Has a new Putter made a big difference?

[inc0gnito]

One of the most important clubs in the bag, and I reckon most people tinker with different putters regularly!

So have you ever got a new putter and noticed an immediate big improvement?

 

[Orikoru]

Yes. Just under a year ago I bought an Odyssey #7 and the difference was absolute night and day. I used to average about 34 putts a round with an anser-style putter, but lately I've been averaging more like 32 with the semi-mallet face-balanced style.

I think the grip is a big factor as well, since I bought the putter second-hand, I actually went to a golf shop and chose a new grip for it, ended up with a Winn grip that just sits in my hands perfectly. It just feels right and that gives me so much confidence in rolling the ball at the hole.

Putting is all mental, I don't think the technology of a putter is what helps, but finding the putter that feels right, because it has the perfect weight, grip, forgiveness of the head and matches your stroke - is invaluable and just gives you the confidence to putt well.

 

[tsped83]

I feel like I can speak with some authority here given I’ve used 2,627 putters in my lifetime…

The honeymoon period with new putters inevitably wears off but good putting is all about confidence. Get fitted, don’t get fitted, obsess about toe hang, alignment, weight, lie angle blah blah blah, been there, done that and it all pales in comparison to just trusting your instincts and finding a putter you like and feel comfortable with, then go for it.

Putting is and should be simple.

 

[3 jabber]

Has anyone found grips to make a huge difference? I've dabbled with the thick ones but prefer pistol ones. Don't think there is a noticeable difference in putts holed but more of a mental thing.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Yes, definite improvement. I take my putter back to far, wobble it around too much. Blade putters, lighter ones, are a disaster for me. I now use a putter with a heavier head, much more stable for me. That doesn't mean that I won't change it but I now know the parameters I need to work with.

 

[Orikoru]

Has anyone found grips to make a huge difference? I've dabbled with the thick ones but prefer pistol ones. Don't think there is a noticeable difference in putts holed but more of a mental thing.

As I mentioned above - the grip has been a huge factor for me. I got a Winn Jumbo Pistol Lite, so it's thick and pistol shaped so best of both worlds, and it's been ideal. I wrap the fingers of my left hand underneath with the thumb on top - coupled with my left elbow being on my hip, feels very stable and like I'm not going to pull many to the left.

 

[hacker_al]

I had a fitting with Ed Morton (just before he packed it in) for an Orka putter. It improved my distance control immensely.
I still suck at reading breaks though

 

[Robin Hood]

I was struggling with my putting, so I went for a lesson and the Pro suggested a counterbalance putter.
It has a weight in the grip area and makes for a more stable stroke.
It works for me, and that’s what counts.

 

[srixon 1]

I had some putter coaching three weeks ago with Ollie Leett. He recommends that the length of your putter should be 1 inch less than your wrist to floor measurement. Just something to consider if you always buy a standard length putter but you have arms as long as an ape.

 

[Severof]

Had my putter for 34 years now. A Lynx USA 7 blade. Have had great rounds with it over the years and holed many a clutch putt, but the last 3-4 months am really struggling to hole the putts and is costing me in comps. Confidence has been drained somewhat so not sure whether I need to spend more time on the practice greens or cut the emotional attachment and try another ? My lad has a 'Rife RG4' full mallet putter and feels great when I use it.

 

[Deleted member 36735]

Not sure why anyone would put a new putter in the bag if it didn't make a difference?
The question should be, "how many holes did it take to miss a 3 footer with your latest putter?"

 

[Backache]

I've only had two putters but when I changed I think it made a difference, mainly having an alignment line. As I don't collect stats not certain.

 

[inc0gnito]

Yes. Just under a year ago I bought an Odyssey #7 and the difference was absolute night and day. I used to average about 34 putts a round with an anser-style putter, but lately I've been averaging more like 32 with the semi-mallet face-balanced style.

I think the grip is a big factor as well, since I bought the putter second-hand, I actually went to a golf shop and chose a new grip for it, ended up with a Winn grip that just sits in my hands perfectly. It just feels right and that gives me so much confidence in rolling the ball at the hole.

Putting is all mental, I don't think the technology of a putter is what helps, but finding the putter that feels right, because it has the perfect weight, grip, forgiveness of the head and matches your stroke - is invaluable and just gives you the confidence to putt well.

It’s all about your last paragraph there. Mental side is obviously paramount, but it’s gotta make a huge difference to the mental side to have putter that just “feels right”. Got to directly affect the stability and consistency of your stroke too.

I’m trying to justify spending a lot of money on a new putter!

 

[inc0gnito]

Yes, definite improvement. I take my putter back to far, wobble it around too much. Blade putters, lighter ones, are a disaster for me. I now use a putter with a heavier head, much more stable for me. That doesn't mean that I won't change it but I now know the parameters I need to work with.

Yeah I recently got a new putter but it just feels to light and doesn’t feel stable. So I was thinking of changing it to a heavier one. Just something that makes the stroke feel more stable back and through. That alone has got to improve performance.

 

[RichA]

I only used Anser style putters for ages but started to struggle and got an Odyssey 2-ball. My putting improved immediately and was great for about a year then I suddenly lost all distance control.
I got an Anser-ish style Ping ZB3 and everything came right. Haven't changed for a couple of years now and don't intend to. I only like thinner pistol grips.
Occasionally, if I've chipped onto a green and my bag isn't nearby I'll borrow my mate's massive LAB branding iron thing with a huge grip. I'm not a fan of centre shafted putters so I line up to the toe and the results are exactly the same as my own putter.
I think the mind and the technique have far more effect than the equipment.

 

[carldudley]

I never got the fuss about Scotty Cameron - until I used one. Used to always have mallet putters, even a personalised TM Spider. Gave a cheap Scotty a go from GolfClubs4Cash with additional eBay offer for £150 and I have never looked at another putter. Even my playing partners have commented on how much my putting has improved since I got the Scotty. Whether it's because it's a blade-like, the weights or grip but it works for me.

 

[Klimski]

For me, it's one of the area's that is most uncontroversial in that it makes a huge difference whether you get on with your putter. I use an old (late 90's?) Wilson mallet putter at 36 inch length with one of those oversize superstroke grips. I have tried four or five more sexy putters - like a retro copper (BeCu) Ping B60, and a really fancy Mizuno putter, but I always go back to the Wilson. It just works for me. In fact, the worst experience was taking that Ping B60 on a tour of Fife, having never used it before, and discovering that I couldn't hit a putt with it to save my life.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Yes, a brand new Ben Sayers putter made a big difference to me when I bought one to replace the Petron one that I had bought second hand and had been using for 13 years.

That change-over was in 1989.

It still earns me about 3-times what it cost me (£25) in the 2s sweeps every year.

 

[garyinderry]

Not sure why anyone would put a new putter in the bag if it didn't make a difference?
The question should be, "how many holes did it take to miss a 3 footer with your latest putter?"

I put a spider putter in the bag last summer. I'll let you know when I miss that 3 footer.

 

[inc0gnito]

Yes, a brand new Ben Sayers putter made a big difference to me when I bought one to replace the Petron one that I had bought second hand and had been using for 13 years.

That change-over was in 1989.

It still earns me about 3-times what it cost me (£25) in the 2s sweeps every year.

nice.

So I can justify an expensive putter as an investment