Hello

I'm after a putter to replace a very old (20 years old at least!), much too long one.  Dave Hicks Putting has been recommended, along with Yes and Gel.  Does anyone have any advice or recent experience for me?

thanks

What type of putter do you have now and what length ?

I had my putter chopped down which worked wonders for me.  It is only 2 years old though

It is a Vantage putter (ever heard of them?) that I had when I was a teenager.  It looks like something you'd hire for the crazy golf course on the seaside.  The pro coaching me is a bit taller, but has a putter 2 inches shorter.  

I've been playing about a year, and the pro said not to bother changing the putter straight away, but the time has now come.  So I'm sort of starting from scratch, though don't want to get caught up into changing gear every couple of years.

Start out by trying some putter at your golf club, take them on the practice putting green and see which ones you like.

Try as many as you can so that you get the correct one for you.

Russ

Try a few different lengths of putter too. I had mine shortened to 29" last as I feel more comfortable without the kink in my elbows to make my hands higher

The putter is a very individual weapon. Therefore I suggest you get out there and try to find the one waiting for you. When you've got it in your hands and have tried a few putts, you'll know it's for you. Good luck in your search. PS. It doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg by the way.

Or you could just keep messing around with one like I do.  I've got an old cheapo Zebra Spider, it's had lumps taken off of it, weights added to it, alignment marks engraved on it and it's been shortened and regripped loads of times.  Latest project is a hardened steel face for it.

It started off black, but it's been grey, green but is currently metallic blue...  Was toying with doing it white next, 'cos that's best (apparently).

Thank you everyone for your help.  It seems that the best advice is try loads and buy one I like the feel of.  I don't have to spend lots of money.  I'm not sure that I will use the colour as a criterion for my choice...

Thanks

If you have had the putter that long, and the only reason you are wanting a new one is because "the pro is taller than me and has a shorted outter" I would suggest you get your current putter fitted to you. instead of buying a new one. Just because it is old means it doesnt work?

I've had massive success changing peoples existing putters. so I know it works.

Michael, just love your post and it's so true!  Makes it sound like Harry Potter though and the hunt for a wand

The putter is a very individual weapon. Therefore I suggest you get out there and try to find the one waiting for you.

Matt, I did that with mine and, ignoring the last round, worked wonders for me.

Thanks Darren. Perhaps that's why I have a garage overflowing with putters that have once had a little bit of magic about them, but no longer. lol. They know however, that if they wait patiently I may return to them at some time. 

Feel free to send me a few Michael - I'll save a few quid then!

Hi Nick

Giving advice for others to buy putters is difficult as it is all guess work.  So all i could recommend is that you try to understand your present putting stroke and look for a type of putter that would suit your present stroke.  If your present old putter is ok then look for a similar type to that.

I am right handed and have found that a face balanced putter suits my putting stroke better than anything else i have tried, and i improved my putting further by playing with my left hand lower on the grip.   I found the right type of putter for me then all  i had to do was find the right weight that suited my touch for summer greens. 

I am presently waiting to try out a face down face balanced putter. 

I have considered trying to putt left handed but have so far resisted until i have tried all RH options.

I cannot see me going back to a Toe balanced putter.

Thanks all for your advice.

I have played around with loads, including messing about with my existing one. Tried lots of different ones at Golf Live, some at my pro's shop, some at American Golf. In the end I have plumped for an Odyssey White Ice Dart Mallet Style. I'll put the heaviest of the weights in it and am having the shaft cut to 32.5" and a slightly thicker grip.

I have no illusions. I am aware I have to operate it correctly and that it won't do magic. Nonetheless, I have found the alignment marks very helpful, and the feel is good - I seem to weight my putts much better.

Do feel free to tell me I've done a silly thing, a great thing or anything in between.

Tell us how many putts you take next time out. going for a putter fitting myself tomorrow. Lost a bit of confidence with current one so thought worth seeing if there other options or whether It is probably more me than the stick...