Choosing A Golf Putter

Three Basic Things to consider When Choosing a Golf Putter

While you should definitely study the differences between irons and woods when shopping for golf clubs, it is important to be just as diligent when choosing a golf putter. Without the right putter, you could end up wasting a lot of strokes on the putting green, preventing you from reaching certain benchmarks. Take a little time test driving different styles to find the right one that feels good in your hands.

Choose a Putter with the Right Head Shape

A putter in golf falls into three primary styles: cavity style, blade style and a mallet design. With the cavity design, the head has a hollow spot in the back middle of the putter which produces a bigger area in which to align the ball. With the cavity-type model, the weight of the putter is distributed more toward the edges of the putter's head.

The blade putter style typically distributes the club head's weight at the bottom of the putter. This leaves you a thinner viewpoint to look at when you are negotiating the ball line-up. This style is the most popular because it is quite versatile on a number of putting greens.

Larger than other golf putters, the mallet design often includes alignment systems. With the mallet style, there are a variety of shapes and weight distributions to consider. While not as popular as the blade style, the mallet offers more forward control and largely prevents the twisting motions that may occur with lighter clubs.

Determining the Alignment System of your Putter

You will discover that there are different types of alignment systems. No one system is better than the other so let your preference or whatever feels comfortable be your guide. The alignment system is like a visual aid which helps you align the putter to the hole. Some clubs will use double lines, a large round dot or even one line as a guide for alignment. Test different putters to see which one offers the best alignment for your shot.

Club Head Insert Options

Inserts are made from various materials which are placed on the head of the putter that comes in contact with the golf ball. While you do not technically have to have an insert, sometimes they do come in handy to absorb the impact of the hit or even change the dynamics of it. Inserts comprised of metal offer immediate feedback on how effective your swing was. These metal inserts may be smooth or milled with ridges. You might find plastic, wood or even rubberized inserts too – each with individual properties that can change how the golf ball moves when you hit it. The bottom line is that inserts can reduce skipping when the putter comes in contact with the ball as well as change the feel of the impact.

The only way you will truly find the right putter is through trial and error. Many golf stores will have putting greens so you can test different types of clubs. The more comfortable you are holding the putter, the more successful you likely will be. Choosing a golf putter will take time because you must research the blade types, alignment systems and inserts to find the best combination to improve your score.