Choosing the right equipment is one of the most important decisions a beginner golfer can make. With the main aim of the game being to get the ball into the hole in as fewer shots as possible, and every golfer using their putter more times than any other in their bag. The decision in choosing the right putter is one that will require special attention.
As funny as it seems, there is one adage amongst golfers – many men have more putters than the women they have. This is especially true for the pros. Putters are amongst the most important clubs that you can have.
A putter that works well for your playing partner, may not necessarily work as well for you. Certain considerations that should be taken into account, and in this article we will look at the best golf putters for beginners, to help make sure you get the results you want on the putting green.
Different Styles Of Putters
Via dummies.com
The style of putter you play with could be hindering your overall performance on the greens, and if you choose the wrong type of putter you will forever be struggling to stop those dreaded three-putts.
When looking for the best golf putters for beginners, golf club manufacturers today have many different styles available, so let’s take a look at the three main contenders:
Blade Putter: If you have a natural arc to your putting stroke then you need to be looking for a mid to high toe weighted putter. The extra weight in the toe will compliment your arc style stroke. With this putter, the heel is where you can find the sweet spot. It is the least forgiving of the three, which is why it may not necessarily be the best putter for the beginner golfer.
If you think this style is for you, then a great example of a blade putter would be the Odyssey White Hot Pro 2.0 Putter, Black
High MOI Putters: This style of putter is probably the most forgiving putter which is perfect for amateur golfers. If you have an inconsistent swing path then a putter with a high MOI is going to help reduce twisting of the putter face when you make an off-center hit, as most amateurs do. Also called perimeter weighted putter or mid balanced, this style of putter is known for its accuracy, which is why it is a popular choice amongst beginners.
The TaylorMade 2017 Spider Putter is one of the most popular putters with professional golfers, and it has been in the bag of many of the world’s number one players. I currently use this putter and absolutely love it.
The Mallet Putter: Finally we have the mallet-style putter that is face balanced and is most suited to a golfer that has a very straight putting stroke back and through. With this design, it will be good for people who often tend to miss the sweet spot. There is no toe-hang in a mallet-style of putter and this helps to keep a square face throughout the putting stroke
The Odyssey White Hot Pro 2.0 Putter is a great example of a quality mallet putter. Odyssey and TaylorMade are two of the most popular putters on the market today.
Long And Belly Putters
Via golftipsmag.com
We couldn’t talk about putters and not quickly mention the most controversial of all putter styles, the long, and the belly style putter.
Long Putter: This style of putter ensures a true pendulum style putting stroke with a very upright stance. There is no wrist hinge with this type of putter, and the use of this style putter has caused many a discussion on the PGA and European tour. Players were banned from ‘anchoring’ the long putters against their upper chest as it was deemed an unfair advantage.
Adam Scott most notably uses a long putter, and they usually range anywhere from 48-52” in length.
Belly Putter: The belly putter sits somewhere in between the conventional style putter and the long putter. There are a few professionals on tour who choose to use a belly putter. Matt Kuchar, Bryson DeChambeau and Keegan Bradley are probably the most famous.
The original advantage of using a belly putter was very similar to that of the long putter in that it meant there was a third point of contact (the abdomen) during the stroke which gave the stroke stability. Since the anchoring ban came into place in 2016 it has meant that players have also now had to find a new way to use the belly putter.
Players now tend to brace the longer belly putter grip against their left arm which is called the ‘arm-lock’ method. The belly putter is anywhere from 41-44” long.
If a belly putter is of interest to you, one like the Precise SP-009 Stainless Belly Putter is a great choice.
As earlier mentioned, the best golf putter for your friend may not be the best for you. There are individual factors that will come into play. With this, as you search for the best, one of the first things to check is the length of the putter.
Putters generally come in lengths anywhere from 32-35” inches, and deciding on the right length putter will depend on a few key metrics. How tall you are, your posture when taking a putt, and your wrist to floor measurement.
To find the correct one, you have to try several putters. Ideally, choose a putter wherein the shaft is in line with your forearms, and one which gives you the best chance of setting up with your eyes over the ball. If you are taller, you might want to consider a customized putter or those with longer shafts.
Another important consideration is the weight of the golf putter. This is critical because it will be indicative of how the ball will roll. There is no rule of thumb on whether you should choose a lightweight or heavier putters.
There are many discussions on what weight of putter is best for the average golfer, and while it all comes down to personal preference, there is a great article here that did some testing to dispel the myth that a heavier putter is always better than a lighter putter.
Look at the Face and the Loft
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The loft is important because it will have a significant impact on how the ball will bounce from the face. Its right position will depend on how you hold it. The best loft will depend on your body form.
The face, on the other hand, will be crucial for distance and control. For beginners, it would be best to choose a face that comes with a milled design. You can also consider using an insert. This will be an excellent way to enhance the speed of the ball.
What Putter Grip Should I Use?
Improving your putting could be solved with something as simple as changing your putter grip, and there are many different options to choose from.
If you are after a quick fix that should have you making fewer putts overall then you may want to choose an oversized, fat style putter grip. This style of grip is great for keeping your hands quiet throughout the putting stroke.
The oversized grip also enables you to keep your hands in front of the putter head through impact as the larger grip forces you to swing more with your arms and shoulders instead of being more ‘wristy’.
A larger style putting grip like the SuperStroke CounterCore Fatso 5.0 Golf Putter Grip should help to make your putting game more consistent.
Try it Out Before Buying
Via pgatour.com
One thing that you should not forget to do is to try the putter before you purchase it. Being comfortable with a putter is very important as it is the club with which you need the most feel.
Ultimately, you need to try various styles of putters, varying lengths of putters and you need to be trying different grips until you find the best combination for your game.
If you remember these four important points, they will go a long way in helping you find your perfect putter:
- Choose a putter that most compliments your style of stroke
- Ensuring you choose a putter that suits your eye when addressing the ball
- A putter that helps you to aim properly. Many putters today have markings on top to help you line them up with your target and your ball
- And finally, make sure that the putter you choose gives you confidence when standing over the ball
Conclusion
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By now we hope you have gained a valuable insight into choosing the best golf putters for beginners. There are so many options out there that it can leave you feeling confused and worried that you might have made the wrong decision.
By using the information in this article you should now feel confident that you can make the right choice when it comes to purchasing your new putter. And if you are after some more advice, golf pro Mark Crossfield’s video How To Choose A Putter should help your decision even more.
The main takeaway from this article is that personal choice is of utmost importance. How you feel looking down at the putter, the shape of the putter head, the color and markings, as well as the grip and weight, and length of the putter.
All of these things need to be considered when you choose your new putter. The more comfortable and confident you feel holding your putter, the more likely you are to hole more putts.
If you achieve that, this article has done its job!
Best beginner golf putters idea. its really great review product