The Importance of Choosing the Correct Golf Putter

Choosing a golf putter is an individual aspect of the game and golfers should approach this selection process as one of their most important choices.

Putters can come with shafts that are very small or as long as a broom handle. The blade might be flat on both sides, partially rounded on one side, heel shafted, center shafted or offset.

Short club: The shortest club in the golfers bag is the putter (with the exception of the long shafted varieties favoured by a few players). The put shot is the only shot where the ball does not, in most cases leave the ground. The putter is designed as the smallest club because of this very reason.

Putter Characteristics: Putters come with a choice of club head positions straight, onset and offset. It is therefore essential that you try all types of putter before you choose one to suit. Some have markings or lines on them. These are there to assist in aiming accurately but, buy cautiously and make sure these lines are accurate.

Balance and Swing Weight: If you are to execute a smooth putting stroke it is correct to invest in a putter that will give you good balance and a correct swing. Balance is the weight that is distributed to the head of the club.

Make Your Choice: It is very important that you make your own choice of putter and this should be tried out before you buy. This will be in most cases, the single most important piece of golfing equipment that you will buy. Nobody else should make this selection for you, another person can offer advice but the choice should be yours.

The Putting Stance: When you are making your choice be sure to adopt your putting stance and play a few practice swings. Ideally without a ball and with the eyes shut at first. Feel how the club moves without looking at it. Make sure it feels correct within your hands and, does it feel right when swinging?

Putting Stroke: The arms, hands and shoulders should be moving as one unit but, included in this unit will be your new golf putter. You can not change you limbs and, this new piece of golfing equipment will have to fit into this existing unit and not the other way around.

With the correct equipment and plenty of practice it can only improve your golfing game. Every piece of equipment you buy for playing golf is important but, none more so than a putter. You should feel comfortable with holding it and swinging it, if you are comfortable and do not feel awkward then your putting part of your game will improve. Most pro golfers will have golf clubs made for them to ensure they feel right for that individual player. Most of us are not in a position where we can have clubs made for us but, many golf clubs made now are very good. Manufactures have a lot of competition and only by investing thousands into research and development can they compete with each other, which is all good for us.