A putter is a very personal club. Each player addresses and strokes differently, and each one has certain preferences and aesthetics. Anyone who takes this game seriously knows how important it is. Spending nearly half of the strokes on the green, every golfer knows that the key to lowering the score is in this part of the game, and that the ability to consistently roll the ball straight with proper speed is the essence of good putting strokes.  

Market Trends - Putters were traditionally constructed from stainless steel, mild steel, brass, copper or bronze. Ping Answer, which is one of the most successful putters in history, is first made of manganese bronze. Nowadays, however, "softer feel" materials and material combinations for heel-toe design are two noticeable trends in the market. Three models, namely the Titleist Scotty Cameron, Never Compromise, and Odyssey, recorded more wins by far than any other models in 1999 PGA and Senior PGA tours. The fourth place was Ping, which recorded 6 PGA tour wins.

Compound Inserts - Aluminum, mild steel, and copper based alloys can provide what many golfers believe to be superior feel to cast stainless steel (see also our "Materials for Putters"); however, the recent trend is increased use of compound materials. Because of the higher damping coefficient, compound materials are used to provide "softer feel". Many recent models use elastomeric compound materials either as a club-face insert (surface material) or as a cushioning layer behind a metal club-face insert. Furthermore, because compound materials are not only softer but also lighter than metals, the materials can be used to help increase perimeter or heel-toe weighting for additional forgiveness as well as different feel and feedback. The following table shows popular recent models employing compound materials.

Production Method - Aside from casted putter-heads, many putter-heads were made of a one-piece mild steel in the past, which were forged and then hand-milled. Forged mild steel putters, which were expensive due to the labor-intensive production process, were thought superior in feel when compared to cast putters. However, today's putters often include some sort of face inserts and/or perimeter designs, and therefore many different production methods are used in conjunction with the traditional casting and forging methods. Computer milling is one of relatively new techniques which has become popular in recent years (milled face). This method involves a modern metal cutting machine that carves a block of metal with extreme precision to provide a very consistent, flat putter face.

Blade - The basic, classically styled, flat-shaped putters, ideal for players who like soft feel and tend to putt with an inside-to-square-to-inside putting stroke, are made from forged mild steel or other soft metals such as beryllium copper.


Mallet - Mallet-style putters are characterized by large, rounded head designs. The main performance feature associated with the mallet design is face-balancing (see below), which facilitates a straight-back, straight-through stroke.


Heel-Toe - The heel-toe design could be mallets or blades, all of which can be characterized by a weight distribution that places the bulk of the putter's mass at the heel and the toe. The heel-toe putter is designed for a larger sweet area and to stabilize the putter-head through impact.

Face-Balanced - When you hold a putter on your index finger at the balance point above the hosel, if the putter face points straight up in defiance of gravity, this indicates that the putter is face-balanced, meaning with a neutral putter face position. Face-balanced putters are considered effective for promoting a straight-back, and a straight-through putting stroke.

Loft - Putters have loft, normally from 3° to 5°. Generally, the slower the green, the more loft needed to produce a smooth roll. Conversely, if you play on very fast greens, it will take less loft to get the ball rolling smoothly.

Length - There is no restriction in the length of putter. However, 35" is the most common length in the market, and most manufacturers cover the range of  33" - 36". The best way to determine the appropriate putter length is to assume your normal putting stance, with your eyes over the ball. The putter that fits in your hands without your having to make too many adjustments is the one that fits you the best.

Grips – There are two primary putter grip styles - puddle style, and pistol style. The puddle grip features a wide flat part for the placement of thumbs, which is conducive to a one-piece stroke. The pistol grip is characterized by the protruding section of the grip which is to provide more control.

Putters