Buying a New Putter

Mon Nov 12, 2012 by Dave Phillips

Buying a new putter?
 
There are two basic putter fundamentals you want to check the next time you decide to buy a new putter: shaft length and offset.  Both help you create a nice arch stroke that is preferred by the world’s best putters.  The arch stroke looks like you take the putter back slightly inside, and follow through slightly inside.  
 
The most important aspect to a putter and your putting style is finding the correct length shaft. 
The length of the shaft determines path and lie.  If the ball is too close to your feet because the putter is too short, your style tends to create a more straight-back-straight-through stroke.  The heel of the putter may come off the ground making it difficult to make solid contact.  Sometimes players bend their putters upright to correct this ball position problem, but their path is still an issue. 
 
Conversely, if your putter is too long and the ball is too far way from your feet, your body tends create a stroke that loops too far inside.  The toe of the putter may come off the ground making it difficult to make solid contact as well.  Players with putters that are too long usually bend their putters flat, but again their path is still an issue. 
 
The second most important aspect to buying a new putter is based on your eye dominance.  If you do not know your eye dominance, check out my article on eye dominance.

Right eye dominant players usually prefer putters with minimal offsets or even center shafted putters like the Scotty Cameron Red X 2.  Left eye dominant players usually prefer putters with offsets like the Scotty Cameron Newports. 
 
Putter offsets help players create a consistent setup.  Sometimes players press the shaft forward or lean the shaft back at setup but it actually appears straight up and down from the player’s point of view.  If the shaft leans too far in any direction, the resulting changes in loft will play havoc with your speed control.  An offset putter helps prevent the shaft leaning too far forward and non-offset putter helps prevent leaning the shaft too far back. 
 
If you are in the market for a new putter, have golf professional take a look at your putting style and remember the two fundamentals.  Then find a putter that looks like winner because that look should inspire confidence. 

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