| Shave Some Strokes off your Golf Score | | | | wrong and you need to go putter shopping. Make sure |
| No matter what your golf score, about 42% of all your | | | | to determine the appropriate shaft length. If you can |
| strokes are taken with a putter. That is a sobering | | | | find a putter on line that you like with the correct shaft |
| statistic. While golfers spend hours reading reviews | | | | length, go for it. Otherwise, you need to consider a |
| and discussing the various aspects of the new high | | | | custom fitted golf putter. |
| tech woods and irons, in some cases their putter was | | | | Other important factors include club head design, putter |
| probably a gift or won at a golf outing. Many golfers | | | | face loft angle and the new putter inserts that are |
| choose a putter based on the intangible "feel". At best, | | | | becoming quite popular. |
| the selection criteria probably wasn't remotely close to | | | | The club head design is a matter of personal choice |
| the effort expended selecting the remaining clubs. | | | | and comfort. The traditional blade putter are thin and |
| If that sounds like you, you're not alone. If you are not | | | | usually carry the weight in both the heel and the toe. |
| using the right putter for your size and stroke, it is | | | | They have been around for years and they are what |
| almost impossible to have a consistent and successful | | | | they are. |
| putting method. The right putter may be a great way | | | | The mallet style putters have more weight in the club |
| to shave enough strokes off your game to break | | | | head and, most importantly, they are easier to align |
| ninetyor at least have old Angus buy the rounds at the | | | | than the bladed putters. |
| 19th hole. | | | | The alignment putter is an improvement on the mallet |
| The most important part of putter selection is shaft | | | | putter and offers different alignment features that help |
| length. Stock putter lengths tend to be standard, which | | | | putt the ball on the target line. Try them all out and |
| is great if you are of average height and average | | | | choose the one that feels best in your hands. |
| putting stance. If not, your putter's base is probably not | | | | Putter inserts are technology's contribution to putting |
| lying perfectly flat on the ground, or you are adjusting | | | | the golf ball. While design and components vary, the |
| your stance. A subtle change which can dramatically | | | | purpose is to get the ball rolling smoothly towards the |
| affect your stroke and, unfortunately, the results. | | | | cup and reducing the dreaded skipping along the green |
| If the putter's toe is slightly off the ground, there is a | | | | putt. |
| tendency to pull the putt to the left. It stands to reason | | | | It is also important to consider your putter's loft. You |
| that if the heel of the putter is slightly elevated, the putt | | | | can change the loft of a putter, helpful on slow greens, |
| will move to the right. The angle of the shaft to the | | | | by putting the ball off the front part of your foot. Loft |
| putter head perfectly flat on the green is sometimes | | | | requirements relate more to the type of green than a |
| called the lie angle. | | | | golfers individual preference. For example, Bermuda |
| The standard shaft length for putters is 35", but the | | | | grass greens require a bit more loft than the more |
| overall length can range from 32" to 52". If you are | | | | traditional bent grass. Check out the greens on your |
| taller or shorter than average, your lie angle is going to | | | | course before making a putter face loft decision. |
| be wrong and you can absolutely count on missing | | | | Finally, consider the putter's weight, grip and the hosel |
| two or three makeable putts every round. You start | | | | (neck). The weight rule is simple. The slower the |
| thinking you are a poor putter and lose some | | | | stroke, the heavier the putter. The grip should be |
| confidence, when actually you have the wrong putter. | | | | comfortable and designed to reduce that old bugaboo, |
| This problem is exacerbated as more and more | | | | wrist movement. The hosel places the ball directly |
| golfers start using the pendulum stroke, which | | | | under or ahead of the shaft. The more the putter is |
| completely changes the shaft length. | | | | offset, the more the hands will be in front of the golf |
| Check your lie angle by standing in front of a full length | | | | ball when the putt is struck. The face balanced or |
| mirror and getting into your putting stance as though | | | | center shafted putter, where the putter's shaft and |
| you are putting into the mirror. Don't use a golf ball. Get | | | | hosel are more in the center, help the golfer who |
| into a completely and totally comfortable putting | | | | wants to keep the club face square with the ball |
| stance. Place your hands on the grip where it is most | | | | throughout the swing. Use your finger to balance your |
| comfortable, not to make the putter lie flat. Then, look | | | | putter. If the putter's face points up, it is face balanced. |
| into the mirror. If the club head is not perfectly flat on | | | | Take some time to find the putter that is best for your |
| the floor or rug, the shaft length and/or the lie angle is | | | | game. All you can save are strokes. |