Question of the week [Oct. 26 – Nov. 1]: What characteristics do you look for when buying a putter?
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Peter J. Scileppi | Kingston, NY
Mallet head, zero torque.
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Paul Vicary | The Villages, FL
Disclaimer: Vicary represents SeeMore Putters as a certified fitting professional in Central Florida.
For me personally, I look for a putter where the face returns square at impact using the big muscles (shoulders) while taking the small muscles (hands) out of play. It is much more about feel than looks.
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Robert Celli | Longwood, FL
Soft feel and forgiveness.
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Michael McManus | North Vancouver, British Columbia
Face balance, feel, weight and aesthetics.
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Tom Bookmiller | Lake Wylie, SC
How it looks behind the ball and whether it helps with alignment. Most importantly, how the ball feels coming off the face. Not too soft and not too harsh — I want a smooth feel that rolls the ball rather than hits it.
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David Meszaros | Pinehurst, NC
A mallet shape, double-bend shaft, bright-colored sightline and a black shaft finish.
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Stan D. Czerno | Waynesboro, GA
Head weight.
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Dennis Brissette | Heathrow, FL
Feel and stability.
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Mark Andersen | Cornelius, NC
One that makes the ball go in the hole. I currently play an Acushnet blade putter (John Reuter design) that I won in a college poker game back in 1969. I still have it, and I've won a couple of club championships and even a state championship in Jalisco, Mexico, with it.
Now, however, I'm looking at other options. I want a slightly heavier head and improved balance to feel more solid on short putts between 1 and 14 feet. For anything from 15 to 20 feet and beyond, I’ll keep my trusted blade. Yes, I am genuinely thinking about carrying two putters.
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Michael Wetzel | Montgomery, AL
Balance and weight. I prefer a lighter head so that the club swings smoother, along with an overall light feel.
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Reid Farrill | Toronto, Ontario
The primary factors are the feel in my hands and the visual appeal at address. Both are highly subjective and non-scientific. Price is a secondary consideration because I don't view the putter as a club where I need to spend massive amounts; I tend to stick in the mid-range of $200 to $500. The concept of a $1,000 putter seems gratuitous, so I don't look at ultra-high-end boutiques.
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Rick Ewert | Palm Coast, FL
Balance, a conforming traditional look, proper weight distribution and the ability to produce a repeatable, consistent stroke.
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James Clarke | Sunriver, OR
Good feel — and a price tag that doesn't require mortgaging my home.
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Tim Calcagno | Mount Pleasant, SC
Feel and ease of alignment.
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James Pedzinski | Noblesville, IN
Soft feel off the face.
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Peter Landesman | Blue Ash, OH
First and foremost, my putter needs to be center-shafted.
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Art Williams | Luzerne, PA
A well-balanced feel, a grip that sits right in the hands, softness at impact, and crisp white sightlines.
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Sue Bennett | Dagsboro, DE
Customization matched to my individual stroke. I'm heading to Makefield Putters for a custom fitting soon.
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James Adams | Olympia, WA
The very first characteristic is the visual impression as I stand over a putt, followed closely by overall head weight and the sound produced at impact.
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Mark Woytalewicz | Brandon, FL
How it sets up behind the ball, alignment aids, feel off the face and the head's overall shape.
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Barry Duckworth | Knoxville, TN
My best stroke happens when I can take the putter straight back and straight through. I look for a putter engineered to help me achieve that exact motion — which right now is the L.A.B. Golf DF3i.
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Bob Brown | Sagamore Hills, OH
Two things: the feel at impact and whether the shape fits my eye.
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The First Call invites reader comment. Write to editor Stuart Hall at shall@buffalogroupe.com. If your comment is selected for publication, we will not publish your email address. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and brevity.
Front: A trio of Scotty Cameron putters on the range at the AT&T Byron Nelson in 2022.
Photo: Eoin Clarke / Golffile