Putter Fittings
The Importance of Putter Fitting: Make More Putts
When it comes to golf, the putter is often the most overlooked club in a player’s bag. However, it plays a crucial role in determining your score, as around 40% of your strokes are typically taken on the greens. Just as with any other club, having the right putter fitted to your style and physical abilities can make a significant difference in your performance. Here’s why putter fitting matters and how it can improve your game.
Putter fitting is the process of customizing a putter to match your individual characteristics, such as height, grip size, stance, and stroke mechanics. The goal is to create a putter that promotes better alignment, consistency in the start line, which can lead to confidence on the greens.
Key Factors in Putter Fitting
1. Length: The length of the putter affects your posture and stroke. A putter that is too long or too short can lead to inconsistent setups and poor strikes on the putter face. This can lead to issues in strike consistency and speed control.
2. Lie Angle: If the lie angle is incorrect, it can lead to poor contact and inaccurate putts. You can look at this as “toe up” or “toe down” when putting. A good putter should have a lie angle of plus or minus 1* at impact.
3. Grip Size: Grip size can significantly affect your feel and control. Too small or too large a grip can lead to tension in your hands and forearms which can affect your stroke.
4. Head and Hosel Design: Putters come in various designs – blade, double wide blade, and mallet along with plummers neck, short slant neck, or double bend – which has an influence on alignment, release patterns, impact, and feel. A fitting session can help you determine which style suits your eye and stroke best.
Going through a putter fitting can be one of the most impactful decisions you make in your golf game. With the right putter in hand, you’ll not only improve your accuracy and consistency but also gain the confidence needed to make those putts to win a match with friends or win championships.
