So how do you guys pick out your putters?

Follow Thread

By george t

  • 0 Likes
  • 22 Replies
  1. george t

    george t
    Old Lyme, CT

    As I sit back and try to analyze my game this past year, my streaky putting really hurt me.  The hot streaks are way too short, and even when I'm having a good day making birdies, a 3-jack or two still finds a way on to the card.

    I'm not scientific at all in putter selection and have tried to not switch putters mid-season, a move that absolutely wrecked my 2012 league play.  So after a year with the SC Futura X Dual Balance, I'm hunting again.  I still have a California Fastback as well as the original Futura, but I have some pro shop credit to play with and a desire for a new putter.  The classic Newport 2 always catches my eye, but the Golo 3 has some appeal too.  Oh, decisions, decisions.  I could just get both and see which works best.

    How do you guys do it?

  2. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    I putted with the same putter for years ( an Anser)and then decided to try other putters. Went to a local Edwin Watts golf shop and putted with several different putters on their putting green and in my mind narrowed it down to a couple. Waited a couple of days and went back and tried the two that felt good and then made a choice. Ended up with a 2 ball and used that putter for a couple of years and then when the fatter super grips became popular got one of those and it has just made my putter that much better.

  3. Marc W

    Marc W
    las vegas, NV

    I've always used png putters but would like to get Scotty but not sure which one would benefit me the most.  I would love to get fitted for one at Encinitas but $350 seems crazy!

  4. Hey George I fill your pain I am a streaky putter also. Don't like to change putter either I been using a blade for a while put a large over sized grip on it first of year seemed to help keeping the face on line but lately starting missing putts i should make. looking at putters again maybe I just need more practice. Look forward to any comments you get.  Hit it Long and Straight buddy        Jim S

  5. NCBob

    NCBob
    Hampstead, NC

    I change putters frequently, have about 50 of them and will add one or two a year.  Nothing helps, But I love my putters.

  6. Spudstarch

    Spudstarch
    Walnut Creek, CA

    I chose the 2012 Monterey because I thought it looked the best. Then I just fit myself for the length and weight that felt most comfortable and had it adjusted. After that, I just learned how to make a pure stroke with it and that was that. When I first started, I am sure I would have been fitted to a mallet style putter but I couldn't stand the look of them.

  7. Bomber3

    Bomber3
    Lake St Louis, MO

    Military

    A few years back the wife of a friend on mine wanted to get him a new putter for Christmas.  She called me and asked what would be the best putter to get.  I told her that the putter is the most personal club in a golfers bag and I suggested she get him a gift card from one the golf stores instead so he could pick it out himself.

    Like everyone else, I've gone through my fair share of putters.  I currently have two that I use, one for nine years and the other for four.  I selected them pretty much the same way Carl did, go to the golf store, find one that suited my eye and felt right, try it out, and repeat the process once or twice over the coarse of a week until I was satisfied and then I bought it.  Both putters are Scotty's, the oldest, and most trusted, is a Futura Phantom mallet and the youngster is a Kombi-S.  I will swap them out during the season if I hit a dry spell and need a change.  Since the specs are almost identical, the biggest difference is the look at address.

    So George, whatever method you settle on for selecting a new putter, I wish you the best of luck.

  8. Bruce G

    Bruce G
    Ponte Vedra Beach Florida

    Hi George,

    You must try the new Scotty Cameron X5, my path is pretty straight back and thru. Tried the Odssey Metal X Milled #7 early this season, putted great all summer. Then last week, my Scotty arrived, making everything.

  9. John C

    John C
    Hopkins, MN

    I started last summer with a Scooty Cameron Red-X. I actually own two of them in different lengths. When I struggled with the Red-X I started playing around with the new adjustable balance putters like Scotty's Dual Balanced putters. I ultimately settled on the Odyssey mid-size mallet -- one of only two non-Titleist clubs in the bag. Although I find this putter helps on the knee knockers, I found it was even better at 8-12 feet. 

    P.S.  The Scotty Dual Balance putters are works of art. As much as I wanted one, they just didn't fit me as well. 

  10. Rick R

    Rick R
    Graham, WA

    Had my fair share of putters. Free to a couple hundred bucks each. What's in my bag now?... My old tired and true bullseye blade. Had it for over 2 decades now and still seems to be the best feeling putter I've tried. Sometimes technology isn't needed in game improvement. I did get a newer Scotty bullseye cover for it...I felt the old guy deserved it. My Ody Dforce is kinda cool though, I use it every here and again just for fun.

  11. Todd T

    Todd T
    San Diego, CA

    Military

    Being a Scotty junkie, I tried out every model when the guys get together to play. Only gaming a beached 009!

  12. Keith M

    Keith M
    Acworth, GA

    For me, I'm a bit old school.  A putter must fit these criteria:  35 inch, milled face, plumbing neck.  Visually, I have a hard time using anything else.  I don't have a Scotty currently, but have tried them many times.  Hopefully, the wife will get the hint(s) and pick me up a Newport for Christmas. 

    I've tried just about everything out there in a golf store and the Futura just isn't for me.  If the wife does get the hint and I get a Newport for Christmas, I'll have it regripped.  I just really don't like the look of the red pistolini grip.  I'll probably order the black from Scotty's website. 

  13. This may sound silly but my putters are like small works of art.  Each one I enjoy gaming and looking at...however the bottomline is confidence as to how much a specific putter gets played. 

    I will choose a putter first on the basis of toe flow.  I know in my game that I prefer minimal flow so the heel shafted putters are stricly wall hangers for me.  However, I very much enjoy the mallets so with that concept in mind I am able to narrow down the universe putters I will consider to put in the bag.

    Hope this helped!

    Good Luck

  14. Jim A

    Jim A
    Winona, MN

     

    Not sure how tall you are but I have found a significant improvement in going to the counter balance putters. They come in various lengths, styles, and weights. You can change your putter, but 1) if you don't practice you'll never really improve, 2) if you're not comfortable looking at it, you not going to practice with it.

    Find one you like to look at, swing it, and make sure it's square. Eliminate the variables and practice, practice, practice.

  15. Jed (cpt/tpi)

    Jed (cpt/tpi)
    cape cod

    check out Scotty Cameron's putter fitting guide on his website. Different necks cause different arc's in the back swing and follow through. I have a Fastback and a Newport 2. The fastback is lighter and has minimum toe flow compared to the Newport 2 which is 10 0z heavier and has a medium toe flow.  Both have the red baby T grip. I like to play the Fastback on faster greens and my Newport on my home course where the greens are fairly slow.

  16. andy r

    andy r
    Cheshire, CT

    In your opinion, if someone uses the straight back and straight thru method would a medium toe flow be preferred ? Thanks in advance for any assistance.
  17. John D

    John D
    Memphis, TN

    Have you ever considered it's more of a "user error problem" and not an equipment problem. Maybe you should just go to the putting green and do some drills to work on your whole stroke.
  18. george t

    george t
    Old Lyme, CT

    John D said:

    Have you ever considered it's more of a "user error problem" and not an equipment problem. Maybe you should just go to the putting green and do some drills to work on your whole stroke.

    User error problem???  How absurd!!!

    Hahahahaha, I'm kidding, of course there's some user error, but I did spend some long stretches working on drills that resulted in so-so results.  I also resisted the urge all season to switch putters, but now that 2014 golf is all but over, I do think it's time to look again.

    I've worked hard on SBST, but it hasn't been a natural transition, and the weight of the DB Futura X has also made those delicate 4 footers with some break a challenge speed wise.  Fortunately, I make most of them, but I have powered too many through the break and well past the hole.

  19. Speedy

    Speedy
    Newmarket, NH

    I feel for you George...   Seems like an issue you've been dealing with all summer huh? 

    I played with a png putter since day 1..   Until a few years ago i started seeing the Scotty around and it looked very appealing..  Look is one thing but the feel is another.  Went to my local golf store and tried out a few Scotty's they had some on display.   The one i fell in love with the most was the  2008 Studio Select Newport.  I like the style and the look but what sold me was the feel..   I could feel the weight of the putter and that's what i liked the most.  The png putter was too light for me and couldn't feel it. If you know what I mean?    

    Anyways, when I bought it right there and got it for $250 on sale..  To this day it's the best purchase I ever made and it's a club that will NEVER get replaced.  I'm actually thinking of sending it in to get personalized and all with Scotty this winter. I love it that much.

    And i highly recommend trying the BIG grips.  I put the Super Stroke Fatso 5.0 on this year and it really has made a difference in my putting..  The grip allows my wrist to stay steady and not move through the stroke..   I feel like i have more control. Worth trying out..

    In the end, the feel of the putter has to be there for you.  If you don't feel it, then don't get it.   With my Studio Select, it's like we were meant to be...   Good luck! 

      

  20. Allen L

    Allen L
    Clarington, OH

    No method, no science, no sense at all.  I just choose a putter based on feel and how it looks standing over a ball.  Then I'll spend a couple hours on a fast practice green to get a feel for how well I can make the putter work.  I will say that my Scotty Cameron did make a difference, more confident with my putter now, I have far fewer 3 putts, and a lot more 1 putts since I bought it. 

  21. Mike M

    Mike M
    Hamilton, OH

    I feel your pain, I putted with same model of Bulls Eye flange for 30 years, Great Club,    Putting was best part of my game, got the most practice. etc.

    I wanted to try something new, so I went to multiple locations vacatons, work trips, etc.) and tried different putters, I kept coming back to a Scotty.

    When I went to my local shop (Miles of Golf in Fairfield) I tried again a few that I had narrowed it down to, Doug H there worked with me on choosing a putter, but kept hearing me say, " I like how this one looks when I'm lined up for a shot." (Scotty GoLo 5S), He said,  Well, considering you been putting with same style of putter (Center Shafted single blade look  at top edge of Scotty) for 30 years, and it works for you, why stop now."

    After 20 putts, and some helpful hints, I was sure I made the right choice,

    Later on that month, Doug asked to to come back and see if they could offer any more advice,  I checked again against their SAM machine and it showed I was hitting the ball squarely , but just needed to work on consistency in stroke. That is what I have concentrated on and it has help tremendously.

    So I would say, Take a look at what you like and feels right ,get fitted by knowledgeable Pro with the right tools, and it will give you a lot of confidence you made the right decision.

    Then start working on the setup and stroke.

    Good Luck

     

    Good Luck

     

    Mike

  22. andy r

    andy r
    Cheshire, CT

    When it comes to putters my prospects become somewhat limited as I use the straight back and thru method and prefer the center balanced or center shafted model putters. Scotty's of that ilk are not easy to find. I would suggest getting fitted for a putter if you have not been already. I did a couple years ago it and shaved, on average, 3 putts around. Good luck in your hunt and play well George.
  23. Steve R

    Steve R
    Newnan, GA

    Just purchased the Select Squareback model last week! I recommend you see a fitter FIRST to make sure your stroke style matches the specs of the putter. Made the mistake of buying a face balanced putter off the rack and it turned out not to match my slight arc putting stoke. Also, the loft of the Odssey was only 1.5(most are 3 to 4 degrees). Now I understand why my putts were going left of target and short for the last year. Fortunately, my specs were stock for the Scotty models so I didn't have to custom order. If you get fitted for irons, why not your putter? Trust me... it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. My next step was PGA Tour Superstore where I spent almost one hour testing the Scotty Select Newport 2, Fastback, and Squareback. My first demo was the Squareback model(min. toe flow), and I made 3 in a row from 15 ft.....tried the others but, not as accurate, and finished the testing with the Squareback making 4 in a row from 15. Wow...can't tell you how much better the ball is coming off the putter, and I have 100% confidence now that I will make the putt.(saved 7 strokes the first round I put it in play)! It's well worth the time and investment. Enjoy your one putts!!

Please login to post a comment.

Sign In

Haven't registered for Team Titleist yet?

Sign Up