HOW TO…
W
hen buying a putter for that
special someone on your
holiday shopping list, it's
important to remember that
one size and shape definitely does not fit all.
"Buying a putter as a holiday gift is a
great gesture," said Ted Shandi, Store Man-
ager of Van's Golf Shops in Phoenix. "It's
always nice to help someone's putting game
out with a new flat stick, but there are a few
things to pay attention to when shopping."
According to Shandi, the three main fac-
tors to consider are putter length, head
shape, and insert vs. non-insert. Here's a
look at what you need to know…
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The long and short of it
Putter length is perhaps the most signifi-
cant – and most obvious – characteristic to
discern.
In general, a 32-inch putter is recom-
mended for golfers who are between 5-foot
and 5-foot-4-inches; 33-inch for those 5-foot-
5-inches to 5-foot-8-inches; 34-inch between
5-foot-9-inch and 6-foot; and 35-inch if they
stand between 6-foot and 6-foot-4-inches.
"A good rule of thumb for ensuring the
correct putter length is that once a golfer has
addressed the ball and taken their stance,
their eyes should be directly over the ball or
no more inside than the heel of the putter,"
Shandi says. "It's very important to have the
correct putter length because without your
eyes being over the intended line of the
putt, it is more likely that most golfers will
not start the putter on the correct line or the
line they intend to start it on."
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Shapes and sizes
There are two main types of head shapes
in putter design – the blade and the mallet.
As Shandi explains, the blade features a
narrower design that is typically used by
players who are looking for more feel and
who don't need help with putter head align-
ment. The mallet design, meanwhile, offers
a larger club head that comes in a variety of
shapes – typically a more squared-off head
with more substantial weighting.
"Mallets are often used by players who
need help aligning the putter head to their
intended line," he said.
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To insert or not to insert?
This is where it comes in handy to know a
little about the golfer you are buying for.
"Choosing a putter with an insert versus
one without is about feel," Shandi said. "A
non-insert putter tends to feel a little firmer
and has more of a click to it at impact, while
an inserted putter will tend to feel softer.
This is mostly about personal preference."
CHOOSE WISELY
What you should know when buying a putter as a gift
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VIDEO EXTRA! Michael Bradley, Director of
Marketing for Scotty Cameron Putters, shares his
insight on length, weighting and design aspects.
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