Putter technology

[ZGriswold83]

I have always wanted a Scotty Cameron. I never wanted to spend that kind of money on a putter though. Recently I got a raise at work and decided I can afford it and was going to go get fit for one. Then I got to thinking, if I'm going to spend that kind of money on a putter, I should really weigh my options. I started looking at Evnroll, sik, Odyssey 5k, etc. I have read both pros and cons about a lot of the tech based putters. Putting is probably the worst part of my game, so I'd love anything that could help me hit straighter putts. Any advice?

[Shushwap]

Get fit 

[jeff1727]

Go to a place that has SAM putting lab or Quintic (little harder to find) and get fit for a putter that matches your stroke tendencies and allows you to aim properly.  Once you find what specs work best, you can look at different putters to see what looks and feels the best to you.  

Edited March 5, 2023 by jeff1727
Added to info

[MattM97]

Get fit/lessons. 

 

Some people just need something simple with correct specs, others need as much tech as possible with correct specs. 

[Z1ggy16]

My mind goes back and forth on putter tech but ultimately what matters most is that your putter face angle is as close to 0* to target as possible at impact. I'm not sure that there's much tech out there that helps with that helps your face angle control. #2 most important would be strike location, which again... I'm not sure the putter head tech matters there. #3-the rest has to do with ball launch, speed and so on, which can be effected by the putter tech, but it probably accounts for the remaining 5-10% of factors that matter for making a putt.

 

I'd start first with a lesson/have a pro check your set up and stroke. If your mechanics are good, then ask yourself if your putting stats aren't great, then are you improperly reading greens? If not, then it's a speed control issue in which case maybe tech could help you there. I've also seen Gareth Rawflewski post some interesting stuff on IG about putting with respect to ball you use. With the same putter and various balls, using the same putter head speed, some balls were going 10-20% further than others, just because they were more efficient off the face. In that light, tech/putter type could make impacts, take for example an insert vs heavy milling vs 0 milling.

 

In summary, get with a pro to talk about it. Get your mechanics looked at. Get a fitting... Take a long hard think about your game and see what direction is best. I think personally tech is over rated. The best putters in the world could make putts with a brick on the end of a stick.

[cristphoto]

As stated earlier I’d get a few putting lessons and learn good green reading techniques. Then practice. A good putter won’t fix a bad stroke. Finally (if still necessary) go find a putter that works with your stroke. 

[CoolBreeze]

For me face tech on a putter comes after finding a putter that I can align properly and fit my type of stroke. Once I found those two things, I would explore if there are any face tech options available that fit those two criteria. Then I would test them out and see if I liked them. For me, an Evnroll face feels completely different than a milled face or any other groove face. Its not for anyone.

[jah7838]

You're going to want a putter that you feel like you can line up consistently and one that fits your putting stroke.  If those don't fit you, technology isn't going to help much.  One way to start is to take a few hours at a golf store and start putting with the different head shapes of the various putter brands that you have in mind and see how they all feel and which one you feel like you line up more consistently.

 

You can also do this at a local course if they have any demos that they're willing to let you take to the course or the putting green.  You can see how consistent the roll is with each putter style on a decent sized green and on different breaking putts.  Through trial and error, I've found that I do better with mallets that have some toe hang (slant necks preferably) and Anser style heads with a Site Line on the topline.  

 

You can get fit for a putter using SAM.  That will help give you data on how you putt with each, and it's worth the cost if you're committed to using that 1 putter.  Trying a bunch of putters before hand will help you and the fitter have an idea of what you feel you like putting with and then selections can be narrowed down from there.