There are two ways to tell if a putter is fit for a golfer...

The first is the "now" fit, which basically assumes that the golfer will never change his putting style from what they are doing currently. So if a golfer stands very open and has their hands very low the "now" putter would have a very flat lie, as well as other modifications to help the golfer strike his putts squarely and accurately.

Obviously the problem with getting a putter fit like this is that if the golfer then changes their putting style the "now" fit putter will not be suited to them anymore.

The other main way to fit a putter is called the "pendulum" fit.

To get fit for a putter like this you've got to make a commitment that you'll learn to putt from a setup position that will encourage a pendulum stroke, and for this you need a putter that is the correct length and lie to fit your body size and shape.

And like the "now" fit putter if you get a "pendulum" fit putter and you change your putting style then your putter will not suit you anymore.

So I suggest you make a decision as to the style of putting you're going to use and stick with it for at least 12 months!

And the putting style I recommend and teach  is the pendulum putting style.

Why?

Simply because it's the easiest and most consistent way to putt. That's why most of the best putters in the world use that method of putting (I'll talk more about this later). And that's the method I'm going to be explaining in the rest of this article.

But if you follow my advice and learn to putt with a pendulum stroke it doesn't mean you have to stick with one putter forever (although if you find a great putter that is fit to you then you should).

No!

It simply means you keep the same style of putting but you know what specs you need in a putter, i.e. the lie and length when you decide you want to try a new putter.

So again I want to stress this, it's very important that you select a style of putting that you will stick with for at least 12 months and then get a putter specifically fitted to suit that style. And the putting style I suggest you learn and use for the next 12 months is the pendulum putting style.

Now after you get a putter that is fitted for you and the putting style you're going to use (hopefully the pendulum putting style) here's some things you may want to experiment with...

Shaft Flex

You can experiment with shaft flexes in putters but I've found that a firm shaft is good when using the pendulum putting method.

But there's no hard and fast rules on this because with experimentation you may find something else works better for you. An example of this is Ben Crenshaw who has a very flexible shaft in his putter because he likes to feel the shaft flex as he putts. Apparently it helps him to feel when his putter head is in perfect rhythm with his stroke and so he gets feedback when his rhythm is off.

Then other professional golfers want the stiffest shaft they can get in their putter. An example of this is Deane Beman, who was a great putter.

So it's very much a personal preference. But I suggest you have a firm putter shaft to start and then if you want to, experiment with other different shaft options to see if they help you to putt better

Use results as your guide on this and all the "suggestions" below.

 Face Balance                                               

You can easily check to see if a putter head is perfectly balanced or not simply by laying the club shaft across the top of your extended forefinger and balancing the putter there. If the putter head is perfectly balanced it will be horizontal with the ground.

But if you do this and your putter is on say, a 45 degree angle then it is not face balanced

You can easily check to see if a putter head is perfectly balanced or not simply by

laying the club shaft across the top of your extended forefinger and balancing the putter there. If the putter head is perfectly balanced it will be horizontal with the ground.

But if you do this and your putter is on say, a 45 degree angle then it is not face balanced.

Now the advantages of a face balanced putter is that it will help a golfer to keep the putterface square to the starting line of their putt throughout the putting stroke. However, please don't be convinced by marketing hype that a putter that is perfectly face balanced is suddenly going to have you holing putts from everywhere. Because you'll be very disappointed if you believe that.

Face balanced putters are game improvement clubs in my opinion. They're in the same class as game improvement irons and woods.

So by all means try a face balanced putter and see if it helps you to putt better. But always remember, it's much more important you have a putter that is fitted perfectly for you (i.e. the correct lie and length) than it is to have a perfectly face balanced putter.

Head Weight

You can get putters that are light or heavy and you can even get putters that allow you to change the head weight yourself, anytime you wish. But like shaft flex and face balance, head weight is a personal preference.

Some golfers putt better with light putters, some with heavy putters. Personally I've found that a medium to heavy putter helps to produce a pendulum putting stroke. But don't use that as a rule. That's only what I've found. Experiment and find what works best for you .

The Grip

Grips comes in many different shapes, colors and styles. And on this aspect of a putter I believe it's much better to have a thicker grip because that encourages a firm-wristed stroke which is what you want with a pendulum putting stroke.

Thin grips I've found tend to promote wristier strokes.

But again, experiment and find what works best with you. However on the putting grip I strongly suggest you err on the thicker side.

Now that's a selection of the major components of a putter that will have some impact on your putting results.

Of course there's lots of other things you can experiment with in putters, e.g. putter design (blade, mallet etc.), putter face material, color, alignment aids etc. etc.

There's no right or wrong with any of that.

But if you're going to successfully putt with a pendulum putting style you MUST find out what length and lie you need for your putter. .

So after you've found out the length and lie you need for your putter you can then experiment all you want with the other things as long as those two things always remain the same.

So, to sum this up....you need to pick a style of putting and stick to it for at least 12 months. And I strongly recommend the pendulum putting method.