certainly could experiment with putting lead tape on the putter head to try that.… Read more »
Want to make custom counter balanced putter, using 400g putter head, the putter is face balanced.
My question is the putter has a double bend shaft in inserted into the heel of the putter head, I would like it to have some toe flow. Wondering if I install single bend shaft will this have the desired effect. The company offers a CB putter but is more toe hang than i want and plumbers neck.
Alan: What makes a putter to be face balanced is when the straight portion of the shaft lines up with the center line of the head from a face to back direction. This is of course easier to achieve when the bore for the shaft is closer to the middle or centerline of the putter head. But it is possible to achieve a face balanced putter when the bore is toward the heel side of the face center line – it just means one of the bends on the shaft has to be made so that the straight portion of… Read more »
Tom, just watching the Women’s US Open. They were saying Michelle Wie had just had her putter bent 4.5 degrees recently. And she’s putting way better than in the past. Even the pros need proper fitting for their particular swing characteristics, right.
Thanks, Dan
Dan
Absolutely, although many of the tour pros’ putter fitting needs come about once they make this or that change in their stance, posture, technique so as to then get the putter best fit to however they choose to putt. For so many of the pros, the most key elements in putter fitting will be the combination of overall weight + headweight so as to better match to their sense of stroke feel and timing, then the length, loft, lie and the size and feel of the grip.
TOM
Tom,
I have a Scotty Cameron Futura X Counterbalance putter. I’m trying to put an extension in it. However, when I took the grip off I couldn’t take out the counter weight that was under the grip. I thought it was epoxied in, but I heated it up and that didn’t work. Do you know how to remove this counter weight? Thanks for your help.
JOHN:
Sorry but we don’t typically look at any other companies’ clubs so without seeing it in person, we can’t offer any recommendations. You’re just going to have to call Titleist and see if they can direct your call to someone who knows.
TOM
Tom, Is there any type of ratio for counter balancing a putter, i.e. headweight:butt-end weight/grip weight? I have a 35″ putter that has a headweight of 350g and I will be extending to 37-38″ and adding a grip that weighs 129g. I’ve been trying to breakdown the weight ratios from the Odyssey Tank putters, the TaylorMade Daddy Long Legs and Spider Blade, and the new Scotty Cameron Futura X Dual balance to figure out what size counter weight I want to add to my shaft. I’ve putted with all 3 in a store quite a few times and like the… Read more »
DREW: At this point, no one who is working with putter counterweighting is talking about any type of ratio in weight compared to any other area of the putter, including the headweight. The reason is because what makes counterweighting work to calm down the putting stroke and offer better consistency is plain and simple, having much more weight IN THE HANDS during the stroke which has the effect of calming down the stroke and offering better fine motor control during the stroke. So this is not a matter of weight ratios or anything like that. And with this, the counter… Read more »
I have been fitting putters for over 8 years and I use the Kirk Currie method. He considered 6 areas: Length, Lie, Offset, Loft, Head Weight and counter balance weight. I have found that swing weight is irrelevant with putting. The head weight is important and if weights can be adjusted or with the use of lead tape, but to find what the player likes in his hands. The offset has really proven to work with aiming. It is amazing when the offset is changed how much better the players aim becomes and how much better they role the ball… Read more »
DOUG Yes, we do stock the balance certified counterweights in the 12, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100 gram weights, and next year we will add on the 150g counterweight. Of course, the weights used much more for putter fitting are the 60. 80, 100 and 150 will be as well – with the most commonly used being the 80 and 100 so far. These are all made with the flange on the end to fit into the hole cut into the end of the grip with the cutter tool. They could be used without a grip on the putter,… Read more »
i just got a belly putter and i anchor it to my left forearm [ Matt Kutcher style ].This seems to de-loft the putter.My question is can loft be added ? It is a Cleveland 17-4 4009 .
MIKE I’m sorry but when I went to the Cleveland Golf website, I could not find a putter with the number 4009. They showed 7 different putters, but I was not able to tell which one you have. But I will tell you briefly about putter loft bending adjustment. It is possible to bend the hosel or shaft of a putter to change the loft. This is FAR easier to do if there is an actual hosel sticking up from the head into which a straight shaft is installed, than if the putter has no hosel and has the shaft… Read more »
I make my own putter grips that are oversized with adjustable weighting options. It can hold nearly as much additional weight in tungsten as the average putter head, thus balancing the entire club. Up to 10 oz., in 1/2 oz. increments in teh belly side of the grip. Weighting this extreme, looses all head weight sensation, and allows the stroke to be very smooth, slow, and percise. It takes some getting use to this much counterbalancing, One thing I’ve noticed with golfers giving it a try for the first time, they leave it short, but thats a common stat anyway.… Read more »
Since putter heads weigh in the area of 335 grams, I would think putting up to this much weight in the grip end of the putter would most definitely reduce the feel of the putter head to the point that it could be more difficult to putt consistently. When we advocate counter balancing for putters, the most commonly used and most successful counter weight amounts are 80g and 100g placed in the very end of the shaft under the end of the grip. There is a special tool available with the counterweights which enables you to open the grip end… Read more »
Hi Tom, I recently had a putter fitted and customized and so far things have been working great! The customization and a putter stroke lesson have worked together beautifully. I’m practicing and feeling more confidence as i step over puts on the course! I must say however that I’m a bit of a perfectionist and have been thinking about my mishits as they generally follow a certain pattern — long lag putts are often left enormously short either because of misjudging the distance or because of off center hits; and when old swing habits creep up, my stroke is sometimes… Read more »
The following is from Cameron’s website regarding swing weights with the different headweights installed…how is this affected by the counterweight that I have installed??
34″
10g weights (C7-C9)
15g weights (D2-D4)
20g weights (D7-D9)
25g weights(E2-E4)
JOSH: When a golfer decides to use a counterweight, he has to do so with the understanding that he no longer will be concerned about the swingweight of the putter. This is because for each 4 grams of counterweight put into the butt end of the putter shaft, the swingweight is going to drop by around 1 swt point. The reason a golfer uses a counterweight in the first place is because with a normal putter built to a swingweight and with no weight in the grip end, he is not putting as well or controlling the putter as smoothly… Read more »
JOSH: I think I addressed some things related to this second post you made. But let me add some things. We and many of our clubmakers have found that in the PUTTER, use of a much heavier counterweight works FAR BETTER than if the counterweight is lighter. We’re talking about a 60, 80 or 100 gram counterweight put into the very butt end of the putter. In keeping track of the counterweight successes of the clubmakers, most find that an 80g counterweight is the most common for helping a golfer calm down the putting stroke, while a few others have… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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.
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
Tom, my new putter has a head weight of 343 grams as compared to my old putter which was 355 grams. My old putter had a 80 gram TLP counter weight in the butt end or grip. Any recommendations on a weight size for my new putter. The 80gram seems to make the head feel a little light.
Thank You
ROB If in fact you do sense the head feels too light when using an 80g counterweight in the putter, then you have two options. One wold be to use a lighter counterweight which will shift the balance point of the putter toward the head, thus allowing you to feel the presence of the head during the stroke a little more than when the 80g counterweight was used. The other option is of course to add weight to the head and leave the 80g counterweight in the end of the shaft. Adding weight to a putter head can typically only… Read more »
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.
Does Alan’s custom clubs have a loft/lie machine for putters and can fit me for a putter? I will be in the Ft.Collins area on 12/05/14. Thanks! Ed. (very much have enjoyed your books on custom club making)
ED:
While we do screen the clubmakers that we put up on our FIND A CLUBFITTER locator search tool on our website, we do not keep a list of all the different tools and machines that they may have in their shop because these things change over time. While most all of the clubfitters will be equipped with a bending machine for iron and wedge loft/lie adjustment, some do and some do not have a specialized putter bending machine. So the best thing to do is to call Alan and ask him directly.
Thanks very much,
TOM