Harper Lin
There are several factors to consider when choosing a putter as a beginner golfer. Firstly, it is important to find a putter that feels comfortable and suits your natural putting stroke. The putter grip and shaft length can affect your confidence and comfort, so it is advisable to try different models in person before purchasing. Additionally, the design of the putter head plays a significant role in performance and feel. Mallet putters, with their larger head shapes, offer more forgiveness on off-centre strikes and can help minimize twisting, making them a popular choice for beginners. However, blade putters, with their minimalistic design, are preferred by some golfers despite being less forgiving. Budget is also a key consideration, with options available at various price points, including pre-loved clubs that offer significant savings. Ultimately, the best putter for a beginner golfer is one that feels comfortable, suits their stroke, and boosts their confidence on the greens.
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What You'll Learn
Mallet putters are forgiving and help with alignment
While there is no definitive rule for choosing the best putter for a beginner golfer, mallet putters are generally recommended for those new to the game.
Mallet putters offer forgiveness on off-centre strikes, which is beneficial for beginners who often struggle to consistently strike the ball in the middle of the face. The weight of the clubhead can be distributed around the perimeter to help minimise twisting and create a more stable, even stroke. The larger head shape of mallet putters also provides a larger sweet spot, allowing players to get away with less precision when putting.
Mallet putters also offer clear alignment benefits. The larger head shape provides more surface area for alignment aids, such as longer alignment lines, which can help improve accuracy and consistency on the greens. Some mallet putters feature contrasting white lines that frame the golf ball, aiding in precise aiming. The weight distribution of mallet putters also helps with alignment by promoting a straight back and straight-through swing type.
When choosing a mallet putter, it is important to consider the feel and comfort of the club in your hands. While mallet putters offer forgiveness and alignment benefits, they may not suit players who prefer the feel of a smaller, lighter, and more compact putter. It is recommended to try out different putters and find one that suits your natural putting stroke and provides the desired level of feel and comfort.
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Blade putters are traditional but less forgiving
When it comes to choosing a putter, golfers need to consider their level of skill, type of stroke, and personal preferences. While putters come in various head designs, blade putters are traditional and have been regarded as the "player's putter". They feature a straight club head and a narrow or non-existent flange, with various neck setups. Blade putters are typically favoured by players with an arced putting stroke as they promote a swinging gate and a more flowing stroke.
However, blade putters are less forgiving than mallet putters. Mallet putters offer more forgiveness on off-centre strikes due to their larger head shapes and higher moment of inertia (MOI). The higher the MOI, the less the club head will turn through impact, resulting in a smoother and more even stroke. Additionally, mallet putters have larger sweet spots, which can be beneficial for beginner golfers who may struggle with consistent ball-striking.
While blade putters offer better "'feel' and precision, they might be harder to line up and keep straight. On the other hand, mallet putters are easier to align and keep straight through the ball, but they may have less feel and precision. Ultimately, the choice between a blade and a mallet putter comes down to personal preference and what the golfer feels more comfortable and confident with.
Beginner golfers should prioritize finding a putter that suits their natural putting stroke and provides the desired level of feel at impact. It is recommended to get fitted for a putter to ensure proper length and weight, which can improve performance and consistency. Additionally, considering factors such as shaft length, clubhead weight, balance, and shape can help golfers find a putter that suits their individual needs.
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![PGM Oversea Golf Putter - Putters for Men Right Handed & Left Handed - Blade Putter for Straighter Putts - [Length:33"-34"-35"]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61oRBz4sS1L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Budgeting for a putter
Firstly, it is important to note that putters can be quite expensive, with some putters costing upwards of $400. However, this does not mean that a more expensive putter is better suited for you. The most important aspect when budgeting for a putter is to find one that suits your swing type and feels comfortable in your hands.
If you are a beginner, it is recommended to allocate between 10 to 20% of your budget for your putter. You can find putters for as little as $20, but it is important to prioritize comfort and feel over price. Additionally, if you are just starting, consider looking for used putters or hand-me-downs, which can offer high-quality options at a fraction of the original price.
When choosing a putter, it is essential to consider the different parts that make up the club, such as shaft length, clubhead weight, balance, and shape. Make sure to try out different putters to find the one that suits your natural putting stroke and provides the desired level of feel for the ball at impact.
In terms of specific putter types, mallet putters are often recommended for beginners due to their larger head shapes, which provide increased stability and a higher moment of inertia (MOI). This results in a smoother and more even stroke, as well as a larger sweet spot, which can be beneficial for beginners who may not consistently strike the ball in the center of the face.
Ultimately, the best putter for you is the one that feels right and gives you confidence when standing over the ball. While price can be a factor, it is not indicative of performance, and it is possible to find excellent putters at various price points.
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Putter testing and fitting
Loft
The loft of a putter refers to the angle of the clubface, which affects the launch and spin of the ball. Most putters have a standard loft of four degrees, but it's important to test different lofts to find the optimal one for your stroke.
Length
The length of the putter shaft is crucial for achieving the correct posture and stroke. While height is a factor, other considerations include arm length and posture. Male golfers typically use putters ranging from 33 to 36 inches, but it's important to find the length that suits your stance and stroke.
Lie Angle
The lie angle of the putter refers to the angle between the shaft and the sole of the clubhead. This angle should be adjusted to match your stroke style and ensure the clubhead meets the ball with the correct orientation.
Head Shape
The head shape of a putter can vary, with traditional blade styles, mallets, and high MOI designs being the most common. Mallet putters are often recommended for beginners due to their larger head shape, which provides more stability and a higher MOI (Moment of Inertia). This reduces twisting on off-center hits and helps with alignment. However, some golfers may prefer the feel of a smaller, more compact blade putter.
Grip and Feel
The grip of the putter is crucial for confidence and comfort. Thicker grips reduce wrist action, while slimmer grips offer more feel but can be less forgiving if grip pressure fluctuates. It's important to find a grip that suits your stroke and feels comfortable in your hands. The overall feel of the putter, including its weight and balance, is also essential.
Stroke Style
Your putter should match your natural stroke style, whether it's straight-back, arched, or half-arched. Face-balanced putters are ideal for straight-back, straight-through strokes, while a toe-hang or blade putter may be better if you have an arcing stroke.
By considering these factors during putter testing and fitting, beginner golfers can find a putter that improves their performance, builds confidence, and enhances their enjoyment of the game.
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Putter grip and feel
The putter grip is one of the most important fundamentals in putting. The grip itself and how you feel holding it could be the extra boost needed for better performance. When purchasing a new putter grip, there are several factors to consider, such as shape, size, weight, and surface texture.
Putter grips come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including circles, ovals, flat ovals, pistols, and flat wides. Each provides a different feel and offers golfers with different swing types a variety of benefits. Circle shapes are the traditional style of putting grip and typically have a thinner grip than most other putters. They are great for players with more rotation in their swing. Pistol grip putters are another popular grip style and are better for players with a slight arc in their putting stroke. The ergonomic shape means they are wider at the top and are designed to deliver a closed face angle at impact, which helps to improve the connection you get with the golf ball.
The conventional grip is the most natural and comfortable of all putter grip styles. Golfers with arc-style strokes like how the conventional grip lets them "release" the putter through impact with the blade squaring up before closing after contact. Beginners usually learn this putter grip first. If you're currently struggling with a different grip, a switch to the conventional style could free up your hands and arms to get you stroking the golf ball more solidly.
The wrist lock putting style may be suitable for golfers whose hands tend to tense up. This style works with a longer shaft that runs along the arm. It has been engineered with a thicker top section on one side to "lock" itself in against your arm.
The putter grip you choose should feel right and sit nicely in your hands during the putting strike. You have to like what you are putting with because this will give you confidence when you're standing over the ball.
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Frequently asked questions
The best type of putter for a beginner golfer is a mallet putter. This is because mallet putters have a larger head shape that uses technology to stabilize the head and increase the moment of inertia (MOI). A higher MOI reduces twisting on off-centre hits, creating a more smooth and even stroke. Additionally, mallet putters tend to have larger sweet spots, which are beneficial for beginner golfers who are less consistent with ball-striking.
The Wilson Infinite Buckingham is a good option for beginners as it is affordable and has impressive performance across all distances. The Runner Mallet putter is also a good choice as it has consistent performance and is especially strong on medium and long putts. However, it is priced higher than other options.
Aside from the type of putter, you should also consider your feel for the ball and how comfortable you are with it. Other factors to consider include shaft length, clubhead weight, balance, shape, and price.
