Putting Part 1: Fitting Yourself For A Putter & Putting Grips

Before you go and bask in the art of putting, make sure you have a putter fit to you.  I strongly recommend doing so, because as it turns out, I was using a putter that was way too light for me and thus I lacked distance control; which made sense because I was having 3 or more - three putts a round when my ball striking was on.  The mental game is absolutely the most important thing yes, but you are really setting yourself up for failure if your putter is too long or too light or at the wrong lie angle.  Get to your local pro or golf shop and have them take a look.  The 5 factors that determine which putter is correct for you is:

lie angle - (impacts direction, read below)
weight of putter head - (impacts distance control and direction, read below)
loft angle - 

When you strike a putt the ball needs to be lifted up and out of its depression so that it can skid on top of the grass and not through it. When the putt is not lifted slightly or if it is lifted too high it will bounce. You will usually not see this bounce but it will make your skid and roll through different length putts inconsistent. This in turn makes it very difficult for you to consistently achieve the proper putt distance.

length of putter -

 Its importance is to place the golfer in the proper posture position with the eyes directly over the ball, or 0 inches inside the ball to about 1-2 inches inside the ball. Proper length also allows the golfer to have their arms hinging directly under the shoulders thus promoting a smooth stroke transition from slightly inside to square at impact to slightly inside on the follow through. This builds consistency in the stroke because it heavily influences both distance control and directional control. 

putter head design -

Every putter head design type and style has a different playability level associated with it. Some are easier to use for certain golfers than are others. For instance, a golfer who does not consistently hit the putt on or near the center of the putter face would benefit dramatically from a putter design with a much bigger sweet spot. On the other hand, a touring professional who impacts the putt consistently in a ¼” circle on the face can putt with any putter head style they like.

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If you cut down your putter, like I did, then it will be too light for you and you will have to add more weight to it (usually with lead tape).  Here is a baseline:


So if you cut down your putter by an inch, then you will need to add 20 grams to counterbalance, likewise if you cut down your putter by 2 inches, you will need to add 40 grams to counter balance!
My putter is currently 33" and is D-2, so 361 grams.  I had to add 24 grams of lead weight (I got 3 gram lead strips from Roger Dunn Golf Shops) to make it that, so before I added the weight I was putting with a putter which was too light (at 337 grams C-5).  All those years of frustration because of this!  I always had this feeling that the putter was too light in my hands, but I believed that it was my just my mind that was causing all those 3 putts (and I was thinking well too!).  Turns out that the mental game is not 100% of the case.  Just goes to show you why you should consult with the experts.

Moment of Inertia: resistance to a change in angular velocity about an axis of rotation.

Putting Styles
There are many number of putter styles and no one style is incorrect.  Basically it comes down to the grip that gives you the best distance control/ feel and then sticking with it.  



thumbs point down the center of the shaft, overlap left forefinger in between middle finger and 4th finger.



Adam Scott using the long putter with the right handed claw grip.


Louis Oostuizen with the reverse overlap grip


Webb Simpson with the belly putter.  Reverse overlap grip


Phil Mickelson with the claw grip


Always enjoy made putts!!!
Putting should be the most fun part of the game!  Think back to all those long putts that went in, or to all those great birdie and par putts to seal a great chip/ iron/ wood shot.  Giving your good and great putts surges of emotions will help you recall these memories when you go to the next hole, the next round, the next year.  This cultivates putting confidence and you will be an amazing putter.  When you come to the 18th hole on Sunday, you want your putter to be your best friend.  Remember to let loose a fist pump or two! :)