Putting Series/Part 2: How to Choose the Right Putter
- Stuart Lambert
- Aug 25
- 11 min read
The Proper Way to Get Fit for the Right Putter for You
Why length, lie, loft, head shape, alignment, grip, and feel all matter when choosing the most-used club in your bag.
Walk into almost any golf shop and you will see dozens of putters. Blades, mallets, center-shafted models, plumber's necks, oversized grips, different alignment systems, different face materials, and putters ranging from relatively inexpensive to several hundred dollars.
So, how do you choose the right one?
For many golfers, the process goes something like this: pick up a putter that looks good, roll a few putts across the artificial putting green, make two or three in a row, look at the price tag, and decide whether it is going in the bag.
There is a better way.
A putter should be fit to the golfer just like a driver or set of irons.
In fact, I believe putter fitting deserves considerably more attention than most golfers give it. PGA.com describes the putter as the most-used club in the golfer's bag and recommends professional fitting whenever possible.[1]
The goal of a putter fitting is not simply to determine which putter feels best. A proper fitting should help answer several important questions:
Can you aim the putter correctly?
Does the putter match your natural setup?
Is it the correct length?
Is the lie angle correct?
Does the loft produce an appropriate launch and roll?
Does the head and neck design complement your stroke?
Can you consistently return the face to the ball?
Can you control speed and distance?
Most importantly, do you have confidence when you stand over the ball?
Let's look at what should happen during a proper putter fitting.
Start With the Golfer, Not the Putter
Before selecting a putter, I want to understand the golfer.
What putter are you currently using? How long have you had it? What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it?
Then we need to talk about performance.
Do you tend to miss putts to the right or left? Is speed control a problem? Are short putts uncomfortable? Do you struggle with long putts? Do you feel confident standing over a six-footer?
These questions matter because we are not simply trying to find a new putter.
We are trying to identify what the golfer needs the putter to do better.
The player's current putter also gives us a baseline. Before changing equipment, I want to see how the golfer aims, sets up, strokes the putt, strikes the ball, and controls distance with the equipment already in the bag.
Sometimes the answer is a new putter.
Sometimes it is an adjustment to the existing putter.
And sometimes the putter is perfectly fine and the golfer needs help with technique.
That distinction can save a golfer hundreds of dollars.
Putter Length Is More Important Than Most Golfers Realize
One of the first specifications I look at during a putter fitting is putter length. Many golfers simply purchase a 34- or 35-inch putter because that is what is available on the rack or because they have been told that a particular length is "standard." But your putter length should be determined by your natural posture, arm hang, hand position, eye position, and how the putter sits at address—not simply your height.
A golfer should be able to address the ball comfortably without reaching for the putter or becoming excessively hunched over.
If the putter is too long, the golfer may stand too upright, move farther away from the ball, or create a setup in which the putter no longer sits properly. If it is too short, the golfer may become excessively bent over and create unnecessary tension.
PGA Professional Christopher Foley notes that, in his coaching experience, at least 80% of the golfers he sees are playing putters that are too long. He also reports that while many retail putters have traditionally been sold at 35 or 36 inches, the majority of golfers he fits fall between 32 and 34 inches.[2]
That does not mean everyone should go home and cut two inches off their putter.
It means we should stop assuming that "standard" automatically means "correct."
What Can We Learn From PGA Tour Players?
Here is something I find particularly interesting.
According to PGA Professional John Crumbley, the average PGA Tour player is approximately 6 feet tall, yet the average putter used on Tour is approximately 33.5 inches.[3]
Think about that for a moment.
Many recreational golfers purchase a 35-inch putter because it is considered a standard length, while some of the best players in the world—many of whom are around six feet tall—use something shorter.
Why?
Because Tour professionals are generally fit for their equipment.
Patrick Cantlay provides a great example. Cantlay stands approximately six feet tall but has used a 33-inch putter. PGA.com notes that the shorter length allows his arms to hang freely and helps match the putter to his setup.[4]
The lesson is not that everyone should use a 33-inch putter.
The lesson is that your height alone does not determine your putter length. Two golfers who are both six feet tall can require different putter lengths because they may have different arm lengths, posture, hand height, eye position, and preferred distance from the golf ball.
"Standard Length" Does Not Mean "Correct Length"
Instead of asking:
"What is the standard putter length?"
I would rather ask:
"What is the correct putter length for you?"
Those are two very different questions. When I evaluate putter length, I want the golfer to establish a comfortable and athletic putting posture first.
Let the arms hang naturally.
Let the hands find their comfortable position.
Look at the relationship among the golfer's eyes, hands, ball, target line, and putter.
Then determine where the putter needs to be.
We should not hand a golfer a 35-inch putter and say: "Okay, now figure out how to stand."
We should do the opposite.
Establish the golfer's natural setup first, and then fit the putter to that setup.
Do not fit yourself to the putter.
Fit the putter to you.
Check the Lie Angle
Once we establish a comfortable length and setup, we can evaluate lie angle.
The putter should sit naturally at address rather than forcing the golfer to manipulate the hands or posture to accommodate the club.
Lie angle matters because it influences how the putter sits and can affect both aim and impact. PGA fitting guidance identifies lie angle, along with length, loft, and offset, as an important component of a properly fitted putter.[2]
This is another reason length and lie should not be evaluated independently.
Change the length and you may change the golfer's posture.
Change the posture and you may change the way the putter sits.
Everything is connected.
Your Putter Has Loft, Too
Yes, your putter has loft.
The ball begins a putt sitting slightly down in the grass. The putter needs an appropriate amount of effective loft at impact to get the ball out of that slight depression and transitioning efficiently toward forward roll.
Too much or too little effective loft can influence launch, skid, and roll.
PGA fitting guidance explains that excessive loft can cause the ball to hop, while insufficient loft can contribute to excessive skid.[2]
But the number stamped on the manufacturer's specification sheet does not tell the entire story.
What matters to the golfer is what is happening at impact.
A player who presses the hands forward can reduce effective loft. Another player may add loft through impact.
That means two golfers using exactly the same putter can deliver the club very differently.
Scotty Cameron's fitting guidance, for example, uses approximately 3.5 degrees of loft in many of its conventional designs and emphasizes the relationship among loft, setup, and roll.[5]
This is an area where putting-analysis technology can be particularly valuable.
Instead of guessing, we can measure.
Blade or Mallet?
This is probably the question golfers ask most often:
Should I use a blade or a mallet?
There is no universal answer. A traditional blade provides a compact appearance and may give some golfers a strong sense of face awareness. A larger mallet can provide greater stability and more extensive alignment features.
But do not assume better players should use blades and higher-handicap golfers should use mallets. That is far too simplistic.
PGA guidance notes that larger mallet designs may provide additional forgiveness and stability for golfers who struggle to consistently find the center of the face.[1]
The more important question is: Which head allows you to aim, strike, and control the ball most consistently?
You might love the appearance of a traditional blade but aim it poorly.
You might think a large mallet looks strange until you discover that you aim it beautifully and start rolling the ball better.
Performance gets the final vote.
Face Balance, Toe Hang, and Your Stroke
Different putters are designed to behave differently during the stroke.
Some have relatively little toe hang, while others have considerably more. Neck style, shaft position, and head design all contribute to how the putter wants to rotate.
Why does this matter?
Because golfers have different stroke patterns and different amounts of face rotation.
Scotty Cameron's fitting guidance explains that shorter necks and certain shaft configurations tend to increase toe flow, while longer necks and shaft positions closer to the center tend to reduce it.
The goal is to find a design that complements, or helps correct, the player's natural stroke rather than requiring excessive manipulation with the hands.[5]
You will often hear a simplified fitting rule: Straighter stroke = face-balanced putter.More arc = more toe hang.
That can be a useful starting point, but I would not treat it as an absolute rule. The better question is whether a particular head, shaft, and neck configuration helps the golfer consistently deliver the face where it needs to be at impact.
We are fitting performance, not labels.
Alignment May Be More Important Than You Think
One of the most overlooked elements of putter fitting is aim.
Give the same golfer several different putters and ask that golfer to aim each one at the same target. You may be surprised to discover that they are not all aimed in exactly the same direction.
Why?
Because golfers perceive shapes and alignment aids differently. One player may aim a traditional blade extremely well. Another may benefit from a long alignment line. Someone else may perform better with a dot, short line, contrasting visual elements, multiple lines, or the geometry of a mallet.
This is why choosing a putter based solely on appearance can be misleading.
A putter can look beautiful sitting on the rack and still be difficult for you to aim.
During a fitting, I want to know: Where do you think you are aiming, and where are you actually aiming?
That difference can be extremely important.
Grip Size and Shape Matter
The grip is another component golfers frequently overlook. Oversized putter grips have become popular because they can help reduce excessive hand and wrist activity for some golfers. But bigger is not automatically better.
A smaller grip may provide more feel and face awareness. A larger grip may provide a greater feeling of stability.
Grip shape matters as well. Pistol, flat-front, oversized, tapered, and non-tapered designs can all feel different in the hands.
PGA.com's putter-selection guidance notes that wider grips can help reduce wrist action, while grip weight can also change the golfer's perception of head weight.[1] The correct grip should allow you to hold the putter comfortably without excessive tension while maintaining awareness of the putter face.
Weight and Feel Affect Distance Control
A putter fitting should also evaluate head weight and overall feel. Some golfers perform better with a heavier putter because it provides a feeling of stability. Others prefer a lighter feel because it provides greater awareness and responsiveness.
Green speed can influence those preferences as well. PGA guidance suggests that heavier heads may be worth considering on slower greens, while lighter configurations may help retain feel on faster greens.[1] But once again, I would rather test than assume.
Hit putts from 20, 30, and 40 feet.
Where does the ball finish?
Can you repeatedly roll the ball into a reasonable proximity around the hole?
A putter that feels wonderful from five feet but makes it difficult for you to control a 40-foot putt may not be the best fit.
Do Not Test a Putter From Only One Distance
Never choose a putter simply because you made three consecutive six-footers on the golf shop's putting green.
A proper evaluation needs different distances. I like to evaluate approximately:
3–5 feet: face control and start direction
8–15 feet: aim, face control, and overall stroke compatibility
20–40+ feet: strike consistency and speed control
I also prefer starting with relatively straight putts because breaking putts introduce another variable: green reading.
Once we know the golfer can aim and start the ball properly, we can introduce different breaks and speeds.
Use Technology, But Do Not Ignore the Golfer
Modern putter fittings can use excellent technology to evaluate characteristics such as stroke path, face angle, impact location, launch, rotation, tempo, and roll. That information can be extremely valuable.
But numbers should not completely replace what the golfer sees and feels. I can show a golfer that Putter A produces excellent numbers, but if that golfer looks down at it and thinks, I hate this thing, we probably have a problem.
Confidence matters in putting.
The ideal putter combines measurable performance with comfort and confidence. When you place the putter behind the ball, you should feel like you can aim it. When you make the stroke, you should have awareness of the face. When the ball leaves the putter, the strike and sound should provide useful feedback.
And when you have a four-footer to win a match, you should not be thinking about your equipment.
Do Not Shop by Brand First
This may be one of the most important recommendations I can give.
Do not walk into a fitting saying: "I want a Scotty Cameron."
Or: "I want an Odyssey."
Or:"I want a PING."
Instead, walk in saying: "I want to find the putter that I aim, strike, and roll the best."
Then test different manufacturers, head shapes, neck configurations, alignment systems, lengths, weights, and grips. The name on the head cover does not make putts.
You do!
The Final Test: Can You Repeat It?
Ultimately, I am looking for repeatability.
One great putt tells me very little.
Ten, twenty, or thirty putts begin telling a story.
Can you repeatedly aim the putter?
Can you repeatedly strike near the center of the face?
Can you repeatedly start the ball on your intended line?
Can you repeatedly control distance?
And can you do those things without consciously manipulating the putter?
That is what we are looking for.
The Bottom Line
The right putter is not necessarily the most expensive putter.
It is not necessarily the newest putter.
It is not the putter your favorite Tour professional uses.
And it is definitely not automatically the putter that made three consecutive putts on the carpet at the golf shop.
The right putter is the one that fits your body, your eyes, your setup, your stroke, and your tendencies.
A proper putter fitting should evaluate:
Current putting tendencies
Natural posture and setup
Putter length
Lie angle
Loft and delivered loft
Head shape and stability
Face balance and toe hang
Neck and shaft configuration
Alignment and aim
Grip size and shape
Head weight and overall feel
Impact consistency
Start direction
Speed and distance control
Confidence
Putting is already difficult enough.
Your equipment should not make it harder.
Before spending $300, $400, $500, or more on your next putter, spend some time finding out what actually fits you. Get measured. Test different configurations. Compare the results. And whenever possible, work with a PGA Professional or qualified putter fitter who can evaluate both your equipment and your putting stroke.
You may discover that the putter you were planning to buy is perfect for you.
You may discover that a completely different model performs better. Or you may discover something even better:
The best putter for you might already be in your golf bag.
References & Additional Reading
1. PGA of America. Daniel Park, How to Choose the Perfect Putter (2024). PGA.com.Covers professional putter fitting, shaft length, head design, weight, and grip selection.
2. PGA of America. Christopher Foley, PGA, For Better Rolls, Fit Your Putter (2019). PGA.com.Discusses putter length, lie angle, loft, offset, setup, and the observation that many recreational golfers use putters that are too long.
3. PGA of America. John Crumbley, Getting Fit for Your Putter (2019). PGA.com.Discusses the difference between standard retail putter lengths and Tour fitting and reports an average PGA Tour player height of approximately six feet with an average putter length of 33.5 inches.
4. PGA of America. Lesson Learned: Making Pressure Putts Like Patrick Cantlay. PGA.com.Discusses Cantlay's 33-inch putter and the relationship among putter length, arm hang, setup, and stroke.
5. Scotty Cameron. The Art of Putting: Putter Selection Guide.Provides manufacturer fitting guidance regarding putter length, eye position, toe flow, neck design, grip, loft, lie, weight, and stroke characteristics.
About the Author
Stuart Lambert, PGA is a PGA Professional and golf instructor with Lambert Golf Academy. His teaching philosophy emphasizes helping golfers understand their individual games, improve through measurable fundamentals, and select equipment that complements their natural movement rather than forcing the golfer to compensate for improperly fitted equipment.
Ready to Find the Right Putter for Your Game?
Before buying your next putter, find out what actually fits you.
A proper putting evaluation can help identify the length, setup, head design, alignment system, grip, and other characteristics that best complement your stroke.
Contact Lambert Golf Academy to schedule a putting evaluation or putter fitting.
Better equipment doesn't replace a better stroke, but properly fitted equipment gives your stroke a better opportunity to perform.
Comments