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How To Buy A Putter
Chuck Skillern, general manager of the Pro Golf Discount stores in San Diego, Calif., advises golfers to pay the most attention to the feel properties of a potential new putter.
“You have to pick it up and make sure it feels comfortable in your hands,” he says. “Second on the checklist is looks—you need to like the way it looks or you won’t be able to focus on the stroke. If it feels good and looks good to you, then you’re much more likely to put a good stroke on the putt.”
Skillern also recommends that you get fitted for your putter. A fitter will find your proper length, lie, loft, grip and head style to match your physique, stance, stroke and preference.
“Regarding length, if you need to set your hands lower on the grip to get closer to the ball so that your eyes are directly over the ball, then you probably need a shorter putter. Pay attention to the weight, too. If the putter is too light, you might overcompensate by adding too much right hand into the stroke, and you’ll pull the putt. Getting fitted for lie angle—the angle you rest the putter’s sole on the ground—is key to making a center hit on line. If you set the putter up too upright, you may scrape the toe along the green during your stroke, sending the putt to the right. Too flat and you’ll graze the heel against the grass, veering the putt left.”
—Scott Kramer
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TaylorMade Rossa CGB Series
www.taylormadegolf.com
(800) 888-CLUB | $158
 A quartet of racy flatsticks with the Anti-Skid Groove System and a low and deep CG.
Features: The polymer-filled grooves result in a truer roll. The
CGB technology uses tungsten rods or sole inserts to concentrate weight
in the heel and toe (a great thing in putters).
Advantages: The CGB arrangement gives each model (Suzuka pictured) a
low and deep CG. The CG location works in concert with the Anti-Skid
system to give each putt perfect trajectory (a phenomenon Rossa has
studied extensively).
What We Like: High-tech, reasonable price.
Lineup: Monza Corza, Mezza Monza, CGB Series
Putterhead: Stainless steel (cast)
Putterface: Titallium (milled)
Weight: 335 grams
Design(s): Daytona CGB, Sebring CGB—Heel-shafted heel-toe blade;
Lambeau CGB—Center-shafted blade; Suzuka CGB—Heel-shafted,
face-balanced mallet (available LH) |
Titleist Scotty Cameron Circa ’62 Series
www.titleist.com
(800) 225-8500 | $300
 With the onset of every season you can count on two things: the West
Coast Swing and something spectacular from the house of Scotty Cameron.
Features: Ultra-pure milled carbon steel; even purer shapes and aesthetics.
Advantages: The Circa ’62 (#1 pictured) putters are certainly for
flatstick connoisseurs, with magnificent craftsmanship, very cool Black
Oxide finish (oil rag included to keep it buffed and nice) and an array
of premium, handsome grips.
What We Like: Taking something old and making it look like the next great thing.
Lineup: Studio Style, Circa ‘62, Futura Phantom, Red X, Studio Design, American Classics
Putterhead: Carbon steel (milled)
Putterface: Same
Weight: N/A
Design(s): #1, #2, #3—Heel-shafted heel-toe blade; #4—Heel-shafted, face-balanced mallet (#2 available LH)
| Tour Edge V25
www.touredge.com
(800) 515-3343 | $299
 Adjustable-weight technology moves from the drivers to the flatstick arena, thanks to the Hydra-like V25.
Features: It looks like a mild-mannered mallet, until you come upon the
four individual weight ports and adjustable tungsten weight screws that
allow you to drastically change the putter’s performance.
Advantages: The 12-screw kit allows the user to play with over 140
grams of weight to create entirely unique feels, balance, weight and
performance. Experiment until you find the one that works best for your
stroke.
What We Like: With the potential of creating 25 different putters, you’re bound to find one that works. Kudos, Tour Edge!
Lineup: V25, Hovercraft, Automatic, BackDraft Series
Putterhead: Aluminum (milled)
Putterface: Same
Weight: 340-420 grams
Design(s): Heel-shafted, weight-adjustable mallet (no LH) | Yes! C-Groove Series
www.yesgolf.com
(800) 845-4327 | $190
 Used by Retief Goosen and a handful of other touring professionals, the
Yes! C-Groove putters continue to grow in popularity. New to the line
is the center-shafted Carolyne (pictured).
Features: A unique face design with curved, rainbow-shaped score lines
(grooves). These score lines are designed to slightly lift the ball up
upon impact, freeing it from its indentation on the putting surface and
helping to impart the desired end-over-end vertical spin.
Advantages: A nicer roll and the option of several available styles,
including mallet models in regular, belly or long shaft lengths.
What We Like: We’ve been fans of the C-Groove for years, and, yes, curved score lines on putters—not irons—are USGA-conforming.
Lineup: C-Groove Series
Putterhead: Stainless steel (cast)
Putterface: Stainless steel (milled)
Weight: 340 grams
Design(s): Multiple styles (available LH)
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