Nick's tip of the week

Maximise your scoring ability..

Putter Buying Guide

There is no doubting that the one area of the game that causes everyday golfers the most amount of stress is putting. Many golf careers have ended suddenly after yet another three-putt and there are few sports that can offer the frustration to match putting. 

The putter is by far the most used club in your bag and if you look at any professional tournament, it is almost always the player that putts the best that wins. 

However, putter technology like all golf technology is advancing to help us all. New types of putter are re-inventing many golfers' games and helping them lead a stress free golfing life. 

The following information will inform you on recent technology and help you discover which putter may save you shots on the green.

Types Of Putter 

Face Balanced Putters 

Face Balanced describes putters that have a face that faces upwards when you balance the shaft on your finger. This will mean that the centre of gravity is directly below the axis of the shaft. Face balanced putters will tend to open less on the backswing and close less on the follow-through, which is why they are recommended to players with a straight putting stroke.

Toe Balanced Putters 

Toe Balanced putters are putters whose toe wants points to the ground when you balance the shaft on your finger. This means the centre of gravity is not directly below the shaft axis. Toe balanced putters are more inclined to open and close throughout the stroke and are therefore better suited to players with an arc in their putting stroke. 

Not all putters are designed to be either face or balanced. Many putters fall somewhere in between, with some degree of toe hang. Golfers will find if they can match their stroke type to the correct balance of putter, they will be more consistent on the greens.

You can find out which type of stroke you have by visiting us your golf professionals or using a training aid like the iPING putting app. 

For more information on a buyer's guide to the best putter please click here. More information will include putter head ensigns shaft types and grip options.

   

Hole-out without fear 

Holing short putts is critical if you're to compile a good round; it can save a poor score and turn an average one into a competitive total. The pros on TV make it look easy, but even they struggle, so there's no need to panic if you're having difficulties from six feet and in. 

Confidence is a key factor, so here's a top tip for you to work with on the putting green, one that helps you to stop looking for the ball, which is a common fault. 

When you're worried about the result it's understandable that you might look where the ball is heading almost before you've even hit it. So, try putting a marker underneath the ball and keep focused on that after you've hit the ball. This will help maintain stability in your technique. 

There are plenty of tips out there to help putting, but this drill is simple and can work wonders. Give it a go and hopefully you'll reap the rewards. 

Don't hesitate to get in touch with the team if you want help with any aspect of your game by clicking here or speaking to my team in the pro shop.