Whether it is your first putter or a new putter, buying a putter should not be simply choosing the putter which you like the look of best. While it is very easy and less time consuming to look for a putter online and press the order button, this is not the way it should be done.
Before you decide which putter to buy, there are three main things you must take into consideration.
Firstly, the length of the shaft. This is arguably the most important factor when buying a putter because if you cannot get into the correct address position when over the ball, you can forget about everything else that comes after it.
So, if you go into a golf store and ask for a regular length putter and find you need to grip down on the shaft to get into the correct putting position, you will need a shorter putter. If you find you are gripping a regular length putter towards the end of the grip, you need a putter with a longer shaft.
With the correct length putter, the shaft should be in line with your forearms when at address. Many beginner golfers have putters which are too long for them and this causes problems so always check the length of the putter first.
Next you must check the balance point of the putter and there are two main considerations here which are face balanced and toe balanced.
If you like to putt with the face of the club always square on to the target throughout your putting stroke, you need to have a face balanced putter. If you have an arc stoke which means the putter face opens and closes relative to the target, you will benefit more from using a toe balanced putter.
You can ask the staff in your golf store which putters are face balanced and which are toe balance but if you hold the club in your hand, with the shaft parallel to the ground and the face of the putter is up to the sky, it is a face balanced putter.
When you walk into a golf store or browse online, you will see many different shapes of putter head ranging from blade putters to mallet putters.
This can be as much down to personal preference as anything else. However, if you are unsure, a mallet head with a sightline is often considered better for players who employ a square putting style, using a faced balanced putter.
If you are an arc putter, you will benefit more from using a blade putter.
If, as a beginner, you are uncertain on what type of putting stroke you like to use, head to your nearest golf store or pro shop and ask them for their help. You can also try different putters while you are there and make sure you get the one which best suits your game.
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