Is putter fitting overrated?

[nikegolfer93]

After watching a TXG putter fitting, I'm not that convinced at the usefulness of a putter fitting. At the end of the day, you are simply rolling a ball with a club. 

The greatest putters like Tiger, Brad Faxon, Seve, Crenshaw, etc. all used a very minimalistic blade putter with a steel shaft and thin grip. 

 

I'm sure the length and lie can be optimized to a golfer, but at the same time, do we really need to spend hundreds of dollars on a graphite shaft for a putter? That seems like a marketing gimmick to me. 

 

Brad Faxon actually mentioned a drill he did with Rory when he had some putting struggles. During the drill he made Rory putt with his 3 wood and Rory was effortlessly draining putts. The whole point of that drill was people are overcomplicating the art of putting. 

[Billfitz]

Different putters act differently. I used blades for decades, because that's what was available. When toe/heel weighted putters came along I switched, and they worker better. I didn't try high MOI when they first came out, but eventually got a TM Spider, mainly because it was on sale. The very first putt with it was a 'holy crap!' moment, because for the first time ever the ball went exactly on my intended line, thanks to the inherent stability of the putter. For it it was a perfect fit, and it knocked strokes off my game. I wouldn't say a formal fitting is required, but if you don't try different style putters you may never know that the perfect putter for you isn't necessarily the one in your bag.

[cfmgolf]

I would agree with the post above - while a high end fitting might not be for all of us, a basic fitting comparing a golfers arc stroke style and matching it to a putter that has those tendencies will make a difference.  Same for length.  I used a face balanced for years, went through a basic putter fitting, and learned that a slight toe hang would work better - and it has greatly improved my putting.  Might be between the ears, but scorecard shows better results.

[Maroon_19]

Is putter fitting overrated?
Short answer - No.
Longer answer - Hell no.
My answer - Having had a putter fitting with John at Artisan and having now played with the custom putter that was built based on that fitting for a year, I am a firm believer that a properly fit putter is a game-changer.  There were no computers or laser sighted anything.  There was no astro-turf.  There was three hours of putting on a bent-grass green, outside, in the elements, with a man that has spent his entire adult life fitting professional golfers into putters.  Short putts.  Long putts.  Straight putts.  Snakes.  Every five or six strokes John would hand me a different putter.  He didn't take any notes.  He just watched me putt and made little improvements in my stroke as we putted - grip pressure, follow through distance, shoulder stability.  We then went into the shop and he did a few measurements to make sure what he saw on the green matched up to the numbers in his head.  He told me to pick the putter head that I thought was the best looking head in the shop.  His firm belief is that if you don't like the way the putter looks, even if it is a perfect fit, you will never putt well with it.  He then built my putter.  Over this last year I've hit an average of 6 putts per round less than I was putting the year prior.  That is significant to me.

PROPER putter fitting is not overrated.

[MelloYello]

Do you need a super-expensive putter? 

 

No. 

 

Should you be aware of the basics like how much offset a putter has or where the shaft axis is aligned through the head (which dictates toe-hang)?

 

Yes.  

 

Do you need a "fitting" to tell you that? 

 

No. 

[phizzy30]

I think a basic putter fitting would benefit all golfers.  I was a horrendous putter when I started golf at 8 and struggled until college when my coach suggested I try the arc/closing gate style of putting made famous by Crenshaw and Tiger.  My putting improved immediately and to this day, that's the way I putt.  I started out with an blade/anser style putter, went to mallet, then switched back to blade.  I also had my putter adjusted to a flatter lie because I set up like Stricker with the heel coming off the ground although not as pronounced as his.  Used to play my putters at 35 inches before having it cut down an inch which also made a difference.  I also tend to feel of a heavier head so the two weights in my Newport 2 are 15 grams each.  The icing on the cake was when I switched over to a Super Stroke Tour 2.0 grip which helped me square the face more often as I have a tendency to shut the face and pull my putts.  Now, I consider myself a good to decent putter. 

Edited June 9, 2022 by phizzy30

[larryd3]

I had a putter fitting a couple years ago at Club Champion and probably the best $100 or $150 that I've spent.  Really made a big difference in my success on the greens.  Been using that same putter for over 2 years.  I figure I hit more shots with the putter than any other club during a round.  Everything else gets fit, so why not the club used the most?  

[2Down]

Knowing what shape weight length and grip works for whatever stroke you have is nice to know but currently most every putter is heavier than I like.   A fitting will fit you too one though, it’s a sales tool isn’t it.   
 

lessons on the other hand are useful aren’t they
   
I’m best with my anser for distance and I believe that is the single most important part of putting.  No one makes everything but having the speed right  usually leaves a short putt

[owdidoo]

I think so. Have always used face balanced putters since I have a straight back/forth stroke. Found cheap Yes Tracy II and Rife blade putters, and my putting have been awesome. I think it's whatever fits your eye. I do think the SuperStroke Pistol GT grip made a big difference though.

Edited June 9, 2022 by owdidoo

[Phabs]

No. 

[Boognish]

I just went through one last week for the first time, and it was a huge success.  I suspected my specs were off because I wasn't getting a good roll on the ball and didn't feel very comfortable in my set up.  Sure enough, my putter had too much loft (6* instead of 3*) and shaft was too long for me (needed 33", not 34" that I've used for 10 years) so my eyes were too far inside at address.  Fitter also made recommendations for toe hang specs based on my stroke arc.

 

Those two simple tweaks (loft/length) were huge for me and I instantly went out and had three straight solid tournament putting days, just by choking down on my grip to get in a better position and rolling it better with the loft corrected.  I didn't even buy a putter at the fitting, but it was definitely $80 well spent in my opinion.  I do plan to purchase a new putter at 33" soon.

 

BTW, what's the deal with my putter having 6 degrees of loft?   That was disappointing considering I bought it straight from Callaway and it was well maintained.

[me05501]

I just had a really successful putter fitting. I think it's something everyone should do once.

 

Here are the things I learned in the process:

• My stroke is very consistent when I'm faced with a stressless straight ten footer
• My stance and setup are fundamentally sound and I find the middle of the putter face consistently
• My optimal head type is a smallish mallet with a short slant neck (fortunately last year's gamer fits the bill so I didn't need a new putter and I can sell my collection of spares)
• My optimal lie angle is 68* which is 2* flatter than my putter was going into the fitting, so that got adjusted
• The left hand low grip I've been playing with this season works better for me in terms of starting the ball on my target line, so I can commit to that grip over the conventional grip I've used in the past
• Having a pro watch me stroke a bunch and give me a few ideas was worth the price of admission and the simple tips he gave me have been pure gold

These takeaways put me in a good position going forward because:

• I know the putter I have in my bag fits me very well, and I don't need to be auditioning others or swapping every season
• I know that I have a physically repeatable stroke, which tells me when my stroke goes wonky it has to do with my mental approach and commitment and not my physical ability

 

Putting is about confidence. I have more now than I did before the fitting/lesson. Case closed. 

[LoopySwing13]

First off, a putter fitting is absolutely worth doing. You spend most of your shots putting, isn’t that as important if not more, than any other club?

 

Expanded: I see two types of fitting as others have mentioned..

1) basic

2) advanced 

 

A basic fit will get things like loft, lie, grip, and head shape. This is pretty  important so at least directionally

you are able to play.

 

An advanced fit will allow you to further optimize and allow you to *potentially* play your best golf. 
 

I would argue this applies to any club in the bag. If you have a driver, irons, or whatever club that at least is fit to you somewhat, you should be able to play better golf. If you are fit for X length and whatever flex, that may not be “optimal” but should be “functional.” If you want to take that next step and be optimized, then you can do so.
 

Don’t get too hung up on numbers unless that is your preference or how you play, especially when it comes to putting. 

[NJBigFish22]

I have never had a putter fitting, but would consider it.  In my opinion a putter fitting is more about biomechanics than the club itself. 

[Billfitz]

On that I disagree. Good or bad I've had the same putter stroke for 50 years. I fiddled with it, but always came back to what was comfortable. When I got my TM Spider my putting got markedly better with no change to my comfortable stroke. Of course if no matter what style putter you use nothing works you need to fix the stroke, but that's a 'take a lesson' issue, not get a fitting.

[cav5]

ehh hard to say. first of all, most people aren't good putters even the ones that think they are. second, most people do not even have a process for how they

 

a good putter can putt with anything and score wouldn't change by more than a stroke. its just preference. you could chop an inch off my putter tonight i'm still gonna putt well tomorrow.

 

a putter fitting is just another way to find a little more of an edge if you're a good putter already

 

theres three things IMO to great putting

 

1. stroke mechanic

2. stroke aim

3. face aim

[Gohigh]

I think as long as your expectations are to find a putter that fits you, then perhaps a basic fitting probably wont hurt. I think length/loft/lie is pretty important in golf clubs in general. 

 

However, if your fitting came back with choices and options that doesnt fit your eye or feel, then regardless of what high speed cameras and sensors say, you probably shouldn't put on in play, unless you plan to have 10-15 foot straight putts all the time. 

 

More than anything else, I think a fitting might reveal certain weaknesses and flaws you should probably work on regardless of what putter you use. 

 

2 degree open face with 4 degree of out to in stroke and 4mm constant toe strikes cant be fixed by changing putter, shaft, or grip alone.

[iknowbagu]

Ok, fine, I'll be that guy ...

 

Yes, a putter fitting is totally overrated.  I'm not necessarily disputing anything any other poster has said so far.  If you found it was worth it to you, more power to you.  But I'd tend to argue that it was confirmation bias, or placebo, or both. 

 

At the end of the day, putting is 1000% feel and you can certainly find what feels and works best for you through trial and error without ever going through a fitting.

[RogerinNewZealand]

Eye Line...are you aiming/and is your Stroke Square To Target eg The Flag and Dominant Eye. Took me years and the Internet to understand all this. Now I only practice long eg 20 yards to Target. Then you test your perception of Aim etc. PP58 midsized! The Grip. $300 shafts?  7i DGS300 all you need🙂

[ducky50]

I 'm a big believer for any club fitting

[cjpsse]

Thoughts on the Edel putter fittings? Pretty illuminating to see how players align the putter relative to where they think its pointing when lining up. If you do it the same way evvvvvery time, awesome. But, if someone consistently lines up a few degrees off, and doesnt constantly practice, it has to lead to inconsistency in holing putts... 

[me05501]

10 minutes ago, iknowbagu said:

Ok, fine, I'll be that guy ...

 

Yes, a putter fitting is totally overrated.  I'm not necessarily disputing anything any other poster has said so far.  If you found it was worth it to you, more power to you.  But I'd tend to argue that it was confirmation bias, or placebo, or both. 

 

At the end of the day, putting is 1000% feel and you can certainly find what feels and works best for you through trial and error without ever going through a fitting.

 

Even if putting was 1000% feel (which I don't agree it is), wouldn't your feel improve using a putter that didn't fight your natural tendencies? 

 

 

[iknowbagu]

2 minutes ago, me05501 said:

 

Even if putting was 1000% feel (which I don't agree it is), wouldn't your feel improve using a putter that didn't fight your natural tendencies? 

 

 

 

Couldn't you find a putter that fits your natural tendencies from half an hour on your clubs putting green or even at a big box store?  Won't speak for anyone else, but I can usually tell within a few strokes if something doesn't work.  Admittedly, takes a little longer to find something that does.

[me05501]

16 minutes ago, iknowbagu said:

 

Couldn't you find a putter that fits your natural tendencies from half an hour on your clubs putting green or even at a big box store?  Won't speak for anyone else, but I can usually tell within a few strokes if something doesn't work.  Admittedly, takes a little longer to find something that does.

 

Probably, but a lot of people don't. 

 

I was playing with a guy last weekend who putts with the toe of his Anser-style way up in the air. He moaned all day about missing short ones to the left.

 

The easiest thing for him to do would be to have the putter bent flat so he can line up better and find the sweet spot more often. He could continue to stand too far from the ball but at least the putter would work better with his natural stroke. 

 

Or he could take a putting lesson, where the pro would teach him to stand up straighter and get his eyeline over the ball and sole his putter correctly. But chances are he'd eventually revert to what always felt comfortable in the first place. 

 

Putter fitting may be the only fitting that can really help a player even if he's unwilling to modify or improve his technique. 

[iknowbagu]

1 minute ago, me05501 said:

 

Or he could take a putting lesson

 

 

Well, at least we can agree on that piece.  Or at minimum, just practice.

 

The biggest piece of putting that we're all ignoring is the ability to read greens.  You can have a perfect stroke with a perfectly fit putter and if you're not reading it right, it's not going in.  I didn't articulate that earlier, but that goes hand-in-hand with my feel comment above because we're all going to see it differently a lot of the time, which in my head correlates to feel (listen to what I meant, not what I said, jeez). 

[me05501]

4 minutes ago, iknowbagu said:

 

Well, at least we can agree on that piece.  Or at minimum, just practice.

 

The biggest piece of putting that we're all ignoring is the ability to read greens.  You can have a perfect stroke with a perfectly fit putter and if you're not reading it right, it's not going in.  I didn't articulate that earlier, but that goes hand-in-hand with my feel comment above because we're all going to see it differently a lot of the time, which in my head correlates to feel (listen to what I meant, not what I said, jeez). 

 

Right on. But someone can read a green perfectly from behind the ball and have that read wrecked by their poor setup or poor choice of putters. The problem is they'll never know their reads are good because their results are awful. This ties the brain in knots and makes improving extremely difficult. 

 

This is why I am a believer in putting lessons, putter fitting AND putting practice!

[MMB1500]

Interesting topic.

 

I'm going to give a wishy-washy non-commital answer, which is yes and no.

 

A few years ago, I had an Edel putter fitting which was very enlightening in terms of my aiming tendencies and how offset and sightlines on a putter negatively influenced my aim.

 

As a result of that fitting, I purchased a custom Edel putter and...couldn't putt for sh!t with it. Distance control was horrible and I don't believe I was any more accurate with it that my off the shelf putters.

 

Overall I'm glad I didn't the fitting, not because of the putter I ended up with but because I now have a much better understanding of how to aim properly based on my vision, eye dominance and general tendencies. I now play an Odyssey White Hot 3, and I'm night and day better with it than my Edel. 🤷‍♂️

Edited June 9, 2022 by MMB1500

[Stevens24]

3 hours ago, iknowbagu said:

Ok, fine, I'll be that guy ...

 

Yes, a putter fitting is totally overrated.  I'm not necessarily disputing anything any other poster has said so far.  If you found it was worth it to you, more power to you.  But I'd tend to argue that it was confirmation bias, or placebo, or both. 

 

At the end of the day, putting is 1000% feel and you can certainly find what feels and works best for you through trial and error without ever going through a fitting.

I will disagree with this, I used a mallet style for multiple years and liked it. Had a fitting and realized that loft lie and style needed to be different based on my stroke tried a few different tweaks and had something completely different that worked better.  And trial and if you can "feel" that your putter needs 1 degree more loft great. But I was done in an hour and trial and error can take years

[GHIN n Juice]

I think the majority of a putter fitting can be done by one’s self on the practice green at your local golf shop.   Find a comfortable length and a weight that allows a free flowing stroke and you’re set.  Outside of length and head weight I have found little to no difference between head shapes.

[t91]

My wife got me one for A gift about 2 years ago.

 

was worth it to me, putting got better instantly and has stayed great.