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The Putter is the most frequently used golf club in a player’s set – be it over the shortest distance. Most importantly when selecting a golf putter, the putter must match your putting style and possess a "feel" that compliments you as a player.
Putter head shape, putter head materials, and grips are just a few of the tools club makers use to achieve the right feel.
Putter Head Shape
The greatest variations in putter design are in the shape of the head itself. From blade, to mallet, to oversize, the putter head shape greatly affects the performance of the particular club for the player.
The “blade” shape appears thin when you look down from the top, and it has no material behind it, offering a reduced level of forgiveness on off centre shots. A traditional blade putter head is about the thickness of your finger. Many blade putters retain a thin top line appearance, but have material on the back of the putter head that's been hollowed out in a cavity-back design to reduce twisting at contact.
A “mallet” shape is larger and wider than a blade, often having a broad surface that contacts the ground. Some “mallet” models include alignment lines to assist in lining up a putt. They can be as simple as a notch in the center of the top line of the putter, or as elaborate as a system of lines, circles and arrows pointing in the direction that you'll be hitting the ball. Some people find them distracting, but these lines used in conjunction with the trademark on the ball can aid putts tremendously.
Putter Head Materials
Most golf putter heads are made of stainless or carbon steel. Bronze and brass are also used, and provide a softer feel. Aluminum is also used for a soft feel and lightweight. Graphite, polymers and other plastics are used to make a putter head that is very resilient and very light. These materials generally make the head more expensive.
Putter Inserts
Golf putter heads have been the focus of a lot of experimentation in materials. Some have lightweight composite inserts in the face, which, by ratio, places more weight in the toe and heel. Inserts are a relatively new design element in putters. The insert is intended to provide greater response at contact. Most inserts are a synthetic material, although, some are a softer metal such as aluminum. The insert conforms to the ball on contact and generates a softer feel through the shaft and to your hands. The result is a more controlled roll. Sometimes, the face of metal putter heads are milled where the face is made perfectly flat by a high-speed tool that removes excess metal creating an extremely flat surface and maximized feel.
Putter Weight
Weight is the greatest contributor to how the golf putter feels in your hands. A putter head that is too light contributes to a putting style where the hands control the stroke, making the putter head pass through the contact zone too quickly. This usually causes putts to run long. A heavy putter head creates drag in the stroke. The putter head passes through the contact zone too slowly, causing putts to come up short.
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