Thinking about changng putters

[Dazinkster]

Hey guys, I've been having thoughts about this so as always figured I'd come here for your thoughts and to act as a sounding board

Having only started playing golf last April/May time my initial problem was producing a consistant stroke and therefore hitting the ball where I aimed it was a problem. Therefore I purchased a mallet putter with a massive MOI which is nigh on impossible to twist during the stroke, and to be fair it helped a lot, as my handicap dropped from 20+ down to 12.

However, more recently I've been looking at my game (as we all do in the winter) and thinking theres definitely more improvement to be had with my putting...particularly with judging the power with which I strike my putts. Has anyone else found that certain styles of putters are better for judging lag than othere? i.e. blade vs. mallet?

The other reason is that they club fitter that made my irons for me (and I now trust him loads) stocks seemore putters, which I gather quite a few members here use, so thoughts on them too would be appreciated.

Cheers THP'ers

 

[BulldogsGolf]

I particularly like a mid-mallet. The best of both worlds, ya know? I like the cleveland classics, and Nike EverClear E22
Shaft placement can also help you with putting. Odyssey, seemore, Rife putters you can never seem to go wrong with. Although I personally would shy away from the Backstrykes....horrible feeling things....

 

[Kmac]

Id been using mallet style putters all last year and found towards the end of the year that I really had trouble on lag putts. Ive since switched to a blade style and find them much more consistent all around. And the choices are endless when it comes to blade style putter.

 

[Ryan Loves Golf]

I feel your pain. Coming from what I would consider the ultimate high MOI putter(Heavy Putter) - not because it's the best but because it's really heavy - I changed to a Seemore and have not looked back. I needed a putter that opens and closes during my stroke and the mallet was preventing my natural stroke and it was much more difficult to judge distance on lag putts.
Now I can grip light, and put a smooth stroke on the ball.
Oh, and the RST really works, it's a good check when you feel there's something wrong with your stroke. I like non-offset putters but Seemore now has the more traditional offset putters so try them and get fitted. There's so many good putters out there I am sure you will find your perfect match.

 

[BulldogsGolf]

Id been using mallet style putters all last year and found towards the end of the year that I really had trouble on lag putts. Ive since switched to a blade style and find them much more consistent all around. And the choices are endless when it comes to blade style putter.

It seems like alot of people say this...why do blade putters make for better lags?

 

[Kmac]

It seems like alot of people say this...why do blade putters make for better lags?

I can just get a better feel for the putt. With the mallets I was either way short or way long on my lag putts. I seem to be able to judge distance a lot better with a blade. I think it has to do with feel and not nearly as much MOI on the blade.

 

[DawgDaddy]

It seems like alot of people say this...why do blade putters make for better lags?

I would suggest that a lot of people say just the opposite also, you really need to either be fitted or try a lot of different putters to see what works for you.

 

[BulldogsGolf]

I would suggest that a lot of people say just the opposite also, you really need to either be fitted or try a lot of different putters to see what works for you.

And believe me, I have. A friend on my golf team had a Ping Karsten Anser last year which I used during a charity tournament and felt like I was leaving everything way short. Which is why I like the mid mallet. You get the feeling at impact of a mallet with the touch of a blade....Everclear E22

 

[thedue]

I have a tendency to stand a bit to upright with a mallet putter, which some what tucks the putter in closer to my feet and consequently the putter gets stuck, so to speak, on the forward swing during the longer lag putts. Nothing beats a center shafted mallet for me inside of four or five feet, but outside of that range I just can't get the head to flow out and find I almost punch at the ball.

Conversely, the old original blade style putters such as the true 8802 style putters, small and thin hill shafted create more of an arc putt when needing a long distance lag and work much better for me at those distances, yet seem hard to control on the shorter 5 footers.

I pretty much stay with the more modern style of anser putters most of the time, although I do have all three styles lol, and am considering going to a mid mallet such as the Bettinardi Studio stock #7 which very well may give me the best of both worlds.

 

[jefffann]

if you don't get fitted for anything else do yourself a favor and get fitted for your putter.I don't think you'll regret it.

 

[KellyBo]

My instructor recently gave me a good lecture about not being fitted for a putter. He said it shocks him how many people won't get fitted for one when it is used 25-40 times per round but they'll spend big $$$ on drivers that will only be used 14 shots at the most in a round.

I recently bought a center shafted Seemore M1 off Ebay and love it. I'm hoping it's the one he fits me for cuz I'm keeping it!

 

[Dazinkster]

Cheers guys, enjoyed the interesting arguements/thoughts.

Good news is that I've got a good club fitter, he so far has done my irons/wedges/driver shaft and most recently a 3 wood. So I think I'll definitely go to him for a new putter when it comes to it, and incidently he swears by seemore too.

 

[Golf Chick]

Id been using mallet style putters all last year and found towards the end of the year that I really had trouble on lag putts. Ive since switched to a blade style and find them much more consistent all around. And the choices are endless when it comes to blade style putter.

I started off with a mallet putter and it just wasn't working for me so I found a SeeMore blade/center shaft, and its been doing wonders. Putting is still my weakest part of my game, but at least my misses aren't as bad as when I was using a mallet putter.

 

[bgoody]

It really depends on if you are more comfortable with a square to square or an arc style putting technique. I used a mallet with a square to square stroke for about 5-6 years and while I felt like I was striking the ball quite well, there was no doubt that my putting steadily got worse. So much so that putting really became the lagging point in my game. Not long ago I switched to a blade and an arc stroke and the results were an immediate improvement. I wish I never read Pelz to be quite honest.

 

[Team-Blackburn]

After playing for years W/O being fitted for a putter I took advantage of living down the street from Cleveland Golf Headquarters and spent an very informative hour in their fitting studio. Ruben club fitting specialist had me make a series of putts with my current gamer exchange#7 and found out the putter was too long for me, I stand to far away from the ball and I was de-lofting/decelerating at impact. Ruben had me pick a few putters that caught my eye, no the Gambler's were not an option. After trying out several I felt the #6 mallet was the one for me. With the right specifications I was no longer de-lofting or decelerating, the club face square @ impact & putter arc was consistent. I will never buy another club without being fitted.