Putter fitting might be the easiest thing any golfer can take advantage of, and though it’s rarely high on most golfers’ radars when it comes to clubfitting, getting this club right is essential to getting your putting stroke more consistent. Still, says Todd Sones, one of Golf Digest’s best teachers in America, it surprises him at how few amount of golfers utilise putter fittings.
Sones has been operating his “Scoring Zone” school devoted to the short game for more than 15 years, and he believes at least 60 percent of the players who come to that school use an ill-fitting putter.
“Very rarely do we see a player set up correctly and most often players are adapting to the putter instead of the other way around,” Sones says.
For putters, Sones says finding the proper putter length is the biggest key. Sones even provides an online putter-fitting tool on his website to help players figure out what might be a good length and weight for their ideal putter.
“Length affects setup, setup affects stroke, and weight matches with the right length for better feel and control.”
Of course, that tool might even be an adjusted version of the model or similar type to what you’re already using. Many putters offer sole weights to get the right length matched up with the right weight to perhaps retrofit your current putter. (Odyssey, Ping, TaylorMade and Titleist/Scotty Cameron all feature models with weights that can be tinkered with)
“The right putter gets a player in a better address position,” Sones said. “From there it not only makes it easier to teach someone to putt better, it consistently makes it easier for them to do what you’re asking them to do.”
