What Is The Most You Would Pay For A Putter?

[GolfSpy_APH]

Let's say the fitting is free or was included in the purchase price, what is your limit? How much is too much?

What putter would it be?

[Preeway]

I really hate the idea of paying over $300 for any club in my bag. But for the club I use the most, I could make an exception. I probably wouldn’t pay over $500 without a really compelling reason. And if I find a model I like, I’d probably look for a used version or wait a year to try to find it discounted. I’m ok with spending $300-$400 for a club that I know works well for me. 

[russtopherb]

Tough for me to say, maybe max $200? Realistically with putters like the Cleveland HB Softs out there, I don't know if I'd spend more than that. 

I do also recognize that the putter is one of the most important clubs in the bag and it tends to get the short end of the straw when it comes to fittings and price/value. However I've played Cleveland putters and they are amazing quality and performance for the price they charge.

[Mr_BogeyPro]

I wouldn't pay whole bunch for a putter. I think it is the user and not the operator when it comes to putting. I paid a little over $100 for my Odyssey OG 7 and it is a fantastic putter. I don't know if a Scotty would make a difference at double the cost.

[Golfallday7fore]

20 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Let's say the fitting is free or was included in the purchase price, what is your limit? How much is too much?

What putter would it be?

I have just paid $700 for my new LAB DF3 custom built shaft upgraded putter and would do it all again.  100% difference maker. 

[Jim Shaw]

For me this is a really interesting thread,

After thinking about it for a while and understanding that close to 50% of my strokes are taken with my putter, I would say in the current price environment I would say 800.00 Canadian. About the same as a driver.

[BaldJohnMD]

I do not have a max but I no longer buy brand new clubs. My main putters of choice in the past have been PING and Mizuno TP models but with modern day variable weighted putters I’ve become very brand loyal to EDEL putters. Their openness with the sharing of their putter fitting theories on social media have turned me into a putter tinkerer and my putting performance has shown continuous improvement going on 2yrs. EDEL wedges are on my radar next. 

[Josh Parker]

It's the most used club in the bag and also probably one of the clubs people hate spending money on. I would say the same amount as a driver. I bought my DF2.1 and would love to try out some of the upgraded shafts to see the difference. 

[NubianRugby]

29 minutes ago, Mr_BogeyPro said:

I wouldn't pay whole bunch for a putter. I think it is the user and not the operator when it comes to putting. I paid a little over $100 for my Odyssey OG 7 and it is a fantastic putter. I don't know if a Scotty would make a difference at double the cost.

I upgraded my 25 year old putter last year and spent $180 on a TaylorMade TP Hydro Blast Soto. It's a clear upgrade over what I had been using and I'm putting better using it, but am I putting better because of the putter or because I play more often and I'm taking more time lining up my putts? I suspect it's the latter and can't imagine spending $300+ on a putter.

[David Leighton Reid]

Twice in my life I have paid $300 for a Scotty Cameron putter.  Would I pay more?  Yes.  I tend to have longer relationships with putters than my other clubs.  

[Wheelieb]

The most I paid for a putter was the cobra putter I had that I traded in. that was like 300 but I got it at golf galaxy and was able to use my reward points on it to bring it down to 250 and then traded in a few clubs to bring that price down closer to 180. The ping I just got I traded in my cobra and the push cart I don't use and paid 80 bucks for it. It is a 2023 putter but was still in the plastic. So it was brand new.

[Grip]

My Limit is $500. The last putter I purchased was my Sacks Parente 54MH and it was $399.95 + tax. The loft and lie were adjusted to my fitting specifications. I'm happy with it, but still miss a blade every once in a while. 

 

[Nick_D]

Putters are my favorite club in the bag. Do I have a problem? Yes. But I would pay a little extra for something that performs better and/or looks better. I think custom Lab putters or a rare/custom scotty cameron is right about where the line gets drawn for me which I think is around $700-$800.  You use it on every hole and its the thing I practice the most. If a putter gets me excited to practice on the putting green I think the money is well spent over something like a new driver where the prices are getting up there as well.

Edited March 25 by Nick_D
typo

[Samuel09152]

If the fitting is free, I would likely go with whatever the fitter suggested as long as it made sense and was unbiased. I currently game a Ai-One Seven, which has changed the way I put in such a good way. Cut my putting strokes down by a 1/3, probably due to the confidence I feel with it. I sent 299.99 on that one, but debated on going milled which could have been another 100 dollars, so i could see myself paying 450 to 500 on a putter. 

[RickyBobby_PR]

I currently have or had 4 putters that costs $1200,2500 and 2 at $3000. Along with a other that was $700.

I would have no problem paying $10k for a full GSS Scotty 

[cnosil]

I love putters so this comes down to thoughts on putters in general.  As has been mentioned putters are used for 40-50% of the strokes we take on the course.  That could make the price consideration equal to a driver or irons.  The other thought is that the putter is just a head on a stick so anything would work if the player is willing to develop the human skills associated with putting. 
 

that said, putter just to play golf would cap at $400.  Way more than it needs to be because I could find an inexpensive putter that I could aim well and effectively start the ball on intended line.   I switch putters just to switch so it will always change.   
 

the other side would be building something custom that is unique to me.  This gets into the art side of putters.   I’d probably go $2500 for something that falls into this category and it probably would be the last putter I buy.  This putter doesn’t exist..  

[StrokerAce]

this is a very interesting question...

with a driver, you can gain appreciable differences. i.e. 10 more yards usually means 1 club less but with a putter I don't see how you can find these appreciable differences. 

If you're a competent putter and are "in the ballpark" you're probably going to be good at lag putting and short putts with a number of different putters. It's been proven that you should temper your expectations for making long putts.

I've spoken with people about the LAB putters - both fitters and users - watched a lot of videos, and it seems that the tech is legit...but at nearly 500 dollars is it that much better than a 2 to 3 hundred dollar putter? How many strokes will you save per round? 1-2? 5 or more? I've tried them all and the DF3 is amazing.

I'm skeptically optimistic but I think you can do almost as well with a putter that's half the price. I cringe at paying more than 200 for a putter. But I'm cheap when it comes to golf stuff and rarely ever buy anything new. 

 

FWIW I was fit into a Scotty at Club Champion several years ago and the OTD price was 449 .... I called and asked if there was anything similar that wasn't as expensive.

Edited March 25 by StrokerAce

[OdinSnipes414]

It really does depend on the OEM if it’s something that is expensive works ok  and  there is not so good customer service then I’m not paying for it! (For example) Lombardi and SUB70 have great putters and even if they raised the price I would pay for it! But again it all depends!

[OldSchoolFlusher]

Got me thinking this topic….

For me, it’s not about the price so much (but does have a bearing) - before I invest in any major piece of kit - I always ask myself - is this particular item going to improve me overnight, or is it more technical and lessons needed… so I use my coach (who luckily has good connections across the trade) for his view as he knows my game…  

Been stung with impulse buys then having to sell on.. maybe you have a coach / pro friend you can lean on for advice?

[Golfallday7fore]

44 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

I currently have or had 4 putters that costs $1200,2500 and 2 at $3000. Along with a other that was $700.

I would have no problem paying $10k for a full GSS Scotty 

I thought I had issues.

[RickyBobby_PR]

18 minutes ago, Golfallday7fore said:

I thought I had issues.

I’m an amateur when it comes to spending money.

being part of a scotty Cameron enthusiast group and there is one guy that last time I checked has almost 90 circle t putters with some being unique one off never done after setups with hoses or type of neck.

The number of bags that people in that group have could be mind blowing for non collector/enthusiasts.

[Nick_D]

9 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

I’m an amateur when it comes to spending money.

being part of a scotty Cameron enthusiast group and there is one guy that last time I checked has almost 90 circle t putters with some being unique one off never done after setups with hoses or type of neck.

The number of bags that people in that group have could be mind blowing for non collector/enthusiasts.

There's always gonna be someone else that spends more............... at least that's what I tell my wife lol

[billpierce]

Well if the putter sinks every putt - empty the bank account!

Assuming the user error = probably 900 or so.

[RickyBobby_PR]

32 minutes ago, Nick_D said:

There's always gonna be someone else that spends more............... at least that's what I tell my wife lol

True. I remember for one of the serape bags that had a few different color patterns, he bought all of them on the secondary market so was paying upwards of 3-4x the price of the release for each 

[Karls0991]

Before I found out about LAB and have really dove into their products and research, i never would spend more than $250 on a putter because I feel there is not much tech difference between most putter brands. I truly believe what they have created has actual technological differences than most putters so I am willing to pay more. Stock LAB's are around $450 and custom adds another $100 or so. I saved up and am willing to pay it. You use your putter the most our of any club and can be a big reason to score better if you can 3 putt less. I would say my cap would be $600 or so. 

[Shrek74]

This has been a very interesting read, and I feel less like a cheapskate than I did when I started.

I'm of the mind that it's the indian and not the arrow. A good putter can adapt to anything that's put in their hands. They can learn the look at address and the distances the putter gives based on the input provided. Even if the look and feel aren't the best, a good putter will make it work.

Having said that, I can see paying upwards of about $350 for a putter. I got my LAB DF2.1 for under $300 at Christmas on the outlet, new. Doesn't have the upgraded shaft, but I haven't found over the years that I need such things.

My Sub70 002 was $100 used and it's a great felling club. My Carbite DD was $100 new in 2000 and I played it well for 20+ years. Both are base steel shafts with upgraded SuperStroke grips. Nothing fancy, they just work for me. We'll see how the LAB works.

I did just order a Maltby Momentum X Tour putter with steel shaft and same SuperStroke grip as my Sub70 for $160, all new and built by them. So I just don't see the need to spend stupid money on a putter.

[Nick_D]

3 minutes ago, Shrek74 said:

This has been a very interesting read, and I feel less like a cheapskate than I did when I started.

I'm of the mind that it's the indian and not the arrow. A good putter can adapt to anything that's put in their hands. They can learn the look at address and the distances the putter gives based on the input provided. Even if the look and feel aren't the best, a good putter will make it work.

Having said that, I can see paying upwards of about $350 for a putter. I got my LAB DF2.1 for under $300 at Christmas on the outlet, new. Doesn't have the upgraded shaft, but I haven't found over the years that I need such things.

My Sub70 002 was $100 used and it's a great felling club. My Carbite DD was $100 new in 2000 and I played it well for 20+ years. Both are base steel shafts with upgraded SuperStroke grips. Nothing fancy, they just work for me. We'll see how the LAB works.

I did just order a Maltby Momentum X Tour putter with steel shaft and same SuperStroke grip as my Sub70 for $160, all new and built by them. So I just don't see the need to spend stupid money on a putter.

A prime example of indian not the arrow is PGA Tour pro Taylor Montgomery. He has had the same putter for years and even spray paints it himself every once and a while. But man is putting more fun with a pretty putter lol

[Woodrow72]

My last custom putter was $400 and he threw in the fitting  

[TJ Hall]

I don’t change putters very often, have only had 4 total in my golf life…most I spent was $175.  I would probably go upwards of $450 if the feel and consistency were there.

I would also putt with a sledgehammer if I made more putts with it!

[RickyBobby_PR]

6 hours ago, Shrek74 said:

'm of the mind that it's the indian and not the arrow. A good putter can adapt to anything that's put in their hands. They can learn the look at address and the distances the putter gives based on the input provided. Even if the look and feel aren't the best, a good putter will make it work.

 

Ask Rickie Fowler how that worked out. He went from being a good putter to not being able to putt well at all despite using various putters.