How To Choose The Best Putter

The golfer has a wide choice of putters and putter styles to choose from today. But which one is best? There is no simple answer to this question. Putter designers are constantly working to create the perfect putter. The best putter is one you are comfortable with, that fits your own personal putting style.

Feel comfortable with your putter

You should feel comfortable with your putter's length and swing weight. When you test drive a putter, get into your putting stance as if you were addressing the ball. Take a few practice strokes. Move your arms and shoulders together. Do you get a sense and feel from this putter that gives you confidence?

Putter lengths are usually from 33 to 35 inches long. Your height and how much you crouch in addressing the ball will help determine the best length of putter for you.

What type of putting stroke do you prefer?

The putter face must be square at impact. It must align perfectly with your target line when you strike the ball sending it precisely along that line and into the hole.

Golfers use a variety of putting styles and swing paths to square the putter face at impact.

Face-balanced putter. One type of putter style is the face-balanced putter. The shaft connects with the putter closer to the center of putter head than to the heel. This makes it somewhat easier for players who like to keep the putter face square through the arc of their swing. In all honesty, I am uncomfortable with this stroke -- it seems unnatural. It seems that you're twisting the club a bit to keep it square during the backswing. Other players may feel differently.

Heel shafted putter. Not all players are comfortable with a face-balanced putter. They prefer a different putting swing. The arc traced by their putter head begins with a slighly inside backswing which rotates the putter face slightly open. The downswing brings the putter face back to square at impact. Follow through continues slightly inside. The best putter for these players is one where the shaft connects with the putter head close to the heel. This is sometimes called the heel shafted putter. This is the type of putter and putting stroke used by Phil Mickelson, an acknowledged master of the short game. But not every player is comfortable with this stroke. The putter face must rotate back to exactly square at impact. This takes practice and a consistent putting stroke.

Chose a putter that is best for you. When all is said and done, a putter that you are comfortable with and fits your own putting style is the "best putter."

Remember that the putter is used more that any other club in your golf bag. Don't neglect your putting. Spend disciplined time on the practice green. Become totally familiar with all the details of your putter and your putting style. You may get to know your putter so well that you'll name it -- Bobby Jones named his trusted putter "Calamity Jane."

Seek help from an expert golf instructor. See your local pro or get onboard with an excellent team of golf instructions online, They can help you fix your golf swing.