Choosing the Correct Putter
Putter Choice/Fitting Check List
All putter designs work if they are built without short cuts. If the manufacturer remains true to the design theory and builds the putters with the intention of player success, rather than what it costs, that putter will help you succeed... IF (big if) you use it in the manner it was intended to be used. For many, what the bag looks like is more important than how it performs. Nothing wrong with that! My intent to help you play better.
As you consider any golf club, but particularly a putter, the important question is “What do I need?” instead of, “what I want?” so the following is a check list to help you decide what would best help you improve you score via a putter.
Do I need help with direction or distance control?
There is a misconception about the value of mallets or blades. The real issue is the location of the center of mass in the head (COM). Rule of thumb, if you need directional help chose a putter with the COM toward the face. If you need speed control look for a COM to be a little deeper. A word of warning, deep com mallets will create directional problems on heel and toe strikes. Bigger or deeper is not better. If you like the look of a mallet or if it gives you more confidence, you are in luck. We are seeing several manufacturers, building mallet visual profiles with face biased COM locations. A blade in mallet’s clothing. Warning #2 Some of them are better at it than others. Warning #3 Just because the footprint is big does not mean the com is deep. The LAB mallets are a notable example of big footprint-controlled COM. More on this later. But for now – Blade for Direction and Traditional Mallet for distance.
What length and lie do I need to satisfy the visual and balance requirements of my set up?
The entire reason to get fit for a putter is to find the design that is easiest for you to strike the ball with the center of the face. It is not difficult; I do it on-line every day. Just do not take a short cut. Posture will have a considerable influence on what design is easiest to aim and swing. If it is not, you are steering the putter and long term that never works. Do not fight your vision, do not force your posture.
Chose the grip that matches your tendencies before you make a design decision.
In most fitting protocols grip is an afterthought. That is why I use and recommend round grips. It eliminates the problems that are created by a bad grip selection. Everything that happens to the putter while in motion is created at the hands. Up, down, open, closed one or all of these happens because your hands move there first. What are your trail hand tendencies? Where does the lead hand need to be to control the trail hand? Torque is the hot topic these days, and rightfully so. But do not over-look the hands as the greatest source of torque. I once had an out of body experience with a LAB Link.1 and an oversized round Golf Pride Wrap grip. There is a reason I recommend round on my designs. I have been trying to reduce putter influence for most of my career. Understanding the grip was the final piece of the puzzle for my designs. If I cannot convince you on trying a round grip, make very sure the putter grip you chose fits where your hands want to go and not where the grip prefers. JJ Spaun is a perfect example. He knows a Ping Man style grip was the best fit for him. He put that grip on his LAB Directed Force and look at the results. I do not know this as fact, but I would bet that any putter experiment JJ has tried over the years all started with that grip. It puts his hands where they need to be.
As a side note. The JJ’s Lab DF design was weighted specifically for that grip. Just another reason to consider the grip first. Does it work with the design I am considering? LAB had the ability and expertise to create a perfect fit within their design. Not all companies are willing to go the extra step. They just use marketing to misdirect you away from what you need.
I could on forever I suppose on this topic. I hope this is a good lead into a deeper discussion about putter design and what works for you. Gratefully, I have a lot of cool things going on right now and still learning every day. I hope you will continue to follow as I share what I am learning.