The importance of putter fitting

[the smiling assassin]

I recently changed to a shorter putter. This was partly as I felt with my 35" Newport, I was squaring my elbows quite a lot. fine for putting, but it's an issue I've been having particularly with my chipping set-up contributing to many duffs. I was also keen to experiment with a face balanced putter, as, after a discussion with a friend (a good scratch golfer) who had recently had an odyssey fitting pointed out that my set up was not ideal for my current putter. My eyes tend to be directly over the ball and my stroke is very much straight back and through. He suggested I move my eye position back slightly something I'd been tinkered around with a little with last season (but always coming back to the eyes directly over ball) to benefit more from the balance of my putter. I suggested that rather than using a fix it might be better to try something supposedly more suited to my 'natural' set up position. After trying a few I ordered a 33" Odyssey White Hot Pro DART. I've only had a chance to get out with it on the course once so far, and that was in a Scramble as the 'anchor' so not as much putting as much as normal, but I nailed a tricky 10 footer and a cracking 30 footer, and hit a few good putts from distance to tap in range too. Not much different to normal in terms of results at this stage, but it certainly took no time to adjust to and I was very comfortable with it straight away. It will be more interesting to see how it performs over the course of the next few rounds, and through the season. My first new putter in nearly 6 years.

 

[MadAdey]

Putter fitting is for people who have more money than sense, the gullible or the desperate.

A good putter can putt with anything. A bad putter is someone who needs to work at their putting and try a few putters until you get the one you like the feel of. It isn't rocket science and if you need a pro to help with this then you probably need assistance in other areas of your life too. E.g. operating zebra crossings, wiping your backside, getting food in your mouth without spilling it etc. etc.

So why get fitted for anything in your bag then? Like most people on here I can pretty much pick any golf club up and hit it, but the one that is perfect for me just goes that little bit better.

I was a non believer until I got fitted. Bug having someone tweeking the lie angle and loft until you start to get a nice solid contact and near to perfect role makes all the difference.

 

[stevelev]

Putter fitting is for people who have more money than sense, the gullible or the desperate.

A good putter can putt with anything. A bad putter is someone who needs to work at their putting and try a few putters until you get the one you like the feel of. It isn't rocket science and if you need a pro to help with this then you probably need assistance in other areas of your life too. E.g. operating zebra crossings, wiping your backside, getting food in your mouth without spilling it etc. etc.

If only the whole world was as good at everything as you Snelly. I'm sure many f the tour pro's have been wondering for years why they even bother with custom fitting. Get real

 

[Snelly]

If only the whole world was as good at everything as you Snelly. I'm sure many f the tour pro's have been wondering for years why they even bother with custom fitting. Get real

Get real? It is nothing to do with me being good at anything. I am not talking about myself at all. I was making the point that a good putter can putt with anything and good putters are not born out of thin air, they become good by learning, practising and repeating what works. The club they use is not that important.

As for your comparison to tour pros - totally irrelevant.


I have played golf for over 30 years (rather than since July 2011) and can remember watching brilliant putters knock in yards of putts with great regularity over that time. Putter fitting was not invented when this was happening so how can it be of such material value now?

It is soft and helpful tool that is used by the people who sell putters to assist you in deciding to part with your cash. It works. The punter feels like he has got exactly what he needs and invariably buys the perfect putter. Until they decide they need a new one.

How many people who have been fitted for anything golf wise, now use something else? A high percentage. Putters included.

 

[Snelly]

So why get fitted for anything in your bag then? Like most people on here I can pretty much pick any golf club up and hit it, but the one that is perfect for me just goes that little bit better.

I was a non believer until I got fitted. Bug having someone tweeking the lie angle and loft until you start to get a nice solid contact and near to perfect role makes all the difference.

If it is perfect for you then great. But if it makes that much of a difference then how come your handicap is unchanged in a year?

Apologies if that sounds argumentative - I am not trying to be clever, just a genuine question.

 

[Cheifi0]

When I bought my putter I had fitting. I bend over a lot when I putt and am not the tallest to start with anyway so I knew that whichever putter I bought would be cut down. Ended up with a 25" inch ping putter which I love. Can't see me changing it at all. The fitting also included a half hour lesson which was a bonus.

 

[cookelad]

Putter fitting doesn't appeal to me I never tried my current putter before I bought it just wanted a lighter/blade putter, because I moved to a course with quicker greens, went on ebay spotted it and put a bid on and (unless I'm playing at Littlestone) I feel like I'm going to hole everything - maybe I've just fallen lucky with putters or maybe I just feel like I'm going to hole everything regardless of what putter I'm using!

 

[Pin-seeker]

Never been custom fit I just tried a few & bought the one I preferred the look & feel of. I do grip down pretty low down tho.

 

[In_The_Rough]

Never had a putter fitting or lesson. Bought my Odyssey many years ago and still more than happy with it

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Got a short game bundle of lessons at Pachesham (chipping, pitching, bunkers and putting). The putting is in a proper putting lab (Mark Roe putting studio - http://www.pacheshamgolf.co.uk/sam_putting_studio.htm#coaching) Not being flogged anything but intrigued to get some genuine feedback on my stroke.

 

[garyinderry]

I have played golf for over 30 years (rather than since July 2011) and can remember watching brilliant putters knock in yards of putts with great regularity over that time. Putter fitting was not invented when this was happening so how can it be of such material value now?

.

People have been adding bits, chopping bits off, bending bits, stuffing things in the handle for more than 30 years! People are a little more switched on to it these days. granted it wont help a poor putter get better, but it might, just might help someone to hole a few more putts.

 

[pokerjoke]

When I got fitted for my putter it gave me the most important ingredient.
Confidence.

 

[MadAdey]

If it is perfect for you then great. But if it makes that much of a difference then how come your handicap is unchanged in a year?

Apologies if that sounds argumentative - I am not trying to be clever, just a genuine question.

it is a fair point Shelly. If someone comes on here saying how good it is to have a custom fit putter, but there handicap has not moved, then the question has to be asked.

I have hardly played any golf all year due to being away most of the summer working. The 2 changes where at the start of the season. I have only played 7 rounds since August. But I am taking 3/4 less putts a round on average since getting this putter and shooting lower scores than last year and that is with hardly playing. But seeing how I have played this year the few times I have played, I am defiantly a couple of shots better than my handicap. Easy to say I am better than my handicap, but I am sure crow would agree after I played with him a couple of months back.

 

[Jon321]

When I got fitted for my Scotty:

http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/sh...utter-fitting&highlight=gareth+putter+fitting

I got re-fit after making a few changes in my stroke and, mainly, address posture. The changes always felt alien to me. I stuck it out for about 3 months practiceing for an hour a night at home and every opportunity when I could get to the course.

I never really settled. Spoke to my pro and we looked again at my stroke and reverted back to my Scotty.

Stroke is now more solid so no tinkering here for the forseeable future.

Only just reading this thread. My god the del mar is a sexy beast. I've got a Ping Anser 3 that's sitting with my spares that I can't bring myself to sell. I thought that was the nicest putter I'd seen but think the del mar tops it.

 

[danbaylis]

I am just over 6'2 and found going for a shorter putter (35 > 33.75) improved my putting (probably made me get over the ball properly). I have noticed I can creep up the grip though so I have to focus on gripping it properly. I tried the Odyssey putter fitting mirror and it reckons I suit a toe weighted putter. I might give a Versa #2 a whirl at birthday time. :clap:

 

[granters]

i've tried everything length wise over the last few years. Cut my old Anser down to 30 inches and putted well, then tried 40" and everything in between. Think my current putter is 34, but couldn't tell you. I like to change putter every now and then as it refocuses the mind on it. I wouldn't get fitted as i don't think i'd ever use the same putter for more than a year. I've also never found a one size fits all that suits me as it's such an individual part of the game. I always go with whatever feels right to me at the time, putting is an art, not a science in my mind