Equipment
Putters: Where to start?
Take a moment to think about all the clubs in your bag, which would you say is the most versatile?
There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to putters. When choosing a new flatstick it’s easy to go for what looks the best to your eye, but with countless options available, maybe it’s time to pause and have a think.
Today we want to walk you through all the different aspects to consider when finding the perfect putter for you, and it starts how you choose to hold it…
1. Putters: Which grip do you use?
The most tried-and-tested conventional putter grip is to have your right hand below the left like how we grip our irons. You tend to grip the putter with both palms rather than interlocking your fingers however, encouraging a relaxed, pendulum-like movement.
Some golfers opt to have their left hand below their right. This grip simply reverses the hands of the conventional grip with the intention of locking your arms together to make your stroke more consistent.
A claw grip is a very different feel and includes anchoring the grip between your right thumb and index finger. This grip relies on strong finger positioning and takes the right hand out of play. The left-hand claw grips the putter with strong pressure while the right hand acts as more of a guide.
2. Putters: Chunky grips or traditional?
You may know how you like to hold your putter, but what kind of grip do you need? Chunkier grips tend to reduce wrist action which is great if you have a tendency to jab at the ball, whereas thinner grips allow for a more feel and potential for finesse.
Putter grips also invariably come in a range of sizes, from undersized to jumbo large. We’ll help you find the most comfortable putter grip for your fingers when you visit us in the pro shop.
The Odyssey Ai-One Milled range of putters come with a variety of colourful grips available for all shapes and sizes. Each model in this set looks fantastic and we don’t doubt you’ll get on well with one when you check them out in the pro shop.
3. Putters: Putter length is key
Putter length is another crucial factor to consider, putters generally range between being 31 – 37” inches in length. To find the one right for you, you need to consider certain characteristics including your height, and posture when you’re standing over the ball.
You may have seen tour players use longer broomstick putters that anchor into the chest. This style of putter is designed to keep the left hand stationary while the right hand rocks the club back and forth.
4. Putters: Hosel type
Working our way down the putter, putter hosels are unique in that unlike every other club in the bag, they’re available in a variety of different configurations, each with their own relative attributes.
The plumber’s neck hosel type features a bend in the neck that helps keep the face stable, whereas a straight hosel improves stability through keeping the center of gravity in line with the hosel and shaft. Whether one looks better when standing over the ball is a preference determined by the individual.
One of the latest trends on tour are players adding zero torque putters to their bags. The hosels on these putters are strategically positioned towards the toe, resulting in very stable putting strokes.
You’ll definitely have your interest piqued when you have a go with the Ai-One Square-2-Square putters. Each club in this set has a central hosel position that makes the clubhead feel incredible stable at every stage of your putting stroke.
5. Putters: Head shape
One of the first things you’ll notice when studying a range of different putters lined up is how distinctly different head shapes can be. Some players opt for a nifty, maneuverable bladed head design while others prefer a weightier mallet. From blades, to mid-mallets and full-mallets, we have all kinds of putters for you to have a go with in the pro shop.
6. Putters: Alignment
On the clubheads themselves, you’ll notice that putters come equipped with all kinds of alignment aids that can help you hit the ball with the center of the face when standing over your ball at address. Some clubs have relatively subtle alignment aids while others have been constructed around a premise of being ocularly unique. Naturally, the ideal alignment aid for you is in the eye of the beholder.
Nobody does putter alignment aids quite like Odyssey, take the clubs in their standard Ai-One range. Whether you feel at home with a single line or prefer something more visible, we’ll have a putter that looks good to your eye in the shop.
7. Putters: Insert
You may not know much about the internal workings of different putters, but behind the face of each club is an insert that affects the club’s performance. You may well opt for a urethane or elastomer insert that primarily reduces vibrations on impact with the ball to create a softer sense of feel, whereas a stainless steel or aluminium insert is a lot firmer but manipulates control and accuracy.
8. Putters: Arc or straight-back-and-through
Everyone putts differently. Some of us have a straight back-and-forth motion when we putt while others have more of an arced shape in their putting stroke. Mallet putters are weightier and benefit straighter strokes whereas blade putters have more toe hang, making them best suited to players who have an arced stroked.
In the pro shop, we’ll consider how you approach the ball in-person and offer you our best recommendation of what you should be playing with when you visit us for a putter fitting.
There’s certainly a lot to sink your teeth into when it comes to putters, and we’re available in the pro shop to help consult you and clear up any confusion. Why not pop by for a chat?
