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