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