Golf Putter | Make It Your Best Friend

Choosing the right putter can be the most important decision you make when it comes to your equipment. In fact, the putter is the club you use the most. Choosing the right one is like choosing a best friend. A few basic considerations to keep in mind when you are making such an important decision have to do with the bottom section or the "head" of the putter. This is where the brains of the putter are. There are other factors to consider such as the length and the grip but the brains of your best friend will be the most important part of choosing the right putter. Before looking at all of these considerations, let us first consider the most important part of this club known as the "head" of the putter.

The head is the most important part of the putter because it is the place where your ball will make contact on the green. The material in the head affects the way the ball moves and its direction across the green. Cheap or "dumb" putters are usually made of lighter plastic, zinc or aluminum. The lighter material requires you to hit the ball even harder on the green and allows for more mistakes. "Smart", quality putters will usually incorporate stainless steel, titanium or brass. They can also have some wood mixed in or can be made of a combination of these other materials to create a more solid head. The difference will be felt when you hit the ball. On a slow green, the ball will move a lot easier. On a fast green, it will seem that you hardly have to hit it at all.

Perimeter weighting and Lie-angle - Two other important considerations in the head of the putter are perimeter weighting and lie-angle. Perimeter weighting has to do with the size and shape of the head. If you look, you will see a recess in the center of the head. This recess makes it possible for the weight of the head to be distributed in the toe and the heel which is preferable. The other important factor is the lie-angle in the putter head. This tells you whether the putter is sitting flat against the ground when you hold it. Put yourself in your most comfortable stance and ask the salesman to check this for you. If the putter head is not sitting flat against the ground, you may need to have it adjusted.

Length and Grip - Two final things to consider in a putter are the length and the grip. The standard length of a putter is thirty-five inches. If you tend to stand upright, you may want it longer. If you bend over a lot, a shorter putter may be necessary. There are also various grips to consider so that a golfer with smaller hands may need a smaller diameter grip and vice versa. Most importantly, choose a putter that looks and feels comfortable to you because this is going to be your best friend! With these considerations in mind, you will know that you have definitely chosen the right putter for you.

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