Choosing the Right Golf Putter
 Regardless of your handicap, the golf putter will be the most used club in your arsenal. Most people do not spend enough time finding the right putter. Not only that, but it does not get enough attention while practicing. Finding the right putter and learning to use it are both crucial parts to your game.
So you might be wandering how to find your golf putter. After all, there is an endless supply of putter styles suitable to different golfers. You might actually find that there are multiple putters that you are comfortable with. That's fine, considering many golfers have more than one putter. While all the other clubs in your bag can be recommended to you based on factors already mentioned, finding the right golf putter deals strictly on what "feels" good to you. Other clubs are affected by feel, but not to the degree of a putter.
Putter "Feel"
There are many factors to take into consideration to give the feel of a golf putter including: how the putter feels after gripping it, the feel from the beginning of the stroke throughout contact with the ball. Some other considerations include grip material, shaft flex, putter head material (weight) and putter head design (weight distribution). The weight of the putter head is maybe the biggest "feel" factor.
Putter Head Material
Without getting too technical, I have included putter basics to get you on your way. I'll start with golf putter head material and shape. Many putter heads are made of multiple materials such as Stainless Steel and Bronze. Lighter materials such as Aluminum or Graphite are added to the putter head to give a softer feel. These are more expensive materials than steel though.
Putter Head Style
The putter head shape is generally a mallet or blade style. Blade putters are generally smaller than mallet putters and come in a narrow design or the newer, cavity-back design (see picture). The traditional design is generally used by better putters. It is not very forgiving on off-center putts and is less than an inch thick. Like other clubs, the tradeoff for less forgiveness on mishits is better control and accuracy when the sweetspot is hit. The cavity-back design has a hollow section on the back of the putter head. It helps keep the putter head straight after contacting the ball, so that there is minimal twisting.
The mallet putter is much larger and wider than a blade style putter. They are typically rounded at the heel, toe and back of the putter head. The face-balanced and heal-toe weighted putters distribute weight to allow consistent and straight putting. The heal-toe weighted putters have more mass at the toe and heel than the middle of the putter face. The length and lie of the putter are both worth mentioning. The standard putter is usually 35 inches long with a lie of 71 degrees. Even though it is considered standard by most manufacturers, that doesn't necessarily mean that you should buy a putter with those specifications. Professional golfers take all of this into consideration before buying a putter, so there has to be a reason, right? Putting does not have to be as difficult as it usually is. It just requires the right putter and practice. I can help you with the first part but the second part is up to you.
Determining Putter Length
The first step to determining the proper length for a conventional golf putter is to get in the right setup position. After placing the putter head directly behind the golf ball, grip the putter. Your back should be bent over far enough so that your eyes are directly above the ball. Your knees should be slightly bent as well. If your elbows are more than slightly bent at this position, this usually means that the putter is too long. You can putt with bent elbows, but it will cause you to tense up during the putt. You want to be relaxed during your putt so that you can focus on putting and not your arms. On the other hand, if you have bent elbows and try to relax, then another problem might arise. You could either end up topping the ball or hitting the ground while contacting the ball. The end result is a bad putt.
One thing that you can do to find the right length for you is go try one of the putters at your local pro shop. Chances are that you will find 35 inch putters but verify with the pro shop. With your eyes directly above the ball, grip the club at the point where your elbows are just slightly bent. If your top hand (left hand for right handed players) is 5 inches down the grip, then this means that you should probably be looking for a golf putter of about 31 inches (35-5+1). I have added 1 inch to the measurement as a safety margin. If you already own a 35" putter and it is too long, you might consider removing the grip, cutting the shaft with a saw, and then re-gripping. This would be a cheaper alternative to buying a new putter. Note, some people just prefer to choke down on the grip. Some people feel that this method does not work because the weight balance of the putter feels compromised. That is for you to decide.
Finding the Lie
Finding the correct lie is also a necessity for finding the right golf putter. Lie angle is defined as the angle made between ground and the shaft, once the sole of the putter head is laid flat on the ground. The lie helps control the direction that the ball goes right after impact. An incorrect lie is one where the heel or toe of the putter points upwards. This will result in a ball pushed to the right or left. It also might result in the ball only making contact with part of the putter head, which affects feel and might cause undesirable spin. The most upright lie angle allowed is 80 degrees. Once again, you can experiment with different putter lies at a pro shop or store. A custom fitting is the ideal solution to find the proper length and lie.
Putter Shaft
The putter is the only club where the shaft has very little significance. The length of the putter is smaller than all other clubs. Also, it is not swung at a high speed. For that reason, the shaft does not flex that much, regardless of the degree of stiffness. A regular flex might appear to flex, which could affect how the putter feels too you. It will not physically affect your putt, but it might affect the way the putt feels to you. It is best to stick with a stiff flex just to avoid this possible psychological effect.
Long and Belly Putters
If you find that a conventional golf putter does not work for you, there is another direction that you can go. The other two types of putters are known as long and belly putters. These putters will help keep your hands steady during the stroke. Belly putters are around 40 inches long and rest in the abdomen area to balance the putter along with the hands. This putter helps stabilize the wrists so that there is little tendency to break the wrists during the stroke. With long putters (also known as broomstick putters), there is no need to bend over past a minimal amount, which helps people with back problems. It is longer than the belly putter and rests in the chest area. One of your hands will be at the top of the grip and the other will be much lower down the shaft. While this putter also helps prevent wrist problems, it is the most difficult of all putters with controlling distance.
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