Almost half the shots in a round of golf will be played with one club: the putter. Oddly enough putting ends up being the part of the game we practice the least and spend the least money on. Choosing the right one from the line of Technica putters can put you on the path toward lower scores.  

• Get a Grip

Select a Technica putter grip to fit your putting and the club itself. There are many types including the standard grip with a flat edge at a right angle to the blade, the textured and cord spiral grips and grips that are designed to compensate for elements of your putting swing.  

• Selecting Your Shaft Length

Most golf shops almost never have anything but standard length 35-inch putters. Many golfers are don't know the kind of difference in posture a longer or shorter Technica putters shaft can give. Golfers who have back problems probably would prefer a longer shaft that gives them a more upright position, but golfers who would rather bend down or have their arms hang vertically might be happier with a shorter Technica putter shaft in the 28-30 inch range.  

• What Type of Shaft?

Shaft type is an important choice. Although flexibility in a Technica putter shaft probably doesn't seem to matter as much as in an iron or metal-wood, given the lack of bend at impact. However, the shaft still conducts feel into your fingers and palms so you can assess pace and distance. Normally, shafts are made of steel but increasingly they're made of lightweight graphite. The material will influence the speed of the club head. If you experiment with different combinations of shaft and club head you will find one eventually that transmits the desired feeling to your hands on the grip.  

• The Lie Angle of The Putter

Too many players golf with the heel of the club on the ground and the toe in the air, which tends to result in a closing of the clubface at impact. Look for an angle that allows your feet to rest flat at address. If you intend to adjust the lie by bending the shaft, bear in mind that the rules of the game of golf don't allow bends of more than five inches from the heel of the club.  

• Loft

Loft is the angle between the clubface and perpendicular. Normally a putter will have between three and five degrees of loft. The function of loft is getting the golf ball to roll along the correct line. Golfers who play slower greens will likely do better with more loft. Hand position also can be important. If a player has a forward press or keeps their hands ahead of the golf ball at impact, they may want more loft to counteract the de-lofting that tends to force a golf ball into the ground and cause it to bounce. 

• Should Technica Putters Be Matched To Strokes?

Golfers with a pendulum-type putting stroke, where the path of the putter is straight back and straight through, will most likely benefit from a face-balanced type of Technica putter. Face-balanced means that when the Technica putter shaft is balanced on one finger, the putter face will point upwards. A right-handed player who frequently misses to the right and wants help closing the clubface at impact should opt for a face-balanced model. If he tends to miss to the left, a heel-shafted putter that resists closing may help.  

• Bald, Heel-Toe-Weighted, Mallet, Center-Shafted Technica Putters

A blade putter traditionally has a head that is a rounded extension of the shaft. Heel-toe-weighted Technica putters have the shaft grafted on to the hosel, usually at an angle. A mallet putter is more solid looking, with the weight behind the clubface. 

• Insert Faces

Why do putters have insert faces? Many manufacturers are putting insert faces on their putters in an attempt to improve feel. Many advanced players prefer them to help them judge both distance and pace. Additionally, they may help you match the feel to the type of golf ball you prefer.