3 Main Putter Styles

For putter styles there are generally three common styles. Which is right for will depend on your style of golfing. The first, based on an earlier putter design, is the blade putter. Typically this type of putter should be left to golfers with plenty of skill, something we all hope to achieve.

The second design, sometimes considered the most copied design in putters, is the Pinger Anser. This design is somewhat of a modern standard. This putter is easier to use than the blade putter because it provides more forgiveness. This is due to the flange heel-toe weighted design.

The final style is the face-balanced mallet putter. When it comes to hitting the golf ball off center this putter gives the most forgiveness, making this the easiest putter to use for most golfers.

Moment of Inertia (MOI)

Moment of Inertia is the measure of an object to resist a change in its rotation. Much of the accuracy of a putter rests on its ability to not twist during impact. Efforts to reduce this twisting at the putter’s head are a large part of the putter design.

The higher the MOI of a particular putter the more resistance that putter will have to twisting when the ball is hit off center.

Shaft Design

The putter shaft will either enter the head at the center or at the heel. In addition to where the shaft enters the head there is also how it enters (hosel design) and the overall shape of the head.

When a shaft connects to the putter head at the center it will help reduce the twisting effect when it impacts the golf ball. Though physics supports this logic considering the impact is quite low this may not be as much of a concern compared to driving a golf ball. The longer the putt, the harder the impact, the more this will come into play.

Cost

This is perhaps the least important factor. Considering the wrong putter is expensive at any price and considering the price of the other clubs in your bag this will most likely be the cheapest of them all. Yet, you will use this club more than those expensive, high-tech drivers.

Inserts

Many putters will have some type of insert in the putter head. These inserts, as they are a different material form the rest of the head, will provide a different feel to the putter over solid based putters. Also the different materials used for the insert will give a different feel. An insert should not affect your accuracy so much but may affect how the ball rolls.

Alignment Markings/Aids

Aiming is a part of every golf swing and many manufactures will put various aiming aides on their putters. These come in the form of lines, circles, and other shapes on the putter head.

With most marketing claims these should reviewed with a little skepticism. They may work for some people and not with others. Just take a moment to view the aides and see if they help you line with your aim. If not don’t use them or select a different club.

These are just some of the putter characteristics you should consider when looking for a new putter. Just remember that no putter will make you an expert.

Titleist Newport Putter

The company’s Newport style putters feature bold red tour graphics with a great improvisation in the high toe profile. It also has integrated heel & toe circular sole weights and hence there is an option for having several options for adjusting lengths in each of the sub models.

The amazing feature is that these putters now have greater stability as the head rotation is lessened on off-center impacts. Also, one can avail both standard and heavier (+10 g) heads for the 34 and the 35 inch models. Moreover, the specialized high toe profile will help the player to perfect their aim at the left side of the target as the need to raise a toe is highly eliminated.

Titleist Studio Putter

Scotty’s Studio Putter is the result of research being carried out for so many years to bring the finest performances and overall feel for the game. These come under the brand name of titleist, featuring a precision milled block of 303 stainless steel. It is designed in such a way that the players can easily aim the ball to the nearby cup. This putter comes with interchangeable heel and toe weights, which makes way for a different combination of length and weight for each model.

Studio putters are available in three properly matched head weight to shaft length combinations from the company. A left handed Newport 2 and a squareback 1, is included in this category.

Titleist Kombi Putter

This putter is available in a mallet design and features a 6061 aircraft aluminum body. This advanced mallet design is available in Standard, Mid and Long models. These Kombi putters feature weight stabilization and weight to length ratios in such a manner that the center of gravity locates itself deep inside to give the player a great stroke. Also, the shape of this putter is pleasing in a way and also makes the face alignment easy. The visual thickness is greatly reduced because of the high contrast T shaped sight-line.

Titleist California Putter

These putters derive their inspiration from the Cameron’s early handmade designs. These classic designs have been proven to give tour winning performances in the past and now, with the combination of modern weighting technology this putter is surely one that every golfer should have in their kit. The new line up of Titleist California putters are surely something to look for while going putter shopping.

These are, like the previous ones, precision milled with 303 stainless steel and have adjustable heel and toe weights. The models available under this design are: Monterey, Coronado, Sonoma and Del Mar.

Some of the popular brands that manufacture putters are: Titliest, Odyssey, TaylorMade and Ping. Here we talk about the four brands in detail.

Titliest

This is the brand name of the Acushnet Company. Though initially famous for the production of golf balls, the company has achieved a remarkable stand in the manufacture of clubs, including Titliest putters, and other accessories as well. The brand has a list of players such as Adam Scott, Rory Mcllroy, Steve Stricker and Davis Love in contract. Apart from these names, Tiger Woods also carries a Titliest putter to date.

Odyssey

The American sporting goods company, Callaway Golf Company is the manufacturer of an array of golfing products. In the year 1997, Callaway acquired Odyssey sports and hence expanded its line of Odyssey putters. So now since the year 2000, we have the Odyssey White Hot Putter line for the golfers. There have been many top notch golfers who use the Odyssey putters and are in contract with the company, for the PGA, Nationwide, European, LPGA and the Champions tour.

TaylorMade

This is a subsidiary of the German based Adidas Company. TaylorMade has a good reputation in the golfing area and has continued the relentless work since its launch in the year 1979. It was in 2005 when this company achieved the title of being the #1 driver in golf. Besides this, the TaylorMade putters have been used by professional level players in most of the golf tours. Currently the labels that come under the recent putters include Rossa, Core Classics and Rossa TP.

Ping

This brand was invented by an American manufacturer, Karsten Solheim. He initially designed the club for his own use, but later his fame rose to great heights as the putters made by him were the talk of the town. These putters were also named as ‘musical putters’ as they produced a really sweet sound. Today; the lines of Ping putters manufactured by this company come under labels of Karsten, i Series, iWi, Redwood and IN.

Titleist Del Mar Putter

The Titleist Del Mar Putter is one of the finest putters available in the wide range of Titleist’s Scotty Cameron collection. This Cameron California putter features a fine finish of honey dipped and rich bronze touch which gives it a non glare appearance. The entire design of this putter is such that it keeps the putter in a square shape position while playing so that the player can get a proper alignment.

Not to forget that the circular heel-toe weights provide greater stability because of the CG placement. The features of this Del Mar Putter are further enhanced as it is a mid mallet putter with a double step flange and flow neck with a stepless steel shaft.

Titleist Futura Putter

After five years of initial crafting, the Titleist Futura was added to the list of clubs in the Scotty Cameron design. This putter is of an extremely new design as its features are pretty different from the rest. In the Futura, 75% of the weight is at the back while the remaining 25% is embedded in the face and the body design.

This weight design has made this putter stand out from others in the terms of getting the ball rolling immediately and it is astonishingly true that none of the putters before this one, performed in such a great way while testing at the Studio. The top line is designed in a way in which the putter gets a contoured look. Two plugs pulverized at the flip side of the face enhance the stability factor.

Titleist Style Putter

The Titleist Studio Style Newport 2.5 putter is made from finest stainless steel material and provides an overall better feel and also great response to the player’s touch. Most of the professional golfers who participate in the esteemed tours would have the classic Titleist Style putter in their kit of clubs.

The specialty of this putter is that it comes with German stainless steel face inlay which is further sustained by a pad that soaks up vibrations and hence the cushion can drive the ball to the destined cup easily.

Titleist Platinum Putter

If we were to quote most of the tour players directly about their views on the Titleist Platinum Putter then this is what they have to say, “This putter has the softest and the most precise feel ever with an addition to its advantage that it is beautifully balanced.” This platinum series was introduced by Scotty Cameron back in 1999 and still continues to be one of the most preferred putters by the reviewers as well as the tour players. These have a non glare finish and are available in 4 different models.