Putter fitting: Simulator vs Demo Day or real grass fitting

I've sold myself on getting a putter fitting when this quarantine is over. For those who have been through a putter fitting, did you do a fitting based on data (SAM putt lab, etc) or did you do a fitting on a putting green?

There have been quite a few times where I convinced myself I had found the answer while putting indoors on artificial surfaces, only to get outside on real grass and see very different results. If you had a data-driven putter fitting, how well did those results translate when you got out on an actual course?

I did a putter fitter at Club Champion using SAM putt lab. This was over a year ago and I've been really pleased with the results. I learned a lot about my putter stroke, not needing a face balanced which I'd been using for years, etc. Definitely was worth the cost. I've seen lasting results on the course.

I did a putter fitting at a CC last fall. I was more interested in finding out if what I had was helping/hurting me. The SAM results were pretty interesting, and came to find out I had/have an incredibly consistent stroke and my tick (forward press) to start the stroke always take the loft down ~1*. It was found that a mid-mallet with little less toe hang would help out a little more, so we tested, then ordered, a Ping Sigma 2 Arna.

Ideally, SAM for that the data shows.

Then on real grass to confirm what the numbers say, keeping in mind that sometimes implementing what SAM say may take some commitment.

Over the years I actually fit myself pretty well with a putter according to the SAM setup at Club Champion. It was a Wilson R90 putter that I had bent more upright and lengthened. Anyway my alignment was good, impact was good, path was good. They recommended a little less loft as I was launching it a little high and a one degree change in lie angle from 74 to 73 degrees. The fitter offered to bend the putter for so I figured why not? After he bent it I could no longer putt very well with it and soon realized that the face insert was loose. This might have been a result of bending the putter or it might have been something that was going to happen anyway. I made a new insert for it but it never was quite the same so I bought a stroke lab putter from Callaway Preowned and modified it to my liking and all is good!

At any rate my recommendation would be to try a putter fitting and see what they say about your stroke and what sort of putter they recommend. If your stroke is good and you really like the recommended putter then what the heck go for it. Otherwise take your time and try a lot of putters preferably outside on the practice green or playing. I have several times thought that I had a great putter setup based on indoor practice only to find out that I did not like that particular putter at all while actually playing. Good luck and happy hunting!

1 Have main putter + your number one backup,with Same grips length weight.

These are tested on Grass eg a round of golf.

2 All the other putters are just experimental.....and some will be really good BUT just not offer the Wow/Cool

factor and will get sold eg Cleveland cs mallet.Thats life.

3 Get a lesson.Several lessons...then watch videos

4 I practice putting prior to most games.Thats all.

Nothing scientific here.

Just use grass check eyeline and aim and don't overthink.

Take Care.

If you have a repeatable stroke - SAM will provide data to show what putter and specifications give you the best results putting on the target line.

If you putt great indoors but not on the course, your problem might be that you don’t read greens well. No putter fitting will help with that.

Hahah this is so true. I went to my fitter the other week to hit some putts for fun after a gapping and was 10/10 from their 10-12 feet straight putts. Get on the course and it's a completely different story. I feel as if I'm more blind than Helen Keller reading greens sometimes.

I also did one at Club Champion with the SAM and learned a lot. I was pleased with how well my putting stroke was and also how consistent it was. I could use blade or mallet with my slight arc and be just fine. Also I shocked to learn how far my gamer was out of loft and lie! It was up to 4.5* loft and I thought it was more around 3*, they got it back to 2.7* or something right under 3*. I thought I would not be able to tell but boy was I wrong. The very next putt after they adjusted I could tell how much better the ball rolled for the first few feet. Even the next round I played it was just so much smoother. Very neat tech and would recommend going that route for anybody wanting to improve their putting.