You can drive the ball more than 300 yards every time and play a perfect 9-iron to the green, but if you can't putt when you get there, you are only playing half the game. Your comfort level with your putter depends on a number of factors, many of which are subjective, but there are some general rules you should follow before you select the perfect club.
Step 1
Determine the appropriate length for your stance. Putters off the rack are standardized at between 32 and 36 inches. These lengths work for most putting styles and for golfers of most any height. Your posture during the putt is the determining factor of club length. If you tend to bend over the ball, a shorter putter is required, while golfers who stand almost straight up will require a longer club shaft. Belly putters, or those that are extra long and extend to rest in the mid-section, are specialty items that are helpful to keep the club steady, but the unnatural feel is a turn-off to many golfers.
Step 2
Work with the pro at the shop to evaluate your stance and swing. Putters are generally toe-mounted, heel-mounted or face mounted. If your swing is straight forward and back, you would likely do well with a face-mounted putter. Those with wider arcs on their putting stroke might choose the toe- or heel-mounted types.
Step 3
Schedule a formal fitting with a golf pro before you put down a lot of money on an expensive putter. Most shops will do fittings for as little as $25 dollars, and often that cost goes toward the purchase of the putter. In your fitting session, the pro might use a collection of gadgets aimed at evaluating wrist action, swing shape and club-head speed. Others may just take you to the putting green, where they will evaluate you by sitght and make the appropriate recommendations.
Step 4
Use an online club fitter. They are interactive modules into which you'll enter your height, weight, stance, stroke path and more. You can then take what you learn about your optimal putter size to the pro shop to try out a few that fit the recommendations.
Tips and Warnings
- Lighter putters allow you to control the club head speed with your swing; heavier putters use the momentum of the club to generate power in the swing.
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