Putters

Putting is the easiest part of the game in terms of cutting strokes or ballooning your score to the stratosphere. Having the right putter can make all the difference on the course and allow you to feel more confident standing over a ball thirty feet from the cup. When choosing a putter, you'll want to consider your stroke, different lengths, and head styles, as well as the grip which also impacts the way that you control the putter throughout your stroke.

Putting Stroke

Putters are designed with two different putting strokes in mind—the arc stroke and the

straight stroke. Knowing which way you choose to putt is key in determining which style of putter you should buy.

• Straight Stroke (Straight back, straight through): Keeping the clubface square to the ball and the target line is the key to this stroke. No clubface turning should happen. As such, the putters that are best for this stroke style will have shaft connections that encourage a more linear stroke. Many of these putters are going to have shafts that fall straight into the clubhead, either on the heel end or in the center shaft position.
• The Arc Stroke: This putting style believes in following the natural curvature that your shoulders create as you rock them back and through the ball. Putter heads that are designed for this style of stroke have what is known as “toe hand” when balanced on the finger—where the clubhead will tilt instead of remaining flat. All of this allows the clubhead to return to the ball square and turn the proper amount throughout the stroke.

Head Style

There are three main head styles that putters are categorized into are blade, mallet, and high MOI.

• Blade: A blade putter is one of the most commonly sought after by golf enthusiasts because Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods both use blade-style putters and have both had magnificent careers. These putters generally offer the golfer a heightened sense of feel and touch, as there is little added to aid in the putting stroke.
• Mallet: A mallet putter has a little more mass added to the back of the putter which can help a golfer line up their putts on the green. The most common shapes for a mallet putter are the fang head shape and the half-circle, which is currently in Jon Rahm's bag!
• High MOI: High Moment of Inertia (MOI) putters are designed to help golfers lag their balls closer to the hole by adding mass to the head of the putter. Examples of this putter are the Spider EX and the Triple Track Ten. These putters are made with the amateur golfer in mind, as they can help get the ball rolling to the hole and reduce the length of second putts if necessary.

Putter Length

As your height increases, so does the necessity for a longer putter. Putters are sold in three main lengths but can be customized to fit your needs, if necessary.

The three stock lengths are 33”, 34”, and 35”. Any player between 5'0” and 5'6” could probably get away with a putter of 33”, but could also add or subtract a half-inch to make it fit perfectly. Likewise, people between 5'6” and 6'0” could play a 34” putter, and anyone over 6'0” could play a 35”.

On top of these stock options, if one is a fan of golfers like Bryson DeChambeau, they may experiment with the 41” ArmLock putter. This style of putter allows the shaft to be locked against the leading forearm, creating enhanced stability and consistent lofting of the clubface.

Grips

Playing around with the style of grip on your putter can do wonders for your game. The

SuperStroke grips or other oversized grips can help to lessen the pressure of your hands on the putter, allowing you to properly rotate the club and release it well. The traditional pistol grip can work for those who want a cleaner, more old-school look. If you're unsure which grip would suit you best, chat with a Golf Expert here on Curated for clarity.

Talk with an Expert

Heard the phrase, “Drive for show, Putt for dough?” Well, Golf Experts here on Curated want to hear about those great putting rounds with your new putter and how you started building confidence and draining more putts! Your Expert will help narrow down the pool of options by considering your specific needs and get you into the best putter combination for your game. Reach out to an Expert here on Curated now and start rolling in more putts in no time!