Putter
The putter is the club for the green — a flat face, straight ball contact.
The putter is the most-used club of the round: more than a third of all strokes are putts. It has a flat or almost flat face, because the ball on the green is meant to roll rather than fly. There are blade putters with a narrow head and mallet putters with a large, stable head. In addition there are variants in shaft length and alignment aids. The choice is largely a matter of taste; what matters is trust in the feel at impact.
On the green, routine is what counts. An example: your ball lies four meters from the flag. You mark the ball, read the line from two directions, set up parallel and make two practice swings. Then you strike the ball at a calm tempo. The routine builds consistency, because it approaches every putt the same way. Since 2019 you may putt with the flagstick in, which speeds up the rhythm on the green.
Typical mistakes are aiming with the feet instead of the edge of the face and looking up at impact. Keep your head still until the ball is gone. You can also putt from the apron or the short grass at the edge when the path is clear. The putter is the safest club when the ball can roll. Practicing on the putting green costs nothing and brings more than any range session.
FAQ
How do I know whether a blade or a mallet putter suits me?
The blade putter with its narrow head rewards a feel-based, slightly arced putting stroke, while the large mallet head is more forgiving and suits a straight back-and-forth. Try both types on the putting green with ten putts from three meters — the head that makes your start line more stable is yours. In the end, the shape matters less than your confidence when you look at the ball.
May I also use the putter off the green?
Yes, that is within the rules and often the smartest choice. From the apron or the short grass at the edge of the green, the ball rolls more safely than if you chip it with a wedge — the rule of thumb is: if the ball can roll, let it roll. Only from deep rough or over hazards do you need a different club.
How do I find the right putter length for me?
Take your normal putting posture with your arms hanging relaxed, and measure the shaft length at which your eyes are over the ball and your hands hang freely. Standard lengths are usually between 33 and 35 inches, but your height and posture decide, not the shelf in the shop. A putter that is too long forces you into an upright stance with a jerky stroke, one that is too short into a hunched one.