Putter Fitting
Most people never consider having their putter custom fit, although it
is the most used club in the bag. It is also a very inexpensive process
to have done and can save many shots off your round. See pricing page for charges
The BIG 5
Length - Loft - Lie - Swingweight - Head Design
Length
Putter length affects both distance and directional control and is very important regarding consistency in putting. The correct putter length depends on the type putting stroke you use. The most common and effective putting stroke today is when the golfer is slightly bent over at the waist and the knees slightly bent. The eyes should be directly over the ball, the stance is square to the putt line. Both arms are hanging down vertically and directly under the shoulders. Putter length is measured and fitted with the golfer in this position.
Most putters for men are mostly sold in 34” and 35” standard lengths and womens putters are standard at 33”. Both men and women golfers will almost always fit into shorter lengths than those offered as standard. The average length should be about 33” for men and 31” to 32 ½” for women.
The average standard length putter used on the PGA tour is 33” to 33 ½”. Length should always be the first fitting variable determined.
Loft Angle
Loft has greater effect on distance control than directional control but does affect both. A putter requires between 3º and 4 ½º of loft at the point of impact to be able to putt with any consistency. The reason why is, when the ball comes to rest on the green it settles down slightly into the grass. When you putt you do not want to drive the ball through the grass to get it rolling but rather you want to lift it out of its depression and place it up on top of the grass and rolling as soon as possible. Eliminating the possibility of the ball bouncing which is bad because it makes distance control more difficult.
A putt has initial skid and then it eventually goes into pure roll. We want this skid and roll percentage to be as consistent as possible through all lengths of putts. Research shows that 3º to 4 1/2º loft on a flat face will be the best way to accomplish this. If the loft is reduced to 2º, it is not enough to get the ball out of its depression and it will bounce. If the loft is increased to 6º, the ball will be lifted too high which will also cause it to bounce. In either case distance control is less consistent because we want the ball skidding and rolling with minimum bouncing.
Putter Loft and Effective Loft
This is a very miss understood and much over looked part of the putter.
All modern putters have some degree of loft, 3 to 4 degrees is standard
but a very important part of this is effective loft and how it can effect the putter.
Most people never consider having their putter custom fit, although it
is the most used club in the bag. It is also a very inexpensive process
to have done and can save many shots off your round. See pricing page for charges
The BIG 5
Length - Loft - Lie - Swingweight - Head Design
Length
Putter length affects both distance and directional control and is very important regarding consistency in putting. The correct putter length depends on the type putting stroke you use. The most common and effective putting stroke today is when the golfer is slightly bent over at the waist and the knees slightly bent. The eyes should be directly over the ball, the stance is square to the putt line. Both arms are hanging down vertically and directly under the shoulders. Putter length is measured and fitted with the golfer in this position.
Most putters for men are mostly sold in 34” and 35” standard lengths and womens putters are standard at 33”. Both men and women golfers will almost always fit into shorter lengths than those offered as standard. The average length should be about 33” for men and 31” to 32 ½” for women.
The average standard length putter used on the PGA tour is 33” to 33 ½”. Length should always be the first fitting variable determined.
Loft Angle
Loft has greater effect on distance control than directional control but does affect both. A putter requires between 3º and 4 ½º of loft at the point of impact to be able to putt with any consistency. The reason why is, when the ball comes to rest on the green it settles down slightly into the grass. When you putt you do not want to drive the ball through the grass to get it rolling but rather you want to lift it out of its depression and place it up on top of the grass and rolling as soon as possible. Eliminating the possibility of the ball bouncing which is bad because it makes distance control more difficult.
A putt has initial skid and then it eventually goes into pure roll. We want this skid and roll percentage to be as consistent as possible through all lengths of putts. Research shows that 3º to 4 1/2º loft on a flat face will be the best way to accomplish this. If the loft is reduced to 2º, it is not enough to get the ball out of its depression and it will bounce. If the loft is increased to 6º, the ball will be lifted too high which will also cause it to bounce. In either case distance control is less consistent because we want the ball skidding and rolling with minimum bouncing.
Putter Loft and Effective Loft
This is a very miss understood and much over looked part of the putter.
All modern putters have some degree of loft, 3 to 4 degrees is standard
but a very important part of this is effective loft and how it can effect the putter.
Diagram A shows a standard putter with 4 degrees of loft but with the shaft angled behind the putter face and the hands behind the putter. This causes an increase in loft which will cause the ball to jump off of the putter face when striking the ball. Having the hands behind the putter face has effectively increased the loft of the putter.
Diagram B shows a standard putter with 4 degrees of loft. The hands are in-line with the putter and the shaft is at 90 degrees with the putting surface. The ball will leave the putter face with the optimum amount of forward roll.
Diagram C show a standard putter with 4 degrees of loft but with the shaft angled over the putter and the hands pressed forward. This will result in the ball to being hit into the putting surface. This will cause the ball to skip and jump after initially being struck as the putter has been effectively been de-lofted. Custom fitting can resolve this issue. By adjusting the putter loft, you can retain your preferred putting stroke but maintain the ideal loft for a smooth ball strike and more consistent ball roll.
Diagram B shows a standard putter with 4 degrees of loft. The hands are in-line with the putter and the shaft is at 90 degrees with the putting surface. The ball will leave the putter face with the optimum amount of forward roll.
Diagram C show a standard putter with 4 degrees of loft but with the shaft angled over the putter and the hands pressed forward. This will result in the ball to being hit into the putting surface. This will cause the ball to skip and jump after initially being struck as the putter has been effectively been de-lofted. Custom fitting can resolve this issue. By adjusting the putter loft, you can retain your preferred putting stroke but maintain the ideal loft for a smooth ball strike and more consistent ball roll.
Lie Angle
Lie is almost all directional control in putting and very little in distance control. Because a putter has loft, anytime the lie angle is not properly fitted to the individual golfer the ball will not go in the direction your putter head is pointing. Basically when the loft angle is tilted (lie angle not correct) and not parallel to the ground, another angle is formed which we will call the misdirection control angle. A standard putter should have a lie angle of 70 to 71 degrees. This can be altered to suit the individual but the main concern is that the sole of the putter should sit flat to the putting surface. If there is too much of a gap under the toe of the putter then there is a very high possibility that the ball will miss to the left of the target. Adversely, if there is too much gap under the heel of the putter then there is a very high possibility that the ball will miss to the right of the target. Again, custom fitting can resolve this issue. By adjusting the putter lie, you can retain your preferred putting stroke but maintain the ideal lie so to keep your putts or target.
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Swingweight
Swing weight is used to determine the putter head and the putters’ length have the proper weight relationship between them. This is a major factor in the distance control of a putt. It also is a significant factor in directional control.
The golfer needs to have enough weight in the head to achieve proper feel and balance of the putter. Too light and it is difficult to obtain a smooth backstroke, follow through and distance control. Too heavy, it is very difficult to get any kind of distance control, especially on longer putts. Heavy putters are, however, very accurate on shorter length putts.
The ideal swing weight range is between C-8 and E-8. The problem with a number of older putters currently in play is that were built with the old lighter head weights and many fall into a range of A-1 to C-0. If you fall into this category check the swing weight on your putter. If necessary, simply put lead tape on the sole of the putter making sure to evenly cover the entire sole in layers until the correct weight is achieved.
Swing weight is used to determine the putter head and the putters’ length have the proper weight relationship between them. This is a major factor in the distance control of a putt. It also is a significant factor in directional control.
The golfer needs to have enough weight in the head to achieve proper feel and balance of the putter. Too light and it is difficult to obtain a smooth backstroke, follow through and distance control. Too heavy, it is very difficult to get any kind of distance control, especially on longer putts. Heavy putters are, however, very accurate on shorter length putts.
The ideal swing weight range is between C-8 and E-8. The problem with a number of older putters currently in play is that were built with the old lighter head weights and many fall into a range of A-1 to C-0. If you fall into this category check the swing weight on your putter. If necessary, simply put lead tape on the sole of the putter making sure to evenly cover the entire sole in layers until the correct weight is achieved.
Head Design
Number one in head design is to make sure you are happy with what you are looking at. If you are told "this is the best putter available" and you don't like the look of it, you wont putt as well with it. There are many very good putter designs on the market. Today we have the newer larger head shapes that claim high moments of inertia but there are still many of the traditional putter shapes to choose from. Putter shafts can be straight, single bend or double bend and are fitted from the center of the head back to the heel of the putter
Much of this is personal choice regarding looks, feel and above all feeling comfortable with your choice. An important performance variable to consider when buying a putter is whether or not you want the easier playability of a high MOI putter head design. High MOI putters are far more forgiving on off-center impacts.
Grip Size
Another consideration is grip size. Over the past few years, many more grip shapes and sizes have become available on the market. The current trend is for the larger jumbo sized grips. The advantage to these is that they cut down on wrist breaking. Keeping your wrists firm and putting with your shoulders with give a more consistent putting stroke.
Number one in head design is to make sure you are happy with what you are looking at. If you are told "this is the best putter available" and you don't like the look of it, you wont putt as well with it. There are many very good putter designs on the market. Today we have the newer larger head shapes that claim high moments of inertia but there are still many of the traditional putter shapes to choose from. Putter shafts can be straight, single bend or double bend and are fitted from the center of the head back to the heel of the putter
Much of this is personal choice regarding looks, feel and above all feeling comfortable with your choice. An important performance variable to consider when buying a putter is whether or not you want the easier playability of a high MOI putter head design. High MOI putters are far more forgiving on off-center impacts.
Grip Size
Another consideration is grip size. Over the past few years, many more grip shapes and sizes have become available on the market. The current trend is for the larger jumbo sized grips. The advantage to these is that they cut down on wrist breaking. Keeping your wrists firm and putting with your shoulders with give a more consistent putting stroke.
Download this putting chart to measure your putting scores,
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