The Art of the Golf Putter: Step up Your Game with the Right Putter
When people imagine golf, they are often picturing the large clubheads on drivers and a pro expertly driving the golf ball high into the air and far into the distance. This is definitely an important and exciting part of golf.
But after you’ve launched it expertly into the green, you still need to bring it home. And for that, you need a well-crafted golf putter to get the job done right. You also need to practice putting a lot more often.
In this article, you’ll learn the important aspects to look at when shopping for a golf putter and discover some helpful putter accessories like a putter alignment aid or the putter arc training aid.
With this information, you can make a better informed purchase and get a putter that will work with you to help you take strokes off your golf game and lower your handicap.
The Anatomy of a Golf Putter
There are 4 key things you need to be looking at when choosing a golf putter:
- Weight: you need to get a putter that is a good weight for you and the ideal weight will depend on the length (see below). But basically, you want the head to be on the heavier side so that you get a natural swing to it (think like a pendulum). But it shouldn’t be so overweight that you struggle to comfortably swing it.
- Putter Length: the length you need depends on your height, naturally. Taller people need longer putter shafts. This is because no matter your height, you want to be able to adopt the same posture. A tall person with a really short putter will need to bend down too far, taking them out of correct posture. Test out a few putters and see which one feels most comfortable when you are standing in correct posture.
- Head: the head of your putter is where a lot of the most interesting innovation comes in and there’s no hard and fast rule about what you should get. It’s your preference. There are different shapes and sizes that are meant to accomplish different things.
- For beginners, we recommend a mallet head as this is more forgiving and you’ll have an easier time actually hitting the ball.
- For seasoned golfers, we recommend trying out a blade head which is more of a challenge but also gives you more control and precision in your put.
- Balance point: putters are usually either “face balanced” or “toe balanced”. Face balanced means the weight is concentrated in the face (the flat edge which will strike the ball). Toe balanced means the weight is concentrated in the toe (the outer point of the head).
- If you are more comfortable doing a square-to-square stroke, use a face-balanced putter. If you prefer an arc stroke, opt for a toe balance.
The best way to shop for a putter if you have never bought one before is to consult a professional (preferably a golf trainer) and do a “fitting” to find out what kind of putting style is best for you and what kind of putter best suits your style, height, and needs.
Now that you’ve read through the breakdown of a golf putter, you should check out some putter reviews to see what’s out there and what best meets your needs. You should also consider some accessories to help you improve your putting and take better care of your golf putter.
Putter Accessories for Improving your Putting
One of the most important things you can do to help your putting game is to take care of your putter. Putter covers keep the clubhead safe from scratches, dings, and damage from the elements so it will stay in mint condition for longer.
You can also get aids that help you work on your alignment including a putter alignment laser that uses laser technology to illuminate a direct path from your ball to your target. This really helps with learning as it helps you clearly visualize where you need to aim and how far you have to put the ball.
You can also use a simple putting arc which is a device that you place next to your golf ball to help guide your putter so that you can get a feel for proper putting movement. The arc putting stroke is a more natural, comfortable way of putting that mimics a full swing (but much smaller and gentler version). The arc training aid helps you perfect this.
Beginners or anyone who feels that there putting game is not what it should be might also consider large putter grips. These can help make the weight and feel of your putter a little more comfortable.
But before you buy a big grip, try out different ones (including swinging the putter a few times with no added grip). See what your baseline skill level is so that you’ll be able to tell which accessories can actually help and which are a waste of money.
So as you shop for a putter, keep in mind what you want to look for in the different parts of the putter itself and decide which accessories for you putter you would see the most benefit from.
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