Choosing a putter.

What the rules say

Part 2 of the Equipment Rules treats putters differently from other clubs:

• Length. Every club must be at least 18 inches long, and the 48-inch maximum does not apply to putters.
• Head size. Heel to toe must be longer than face to back and no more than 7 inches; the head must be no more than 2.5 inches from sole to top.
• Faces and shaft. A putter may have two striking faces if they are opposite each other and alike, and its shaft may attach anywhere on the head. The spring-like effect limit does not apply to putters.
• Grips. Putter grips may be non-circular within limits (no concavity, symmetrical, generally similar along their length), and a putter may have two grips if each is circular, they share an axis and they are at least 1.5 inches apart.

None of that means a particular putter conforms. Whether one does is for the R&A and USGA to rule, and nothing on this page says any product is legal for competition.

The anchoring ban (Rule 10.1b)

Rule 10.1b of the 2023 Rules of Golf, in effect from 1 January 2023, says you must not anchor the club in making a stroke, either by holding the club or a gripping hand against your body, or by holding a forearm against your body to create a fixed point for the other hand to swing around. Holding the club against a hand or forearm is allowed, and so is the club merely touching your body or clothing. A breach brings the general penalty. The ban took effect on 1 January 2016, and the governing bodies said then that long and belly-length putters remained conforming and could still be used if not anchored. GolfMagic describes arm-lock putters, which rest against the lead forearm, as a permitted alternative. The R&A says the next edition of the Rules is due on 1 January 2028.

Aiming aids

Rule 10.2b(3) says you must not set an object down to help with aim or stance, such as a club laid along your line, and removing it before the stroke does not avoid the penalty. Training aids are for practice: Rule 4.3a does not allow them during a round.

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How to choose

Stroke shape: sources disagree

GolfMagic pairs the stroke to the putter: toe hang for an arc, face balance for a straight stroke. The Golf News Net puts the emphasis instead on fitting from how the putter is actually delivered and the results, rather than from a label for your stroke. Teachers also differ on the stroke itself. Three GOLF Top 100 Teachers writing in 2023 gave three views: Lou Guzzi says the stroke should arc to the inside on both sides with little face rotation, Michael Hunt says most putts should arc with straight back and through acceptable on short ones, and Joe Plecker says posture decides it. A fitter or coach who watches you putt can help you choose. See putting.

Length

GolfMagic says traditional putters are usually 32 to 36 inches long. The rules set no maximum length for putters, and long and belly-length putters can still be used as long as they are not anchored.

Lie and loft

Sources differ slightly on lie. GolfMagic says about 70 degrees, with the sole sitting flat at address, while retailer BirdieBall gives a range of 70 to 73 degrees. GolfMagic puts typical loft at 2 to 4 degrees, and says putter lofts have fallen over the last century as greens improved.

Face and hosel

GolfMagic describes three kinds of face: all-metal, a lighter non-metal insert (which frees weight for the heel and toe), and grooved faces meant to promote forward roll. Hosels may be heel-shafted, centre-shafted or offset. Try more than one on a practice green.

Grip

GolfMagic says thicker putter grips reduce wrist and finger action and encourage a stroke driven by the shoulders. Any grip must stay within the Equipment Rules limits above.

Before buying, putt with the actual putter on a real green if you can. Our putters page explains each feature in more depth.