Does your putter preference change?

[Mitchell]

After a few poor putting rounds several months ago, I decided to go back to basics in putters, reset my putting stroke, and go for simple putter with no alignment aid of any type, a Doglegright Retro 2, basically a modern interpretation of an 8802 style. As many of you may know, my previous go-to putter style has been any number of Anser4/Zing2 variants. Granted, the previously mentioned styles are all intended for a gated/arc stroke so on the surface, a change to a heel-shafted 8802 style to some may not seem a major switch. Getting to my convoluted point, recently tried to go back to Anser4/Zing2 styles and absolutely do not feel same level of comfort, even after putting reasonably well with same for vast majority of my time playing this game.

 

Do any posters have a similar experience with a putter experiment greatly changing your visual preferences from that point forward to the level that do not feel could ever go back to previous style?

[shart6]

Not to that extent but it is possible the 8802 style putter more naturally fits your stroke. In my case if my setup is off slightly I can putt effectively with an Anser or Anser2. If I'm setup correctly I'm a little off with Anser and an 8802 style putter is much better. But I've used an 8802 for most of the 46 years I've been golfing.

[Mitchell]

Toe hang for previous putters was very similar, just seems that rounded edges of club and lack of any alignment aid actually helps me see intended line better. I have always liked putters with a so-called "clean, uncluttered" look. Just can not seem to like any putter with markings of any kind, straight edges, or visual cavity parallel to intended line now.

Considering my recent experience, was just curious if others have noticed any similar change or even changed to style completely opposite from previously used?

[Geo]

Yuuuup. I changed. Once upon a time, I kind of self-fit myself into the Anser 4 based on looks at address and having luck with that style putter after buying lots of everything. Then I focused on that style putter from PING, Byron, TP Mills, Bettinardi, MACHINE, and others--basically anything with lots of toe hang (despite thinking i was sbst).

Even after a fitting at PING, I still insisted that I was better off with the Anser 4--considering all the coin I parted with in that endeavor, I couldn't afford to be wrong! But practicing with the iPING app showed me otherwise. My stroke is entirely more consistent with the slight arc-style putters. And I was able to identify inconsistencies and work on them.

Now I'm mostly about the B60, but also like Anser and Anser 2 style putters, with a milled B60 being my current fave. Close second is an M10. And I got a WRX Anser 2 coming next week. And there are several other greats in the rack.

In short: I gots issues.

[Stuart_G]

I have both a classic anser style putter and a big mallet and can switch on a daily basis. So, for me, changing the visual presentation is something that can be done fairly easily. I do find that some alignment line is helpful for me but not something I can't do without.

[pitbull808]

Well Mitchell since you were one of the few in the world to see me parting with some of my stash the other week, you may have noticed the multitude of styles in that hoard. I grew up putting with an Arnold Palmer blade..pretty much the style that was the most popular for anyone that golfed in the early 70's. Then moved to a Answer..the next most popular style. Later in the late 70's to mid 80's I was all about the blade 8802 style and then Napa's later through the 90's. Since then though I've gone with the newest and greatest mallet and then I've gone through every putter yearly that Cameron and Bettinardi made as well as the newest and greatest Ping, Odyssey, TM and Nike.

8802 styles and other heel shafted half mallets like the Wilson TPA XVIII (for putter aficionado's) Cameron Del Mar/Odyssey 9 styles have always worked the best for me feel wise. My distance control with those always seems to work best because the stroke I apply to them seems effortless. I've experimented with big mallets with double bend shafts because they were in fashion but never quite felt the touch I had with the heel shafted putters.

Now, I've pretty much settled myself to Anser and 8802 styles like I started golf with over forty years ago. Although I've tried the Anser 4 putters..probably because Geo (above) turned me on to his favorite style they've never quite worked as well for me as a plumbers neck Anser style. Even though I'd think with my liking of the 8802 style the toe hang on the 4 would be more to my liking. That again probably goes back to my youth where the plumbers neck on a Anser head just fits my eye better.

So in answer to your question...through the years and the thousands of putters I've bought, I've been able to switch through all kinds of styles. After forty years though I've settled on the two styles I started putting with back in the day. I actually took out an old 70's Anser this morning for old times sake. Tomorrow I'll be using a Miura KM009. I can switch daily with no problem. Probably why I still have too many putters.

[Medson]

I've putted with an Anser styled most of last year, I'm switching to a big mallet this year.

[bladehunter]

Same here Mitchell. My collection now covers the gambit of different neck choices. And after a while I seem to stop hitting the line as well and a fresh new look will instantly fix that. I don't know why. But it will. I have a plumbers neck Newport , a 1/2 shaft offset flow neck Mann Ma/66 that is heavy and counter balanced, a center shafted zero offset Mann mid mallet , and now on the way my second ma/66 which has a double bend Catalina style neck. Oh and my tad Moore long neck anser style which is face balanced plumbers neck. I can use all of them. But when one goes stale for some reason I can go say from plumbers to double bend and instantly start seeing the line and hitting a lot of putts. Recently went flow neck to center shafted and hit everything. But that's gone cold a bit too. I know I'll love the double bend when she arrives next week as I have owned Catalina's in the past and loved them. I wish I knew why it worked this way.


Edit. And I'm same as you on alignment aides. My eye wants to follow them back through the stroke instead of staying on the ball. No aide is my preference and any putter I have built is made that way.

[llamont]

I recently went from putting with a Ping Scottsdale "Mesquite" (mallet) to a Cleveland Classic H.B. 1i (anser style) to my current gamer, a YES! Olivia MB (flanged-back Bullseye style putter with really no visual aids except for a tiny white dot). The Olivia has been a game-changer as of recent. I really like the Mesquite and the Clvlnd Classic HB 1i but the Olivia has been performing in a league of it's own. I can't tell you why it's working, it just is...

[TJ_Horton]

A lot of it is stroke style

[Mitchell]

Unfortunately, my Retro2 sustained a bit of damage (not inflicted by me) recently that has it on injured reserve until some serious rehab can occur, so the search begins anew. On a positive note, have been using a Cleveland Designed by Crenshaw rather well in the interim, even though it is a bit light. While practicing earlier this afternoon, friend of mine was rolling a "new to him" putter much better than I am accustomed to seeing him putt- when I asked him about the putter, he told me he got it from a local shop over a year ago and just started using it. Upon closer inspection of putter, I realized it was one I had decided "didn't need" anymore around that same time.

[bneukam85]

I bounce around with different putter styles depending on how my putting was the last round and what mood I'm in when I head to the course. The only real consistency is that i prefer mallet style putters over blades. I have issues with lining up putts and having a consistent stroke with blade putters. I guess I just like to see a little more mass behind the ball.

[chenaus]

For years I've been playing the odyssey #7 models and absolutely loved them. When Scotty Cameron came out with the Futura X5 I immediately got one. After several rounds I just absolutely hated this style putter and decided to go to a blade. Since then I've been putting like a machine.

[mahonie]

After about 5 years of switching putters in order to find 'the one,' I sort of stumbled onto my ideal specification through trial and error and then bought a putter that matched that specification. I putted for 12 years with a 8813 and still gravitate occasionally back to it, although I know that it is too light. I still hole more long putts with the 8813 than with any other type of putter but I do miss a lot of three footers.

I found that an Anser-style with a head weight of 350g is my ideal compromise. I don't hole as many long putts but I rarely miss those three footers now. I'm also thinking that a modern 8802-style with a heavier head weight might still be my perfect putter.

[HandsomeMatt]

I have played a plumbers neck (too busy,too many pushes) a belly mallet, (not a proud moment), but the last couple years I've gamed 8802 styles for the most part, Robusto, Old Master, Designed by, BG 2200, an 8802 and an Arnold Original, pretty much that style head with no alignment mark. I've never been a great putter but figured I might as well play something I like the looks and feel of, had success but streaky . Yesterday I had an exceptional day ball striking and had looks at 6 birdies and missed all but one, a few were within 8 feet. I have always liked the looks and alignment style of a number 7 but never liked the double bend shaft and found myself spraying them all over the place when trying them in the store. Today at lunch I stopped in to GG just to see if they might have anything used and found a White Hot Pro 7 CS for insanely cheap and everything just felt right , I bought it and will even leave the previous owner's Claw grip on it. We'll see if it sticks but I had a potential personal best ruined yesterday because I couldn't see the line , I've decided to reexamine my putting game.

[fluffy265]

I naturally prefer 8802 style putters, yet I do struggle at times on the shorter putts. So that led me to CS putters ( #5 & FGP mallet) which made short putts automatic but then my long putts suffered.
Currenty I'm experimenting with a #9....

FWIW I find sight lines on 8802's distracting, they tend to divert my attention from the hole to my stroke ( which I'd rather not think about). With CS's and the #9, sight lines don't bother me at all.
I'm fine with light weight putters during practice but I can not get a feel for them on the course, largely because the rest of my bag plays very heavy.

J

[T-MAC]

I've switched from a Anser style putter to a mallet / mid mallet a couple of times. When my alignment gets off I will grab my (old style) Futura once in awhile. I've also tried putting with mid-mallets, like a Delmar and a Circa 6. But I always go back to the Anser style head in the end.
However, I have been switching back and forth from a plumbers neck to a flow neck over the past year or so.
I'm sure that's really going to screw me up!

[Swashbuckler]

I just went on a trip and played golf in Florida for a week. Always nervous about TSA / airline handling clubs. I detached my 915 Driver head and put it I my carry on instead. I also left my best flat stick at home out of fear. That Scotty is not replaceable for any amount. So I threw in an older Scotty Oil Can newport I've never used before, no sight line, original grip etc. it was strange I felt like, well it's not my true gamer so if my putting is off, I know why. I putted lights out as usual and kept getting comments from playing partners it was on fire and never go back. But if they only knew. If you are technically sound with a solid stroke it's a different game.

For me it's in your mind. I played with some guys who could ball strike sooo good, but they were terrified to putt even short ones they stiffed. I rarely change putters, sometimes travel or really poor weather, maybe course conditions or just to have fun, but the Anser/Newport/Newport2 is pure magic in my hands.

[blav28]

[quote name='T-MAC' timestamp='1429019419' post='11355335']
I've switched from a Anser style putter to a mallet / mid mallet a couple of times. When my alignment get off I will grab my (old style) Futura once in awhile. I've also tried putting with mid-mallets, like a Delmar and a Circa 6. But I always go back to the Anser style head in the end.
However, I have been switching back and forth from a plumbers neck to a flow neck over the past year or so.
I'm sure that's really going to screw me up!
[/quote]

I always go back to an Anser style as well. Tried out a number of mallets/garden tools (GoLo, GoLo 3, Spider Si, DLL...) and can never get comfortable. And the funny trhing is, I know that the ball goes straighter easier with the increased MOI. But I still can't do it.

[Marand]

For me it's a question of trade-offs. I have better distance control, especially on fast greens, with an Anser style putter. A recurring problem for me though is alignment, and I've found I handle that issue much better with mallet style putters. So I'm always pulled one way or the other depending on how successful I was in my most recent foray onto the course. At the moment I'm back to my mallet, the greens are slow.

[Birdie Wooster]

A few years ago there was an article in one of the magazines which claimed that your putter can become visually "stale", and that switching head styles can help you see the line better. They claimed to have data from tests to back this up. I seized on this scientific pretext to justify buying as many different putters as possible and, for what it's worth, I think there is something to it. Dave Stockton also advocates switching among very different head styles in his book, if I recall correctly.

[jrich61820]

i switch back and forth between a plumbers neck Anser style to a full off set 8802/Napa style blade every now and then when putts just don't seem to be dropping. My putters are all gamers, and they all know they had better perform, or the next putters up and will get it's shot until it runs cold:)

[Mitchell]

Update- Inspired by Pitbull and Geo, decided to "look around" for my default style in a local shop- enter a SS 34" Ping Zing2, since had some credit from trades, it came home with me along with a new grip. Went by another store to get grip installed and noticed an immaculate 34" Zing2 BeNi, so that left with me as well, along with the SS Zing2 with freshly installed grip and lead tape on sole. Off to the putting green at course near work, and rolled both very well. Full circle with putter preference- yups, gots issues as well
Btw, not parting with the Designed By either!

[Beastmode Broker]

I have putted w every style there is .... everything
I want, no I NEED, no I MUST put a plumbers neck Anser/blade style in my bag ........ cause I mean all the "cool kids" have one
but alas, I putt like absolute garbage w one
I line everything up left w one, and miss left w it too often

I feel SO comfortable w a heel shafted style, like a #9 half mallet or a slant neck/Newport 2.5 and do putt relatively well w one too
but I go the other way w them, leaving the face open and missing right, especially on 6-8 footers

so last year I go through an Edel fitting, which was 2 hours long
trying every head shape and hosel configuration I could imagine
almost settle on ...... yep a 1/2 shaft offset slant neck style, but at the last minute he tosses a centre shaft "like" neck, zero offset
I begin to make everything I look at - I mean everything
but no way I was spending $500+ on a putter., after 6 bag bumps over the winter

I take my specs to an OTR putter and the closest was an Odyssey 7 CS, Versa BWB
I hate the way it looks, I can't stand the feel off the face, I hate this putter
within a month of putting it in the bag, my index goes from a 4.3 to a 2.1 and I even snuck below a 2 at the end of last year
it was all putting, I was starting to make those 6-8 footers and I'm dropping more bombs over 20 feet

I want a new putter .... but how do I ???

[Ayoung19]

I'm a pretty big believer in changing up the look when the putting goes cold. I think it just frees up your mind and something new and fresh almost always instills confidence. I've tried pretty much everything out there, and currently game a Newport Beach Anser style blade, seem to be making more putts than I used to. Also switched to left hand low and am loving it.

[SwingBlues]

I do...but coach juniors so I need to know and work with all kinds of putting stroke.

My personal preferences will change at a whim as well. I use to be all over the 8802, now I am all over the Arm Lock Dart.

I have a MACHINE M2A with a long neck twisty and also a shaft with a rincon neck as an alternative. Now, I have a Megolodon arm lock coming. Soon, I hope.

I have a Byron Channel Island. Classic.

I also have some classic 1960s blade putters that I will pull out for a round or 2. Love those wrap around leather grips and the 32" shaft.


It makes life interesting but if I have to play for serious game/money - its the Arm Lock Dart with the Super Stroke 21" grip. Super comfortable and I cannot miss those 10 to 15 footers - point and shoot.

[ChrisBURR69]

YES! This is usually how it goes...

I'll decide on a putter to game and am super excited about. My collection consists of 8802 to mallets and everything in between. So I'll decide on an 8802 style then later in the day I'll decide to go to an anser! (Just an example)

It just depends on what I'm feeling ATM honesty!

[glensmithis]

[quote name='enis750' timestamp='1429890300' post='11433261']
I have putted w every style there is .... everything
I want, no I NEED, no I MUST put a plumbers neck Anser/blade style in my bag ........ cause I mean all the "cool kids" have one
but alas, I putt like absolute garbage w one
I line everything up left w one, and miss left w it too often

I feel SO comfortable w a heel shafted style, like a #9 half mallet or a slant neck/Newport 2.5 and do putt relatively well w one too
but I go the other way w them, leaving the face open and missing right, especially on 6-8 footers

so last year I go through an Edel fitting, which was 2 hours long
trying every head shape and hosel configuration I could imagine
almost settle on ...... yep a 1/2 shaft offset slant neck style, but at the last minute he tosses a centre shaft "like" neck, zero offset
I begin to make everything I look at - I mean everything
but no way I was spending $500+ on a putter., after 6 bag bumps over the winter

I take my specs to an OTR putter and the closest was an Odyssey 7 CS, Versa BWB
I hate the way it looks, I can't stand the feel off the face, I hate this putter
within a month of putting it in the bag, my index goes from a 4.3 to a 2.1 and I even snuck below a 2 at the end of last year
it was all putting, I was starting to make those 6-8 footers and I'm dropping more bombs over 20 feet

I want a new putter .... but how do I ???
[/quote]

Buy the Excel that you were fitted for. You will not need another putter for YEARS. It is well worth the money.

[Beastmode Broker]

[quote name='glensmithis' timestamp='1430164052' post='11452993']


Buy the Excel that you were fitted for. You will not need another putter for YEARS. It is well worth the money.
[/quote]

I did at the end of the year
hated it

[glensmithis]

[quote name='enis750' timestamp='1430164372' post='11453055']
[quote name='glensmithis' timestamp='1430164052' post='11452993']
Buy the Excel that you were fitted for. You will not need another putter for YEARS. It is well worth the money.
[/quote]

I did at the end of the year
hated it
[/quote]

I meant "Edel" but I think you understood. I know several people that struggled in the beginning getting used to their Edel putter. A lot of their struggle was that all the prior putters they weren't aiming correctly so they were making subconscious swing adjustment to make up for incorrect aim, myself included. I absolutely love my Edel now, I have 100% confidence that I am aimed correctly and IF I have read the green correctly, the ball will go in the hole.