Choosing A New Golf Putter

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Buying a new golf putter can be an intimidating experience, even for the ‘expert’ recreational golfers amongst us. With the coming of golf technology there is now a wide variety of types and styles that make the choice of a new golf putter seem very complicated.

Many golfers get confused with the large range of choices and end up buying something that they are sold, rather than a new putter that they have carefully selected. The aim is not to buy the most expensive club on the market or the most talked about in your clubhouse, but to select the best golf putter for you that offers the best value for money.

The main features to take into account when choosing a new golf putter are price, quality, style, and the club head itself. There some additional features that you could consider if you feel confident enough and these are insert, loft and alignment system.

(1) Price/Quality: In today’s price competitive market, it can generally be assumed that you will get what you pay for.  So it is a reasonable assumption that the higher the putter's price, the better quality your new putter will be.  Don’t be misled by, the price because you don't have to pay a fortune to find a good golf putter. It's a matter of feel. If the new golf putter feels right to you, you will have more confidence, and self-confidence will help you sink more putts.

(2) Putter type - conventional, belly, or long: The type of putter you choose depends on which type works best for you and which fits your physical make-up.

Most people prefer a conventional putter for recreational golf, because it is easier to use and master than the belly or long putters.  The downside of conventional putters is that they require that the wrists don’t move, which some golfers find very hard.  The growing popularity of the belly and the long putters is no doubt a result of some golfers finding it hard to keep their wrists "quiet" when putting.

Conventional putters are also a challenge for people with back problems. So if you have active wrists or back problems you may prefer a belly putter or a long putter.

The belly putter provides better control of the wrist action and has the advantage of automatically assuming a near perfect putting posture. Since belly putters are longer and generally have a thicker grip than conventional golf putters, they inhibit feel and feedback. Distance control can also be an issue due to the longer shaft.

With a long putter, golfers take an almost upright stance, so it is ideal for golfers with back problems. But the extra length of the putter's shaft reduces feel and feedback to an even greater extent than the belly putter.

(3) Alignment System: If the putter isn't lined up properly, the ball won't go in the hole.  So a good alignment system is essential for your new golf putter. Look for a putter with a visual aid to help line up the club with the hole. No one alignment system is better than another, so choose one that feels right to you.

(4) Putter head: Putter heads come in three styles. Cavity back putters have a hollow area in the middle of the back of the putter, creating a larger sweet spot. Blade style putters have the weight of the club head distributed to the heel or bottom of the putter, leaving a thin top line to look at when addressing the ball. Mallet putters are much bigger than traditional putters. Their shapes vary widely. Traditional blades are harder to control than cavity back or mallet putters. Check out the face-balanced mallets and heel-toe-weighted putters as well. Both promote a straight-back-and-straight-through stroke, minimizing mishits.