Putting in the game of golf is more important than any other segment of the game. In selecting your putter that you will play with, there are many considerations. The different styles of putters you may choose from are varied.

Photo one above shows a goose neck blade model. Thinner from face to back, this model is for putting strokes that exhibit an open face at the back of the stroke and closed on the follow through. Also called a garden gate stroke. The goose neck can be modified to different lengths based on what the golfer is requiring. Usually lighter in weight and less forgiving, these models are preferred by better putters and for use on faster greens.

Photo two above shows a mallet style putter. This style of putter is generally the most forgiving putter made as the head is usually larger which offers a larger sweet spot.. These models come with no neck, goose necks, plumber neck (as in photo 3), or perhaps center shafted through the top center of the head. This style of putter is best for a golfer who tends to putt with a straight back, straight through putting stroke. This actually the best putter model for amateurs and people who struggle with the putting segment of the game.

Photo three shows what is called an anser style or heel toe putter. The neck varieties on this head are many as with the mallet. Regarded as being generally forgiving, these are a favorite among many golfers and come in various sizes. As you will notice in the photo, there are weight pads located in the heel and toe area. This provides a larger sweet spot which assists in negating a bad roll if the ball is not struck perfectly in the center of the face. This is in fact a model of putter that all players can utilize, good player or bad, as it provides forgiveness on off center strikes.

While the blade is generally not face balanced, the mallet and heel toe models can be face balanced depending on where the shaft is positioned in the head. When we talk of face balancing, this represents the face pointing to the sky when a fulcrum or balance point is placed under the shaft. When a fulcrum or balance point is placed under the shaft of a putter and the toe end of the putter leans toward the ground this is referred to as toe drop and is not face balanced. Again, face balanced putters are great for golfers who attempt to stroke their putt is a straight back straight through motion without opening the toe at the back of the stroke.

We hope this helps in the selection of a putter for your golf game. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Therefore, the putter you select has to look right to you and nobody else. You will sink more putts if you get something you like the looks of AND fits your putting stroke.