Why Heavier Putter Heads? What's So Bad About 330 Grams?

[EmperorPenguin]

This is more of a rant.  I consider myself a pretty good putter, with a true average of about one three-putt per round.  In my prime, I used to three-putt once every two rounds.  The key to my good putting was superb distance control on the first putt.  I have fifteen putters, all of which are relatively old.  I have a bunch of Pings, a couple Never Compromise putters, and most of my putters are pretty much Anser-style putters.  The industry refers to them as "blade putters," but to call my Anser 3 a blade putter when I have a couple George Low Wizard 600's is inaccurate.  One thing they all have in common is that the head weights are all about 330 grams, which I assume was standard at the time.

 

I liked the Titleist Scotty Cameron California series putters, so I decided to buy a first-generation Monterey (honey finish) and I gave it a try.  It had 15-gram weights and I thought it felt good on the practice green, but after playing a round with it and three-putting twice with it, I began to question what was wrong.  I thought that maybe a heavier head would help steady the stroke on the second putt, so I bought another Monterey (the second-generation sea mist) with 20-gram weights and gave that a try.  I was only excited up until the first green playing a tournament with it, and after three-putting four times I concluded that a heavier head was detrimental to my stroke.  For the second round of the tournament I set aside the Monterey and I put in my trusty Anser 3 putter and my distance control was back and I did not three-putt that round.  I ended up selling both Monterey putters at a slight loss for both, but glad to get rid of them, and to this day I do not have sellers remorse.  Just last week I played with an old-school Titleist Dead Center putter I bought online for just $20 and I didn't three-putt at all, so I am convinced that head weight is fundamental to distance control.

 

On a whim I bought a Ping 50th Anniversary (1959-2009) Anser putter.  It looked cool, so I wanted to give it a try.  I played a casual round and three-putted twice.  My distance control was not so good, and looking up the specs online, I found that the putter has a head weight of 350 grams.  Right now the club is sitting on the rack and I am on the fence to using it, so I may end up selling it soon, though to me it is too sexy to let go.  I might take it to my clubmaker and have him grind out 20 grams.

 

Why has the industry moved away from 330 grams to heavier?  People want faster greens, but heavier heads seem detrimental to good putting on greens running at 10 or higher.  I thought that for fast greens you should use lighter putters, and for slower use heavier; I follow Jack's advice and stick to a medium-weight (330g) putter.  However, I suppose that 350 grams is the new medium?  Maybe the fault is mine for sticking with 330 grams, that maybe I should start getting used to heavier heads, but the adage, If it ain't broken don't fix it holds very true to me.  I don't want to start practicing with 350 grams when I can putt well enough with 330, and I fear that practicing with the former will wreck my stroke.

 

I have not been in the market for a new putter, but for those of you who are familiar with today's high-end putters, I ask if you also notice the trend for heavier heads.  Also, I ask if you can putter better with today's heavier heads than yesterday's lighter heads.

Edited August 28, 2021 by EmperorPenguin

[MPAndreassi]

Personally, I play my putter heads all in the 370-375g, I play my putters shorter at 33”, and my club runs at 10+ all summer long. 
 

For me, the combination of the shorter length and heavier weight smooths put my stroke. If the head is too light my stroke gets quick and jerky. When it gets heavier than 375g I lose my speed control. 

[MattM97]

You went and answered your own questions multiple times in "it feels good to me". Same thing can be for others in that 350g feels great and 330g they have no speed control. 

 

Putting is so personal I'm sure if most guys posts their specs it will be a big range in what people like and putt best with. 

 

Like a lot of others when a putter gets too light for me my stroke isn't as smooth and kinda shakey/stabby. Would I try a lighter putter again? Sure, will I like it? If I can get the feel similar to my gamer sure. 

[Fairway14]

20 years ago heavier putter  heads were (for the first time) created to fit with extra long broomstick putters. Once the heavy heads were produced and assembled to the long shafts some were cut down to traditional 34" 35" length and players tried same.  The heavier heads then became popular because mishit putts with a 350 to 370 gram putter head "feel pretty good". In other words, as the head becomes heavier all impacts with the ball sound/feel decent. This is a stark contrast with traditional 315 to 320 gram putter heads weights where a mishit sounds/feels terrible.

[ALIF]

335 gram head for me. Any heavier and my distance control goes to crap.

[Fairway14]

53 minutes ago, EmperorPenguin said:

.  Just last week I played with an old-school Titleist Dead Center putter I bought online for just $20 and I didn't three-putt at all, so I am convinced that head weight is fundamental to distance control.

 

 

Titleist Dead Center lines of putters were of 320 gram head weight. Ping's 1960's, 70's, 80's putters were of 298 to 315 gram head weight. Nicklaus, Waston etc... won their Majors with putters of head weights at 310 to 315 grams. Johnny MIller shot his final round 63 to win the US Open with a 315 gram head weight Bullseye putter. Tiger won all of his US Junior , US Amateur, professional Major titles etc... with putters of head weights from 310 to 320 grams.

[Phabs]

Nothings wrong with lighter putter heads.  I have a 330g Cameron , 350g Cameron tour rat, 340g Compass, 350g Compass and a 350g DH89.  All personal preference…
 

Played my entire high school and collegiate career with the 330g Cameron. 

[PixlPutterman]

1 hour ago, ALIF said:

335 gram head for me. Any heavier and my distance control goes to crap.

Same here, had this made and the cavity milled out to get to 332g

 

Any excuse to show it off 😁

 

 

[rooski]

45 minutes ago, PixlPutterman said:

Same here, had this made and the cavity milled out to get to 332g

 

Any excuse to show it off 😁

 

 

 

I don't blame you that thing is beautiful. Would love to stroke a few with it

[RogerinNewZealand]

Just bought a Ping Pal,327gram head, similar to my Scotty.Was given an old Anser in feb..head was 289 grams,but super easy to use..i also like 330 to 345 so thats ok ps we have the luxury of being able to buy,rebuild,test..bag or sell as we like.

Suits me🙂

[ShortGolfer]

I don't know about high end, but I bought a cheap Pinemeadow putter with a 380g head and an Odyssey with a 360 gram head in the past few months.

I like the feel of both.

 

No, I don't think they work any better, as putting has always been the strongest part of my game.

[A.Princey]

The masses get what is handed to them, and a decade’s + marketing flavor has been towards heavier heads, whether people wanted it or not. Not only that, but the 2x4 putter grips these days make lighter heads feel like a feather, which also translates to heavier product releases. 
 

For me, going back to standard 305-330g heads with traditional grips brought so much more feel back into my putting. It’s night and day different, but in a very good way. 

 

 

 

[ShortGolfer]

Dick's Sporting Goods isn't going to pass up the money they get by selling after market grips.  If the grips need heavier heads that is what they are going to sell.

[shanx]

I rolled an old Ping Anser for years, added a mess of lead tape over the years, it got close to 360gms. 

 

This spring I pulled the old Anser out of the moth balls, the glob of lead tape had fallen off. 

 

I gamed it for a few early rounds for nostalgic reasons, didn't really roll it that well.

 

I'm bagging a 375g putter now, I just feel the head better..

[Pepperturbo]

Why?  Like so much in life, it's probably a trend.  Kinda like the trend of 60g range shafts in woods or strong lofted irons.

 

Whether it has merit depends on each person, their skill, and what feels comfortable.  I have played a heavier Tour weight head since 2004.  I bought my current SC Monterey in 2011.  It has a 360g head, D5 sw, and 34" length making it perfect of all sorts of green speeds. 

 

If YOU like a lighter weight putter feel, go for it.

[EmperorPenguin]

Yes, but the question is this: who was responsible for putters to trend toward heavy?  Scotty?

[luke1333]

19 minutes ago, EmperorPenguin said:

Yes, but the question is this: who was responsible for putters to trend toward heavy?  Scotty?

I would say everybody, Taylormade, Scotty, Odyssey, etc etc you name it. Every OTR is heavy nowadays from what I've seen. Maybe somebody else will know why but I don't know

 

 

I play 375g on wet/slow greens, 350g on your decently fast 10-12 on the stimp and anything fast usually breaks out my 326g I got last year just for the super fast greens.

 

I honestly don't know how people use super heavy putters on fast greens at all but I guess lot of practice dunno?

[Socrates]

40 minutes ago, EmperorPenguin said:

Yes, but the question is this: who was responsible for putters to trend toward heavy?  Scotty?

Every player on fast greens that got a little twitchy. 

[EmperorPenguin]

I remember Heavy Putter back in 2005.  Those putters were stupid heavy.  Maybe they started the trend?  Were putter heads prior to 2005 about 330 grams?

[RobotDoctor]

My two gamers are both around 350g and I've never putter better in terms of distance control on fast and medium speed greens.  On slow greens lag putting isn't as predictable.  Then again I really dislike slow greens so this could be a mental issue with me.  Putting alignment and starting the ball on line is also easier for me with a heavy putter as all I have to do is make a shoulder stroke.  A lighter putter seems to make my hands more active as mentally I feel I need to add something to the stroke.  

[ShortGolfer]

I did some reading and it seems the greens have gotten faster.  For everyone.  Well, maybe not at The Open, but most  us will never play there.  So the course has changed and the equipment follows.

Edited August 29, 2021 by ShortGolfer

[Medson]

Back in the old days, putting is more about the wrists. Hence, light putters make sense. 
 

nowadays, putting is more about using big muscles, e.g. rock the shoulders. Hence, I suppose heavy heads make sense. 
 

I oscillate between 340g and 350g. 

[Tupperwolf]

Different weights for different folks...  I really enjoy watching David Edel talk about putter weight.  Here's a good example from GolfWRX's own channel (the whole video is great but I skipped to the part I wanted to reference in the link)

 

 

[CasualLie]

One thing that has worked quite well for me this year is leading up to a tournament I play a heavy putter in casual rounds, then for a tournament back to lighter putter custom fit by Kevin Burns.  It helps so much with control/ feel.

 

I thought the trend towards heavier heads as of late is mostly two reasons - the trend to bigger grips, and market demand as more people started thinking 350g was "cooler" because before it was custom.

[dab]

I tried an 8802 style adams putter that had a 305 gram head weight. It was balanced so well I did not notice how light it was and putted very well with it.

[Fairway14]

18 hours ago, EmperorPenguin said:

Yes, but the question is this: who was responsible for putters to trend toward heavy?  Scotty?

 

The first heavy heads were produced for use with broomstick putters. Once the heads were out there, people started using them with traditional length shafts and liked that mishit putts sounded/felt decent (compared to traditional weight 300-320 gram heads which sound/feel hard when contact is not square).

[Superfast2.0]

With lots of people finding their distance control is better with blade putters, I kind of want to see what my distance control would be like with a 320-330g blade. I've practiced some with those weights but it felt like I couldn't ever feel the head because it was so light.

[ALIF]

On 8/28/2021 at 12:19 AM, PixlPutterman said:

Same here, had this made and the cavity milled out to get to 332g

 

Any excuse to show it off 😁

 

 

As a boy who grew up in Afton in south county, I appreciate the graphics!

[shanx]

I don't like changing putters depending on green speed, I think the change in weight would throw me off more than the speed.

 

I'm sticking with 375 gms, but I have a 365 gm too. My old Pings, Cleveland Classic, Odysseys are all around 330. I try them from time to time, but always go back to the heavy stuff.

[cardoustie]

Go Lo 7 35” with 35g weights … so 50 extra grams … I generally like 375g + … awesome for me on fast greens