Choosing The Right Putter For Your Game

Today, golfers have more club options than ever before and choosing the right clubs for your game can be a daunting task. Many golfers are brand loyalists while others choose to have a “mixed bag” and play with various club generations and manufacturers. This is especially common when it comes to putters. Your performance on the green can make or break a round so putters become one of the most important clubs in your bag. Unless you sink that ace, it’s the only club you will use on every single hole.

To help determine which putter is right for you, our expert team at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club have compiled this handy guide outlining various putter styles.

SHAPE
There are three clubhead designs for putters: blade, compact mallet and mallet. Within these categories the specific shape can vary, especially with mallet putters which offer space for designers to get creative in terms.

Blade putters are what most people are likely to imagine when thinking about a putter. A narrow, elongated shape and typically centralized weight distribution allows for precision control, consistent feel and a smooth stroke. This style of putter often features a toe hang, which means the toe of the putter head hangs down slightly when balanced on a finger. Toe hang can have an impact on your stroke, catering to different types of putting techniques.

Mallet-style putters have large geometric head shapes that often feature elaborate alignment aids. The large head size allows for more weight to be distributed around the perimeter, increasing the putter's stability and forgiveness on off-center hits. With less toe hang than other styles, this type of putter is perfect for beginning golfers or anyone looking for a little extra help with their short game.

Compact mallets, as the name would suggest, offer a balance between blade and mallet style putters. The shape is smaller than the traditional mallet putter but retains some of the alignment aids and forgiveness offered by its larger counterpart. Perimeter weighting increases the MOI (moment of inertia) allowing for more wiggle room on off-center hits and providing a smoother ball roll. Compact mallet putters come in varying degrees of toe hang to suit a variety of putting styles. A good comprise, this type of putter has a solid, controlled feel at impact, similar to blade putters, with the enhanced stability of mallet-style putters.

LENGTH
Like with every club in your bag, you should get fit for your putter and let a pro help determine the exact toe hang, loft, lie, grip and hosel to suit your stroke. Think a proper fitting is overkill, think again … and read this: 3 reasons why club fittings are important.

And we’ll stay out of the semi-controversial broomstick putter debate. If you don’t know, the broomstick putter, which has been seen popping up on Tour, is an extra long shaft that is used with a sweeping type of stroke, like the motion of using a broomstick. It helps limit unwanted wrist motion and many think it provides a more stable, consistent putt.

For more tips on how to select the right clubs for your game, check out our golf tips blog: Three things to know about buying golf clubs.