What Is The Most You Would Pay For A Putter?

[Bobbers]

I assume my wife isn't going to read this???

Seriously, up to around $500 I suspect.  It's the part of my game that's at least average, I enjoy practicing on the putting green, and if we short hitters can't  putt we're doomed.

[cnosil]

12 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

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. 

Always a fun debate.  so how do you go from being a good putter to not being able to putt well? If the putter has the influence that you are implying he should still be using the original putter because that made him putt well.   So now you have to assess what created the decline and the Uptick in performance.  

Could it have been going back to Butch, could it have been that he also improved his tee game, approaches, and around the green in addition to putting?   Then the question could be did the “putter” improve his putting or was it that he got back to working on the correct skills associated with putting?  Could it have been going to prescription glasses that improved his vision on the green?   

Putters really aren’t different than full swing clubs. When you talk about fittings you say fitters have you switch because players change their swings to fit the equipment   Same happens with putters.   Putters want to do things during the stroke and players apply skills to make putts.  How the putter is trying to move will influence the players stroke but players with good understanding of aim, stroke, and touch skills can putt with anything   

 

[RickyBobby_PR]

20 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Always a fun debate.  so how do you go from being a good putter to not being able to putt well? If the putter has the influence that you are implying he should still be using the original putter because that made him putt well.   So now you have to assess what created the decline and the Uptick in performance.  

Could it have been going back to Butch, could it have been that he also improved his tee game, approaches, and around the green in addition to putting?   Then the question could be did the “putter” improve his putting or was it that he got back to working on the correct skills associated with putting?  Could it have been going to prescription glasses that improved his vision on the green?   

Putters really aren’t different than full swing clubs. When you talk about fittings you say fitters have you switch because players change their swings to fit the equipment   Same happens with putters.   Putters want to do things during the stroke and players apply skills to make putts.  How the putter is trying to move will influence the players stroke but players with good understanding of aim, stroke, and touch skills can putt with anything   

 

I think Rickie’s issue was two fold. He had issues with his eyes that he didn’t know/realize and it affected his game overall but especially on the greens. It then caused mental issues which made things worse. He was using Spieth a backup putter, then was trying several other styles and iirc even brands.

Once the mental aspect kicks in and confidence is lost it’s hard to get back when you are grinding every week, missing cuts and missing out on majors.

His game suffered too. He was changing irons to find something as well there.

I don’t know if going back to Burch did anything other than maybe a short term boost in performance. His strokes gained putting for this year is 119th, not that good considering for awhile he was around 60 or better.

Rickie has always been a very streaky player and his putting is what kept him in the higher owgr rankings.

We can look at Spieth too. He was a solid putter and had some years where it seemed like any long putt was going to go in then boom it all went away and he struggled on the greens, which lead to struggles on the course.

Most people can putt with anything but can they make the putts that count with anything? Not really

[EMacK1961]

I believe that $300 is my personal price point for a putter. Fitting fee built into the price? Cake. I'll take a $300 putter in that case. I see guys with Cameron putters that couldn't hit their ass with either hand using it and I've seen guys with Powerbuilt putters knocking them in. Is it the putter or the golfer? Another question for another day...

[Headhammer]

On 3/25/2024 at 8:56 AM, 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'm always amazed by the answers to this question! People are willing to pay $400-$800 for a new driver, a club they use 13-14 times per round, but don't want to pay over $300 for a club they use 30-40 times a round. Marketing has conditioned us to believe distance is worth the price, lower scores not so much! YMMV

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

 

Most people can putt with anything but can they make the putts that count with anything? Not really

Again, is the a problem with the putter or the application of skills?   Does the putter trump skill (arrow or Indian)?  

[RickyBobby_PR]

7 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Again, is the a problem with the putter or the application of skills?   Does the putter trump skill (arrow or Indian)?  

It’s probably a combo of both. Good players have an easier time adjusting to ill fitted equipment but there are still going to be some issues that arise. See Billy hoerschel and his specs being off on his irons.

When the golfer is trying to find something they are typically changing what they are doing on the swing/stroke, if the putter doesn’t match that change it’s not going to help them and will more than likely make things work.

Rory won lots of tournaments with a blade and still ended up swinging to a mallet for the help and even suggested Scheffler do the same. So there’s a level that the good golfer can make anything work but only to some extent 

[Jim Shaw]

2 hours ago, cnosil said:

Always a fun debate.  so how do you go from being a good putter to not being able to putt well? If the putter has the influence that you are implying he should still be using the original putter because that made him putt well.   So now you have to assess what created the decline and the Uptick in performance.  

Could it have been going back to Butch, could it have been that he also improved his tee game, approaches, and around the green in addition to putting?   Then the question could be did the “putter” improve his putting or was it that he got back to working on the correct skills associated with putting?  Could it have been going to prescription glasses that improved his vision on the green?   

Putters really aren’t different than full swing clubs. When you talk about fittings you say fitters have you switch because players change their swings to fit the equipment   Same happens with putters.   Putters want to do things during the stroke and players apply skills to make putts.  How the putter is trying to move will influence the players stroke but players with good understanding of aim, stroke, and touch skills can putt with anything   

 

Some interesting points here, for me, putting is still the area that intrigues me the most in my golf game. 

So you have the "tool" the putter, and you have the "other tool" the puttee lol.. 

I agree the putter as the object is no different than the other 13 clubs you have in your bag, the difference is, for argument sake, the 13 other clubs make up 60% of your score, 1 club makes up 40% (that is my new mindset for understanding why it perplexes me so much).

I see players, all the time, with good understanding of aim, stroke and touch not being able to putt well, and putting fantastic, depending on their current confidence on the golf course greens, not their tool, so to that end confidence is the most important skill and then they could putt with anything.

I also feel that "whatever you focus on you will improve" ie. going into competition season soon for me I know "up and downs" will need some focus, so that is why my practice session starts with that, putting is always a work in progress so I always focus on that.

There are many example of that, you don't have to look any further than the elite golfers on the planet, Scottie getting confidence in his putting, Justin Thomas does not have confidence in his putting, then there are examples in between, always a fun debate @cnosil 

[Jim Shaw]

1 hour ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

I think Rickie’s issue was two fold. He had issues with his eyes that he didn’t know/realize and it affected his game overall but especially on the greens. It then caused mental issues which made things worse. He was using Spieth a backup putter, then was trying several other styles and iirc even brands.

Once the mental aspect kicks in and confidence is lost it’s hard to get back when you are grinding every week, missing cuts and missing out on majors.

His game suffered too. He was changing irons to find something as well there.

I don’t know if going back to Burch did anything other than maybe a short term boost in performance. His strokes gained putting for this year is 119th, not that good considering for awhile he was around 60 or better.

Rickie has always been a very streaky player and his putting is what kept him in the higher owgr rankings.

We can look at Spieth too. He was a solid putter and had some years where it seemed like any long putt was going to go in then boom it all went away and he struggled on the greens, which lead to struggles on the course.

Most people can putt with anything but can they make the putts that count with anything? Not really

i like where you are going with this, we had a pro at our course for about a year and he grew up with Rickie, when I was playing with him he sent Rickie a text and said "what are you doing to putt so well?" Rickie sent a video of him making a putt and simply said "do this" 

It was great interaction between two friends...

[cnosil]

26 minutes ago, Jim Shaw said:

Some interesting points here, for me, putting is still the area that intrigues me the most in my golf game. 

So you have the "tool" the putter, and you have the "other tool" the puttee lol.. 

I agree the putter as the object is no different than the other 13 clubs you have in your bag, the difference is, for argument sake, the 13 other clubs make up 60% of your score, 1 club makes up 40% (that is my new mindset for understanding why it perplexes me so much).

I see players, all the time, with good understanding of aim, stroke and touch not being able to putt well, and putting fantastic, depending on their current confidence on the golf course greens, not their tool, so to that end confidence is the most important skill and then they could putt with anything.

I also feel that "whatever you focus on you will improve" ie. going into competition season soon for me I know "up and downs" will need some focus, so that is why my practice session starts with that, putting is always a work in progress so I always focus on that.

There are many example of that, you don't have to look any further than the elite golfers on the planet, Scottie getting confidence in his putting, Justin Thomas does not have confidence in his putting, then there are examples in between, always a fun debate @cnosil 

The use of the putter is generally in the 40% range.  But then you group everything else together.  How much does the driver get used, the fairway wood, the hybrid, each iron, each wedge.   Do you use the putter off the green?   
 

aim, stroke, and touch are only three of the skills.  You also have read.  I would agree that mental game is also a skill and maintaining mental state even when things go awry will keep you from losing confidence.  When players lose confidence is it in the putter or one of the skills(which I’ll count mental focus).  Mental is probably the most difficult to maintain.  Read is probably the hardest putting skill since we don’t know the exact speed or slope of the green. Touch is close behind because it has to match up with read.  Stroke and aim should be easy…point the putter where you want the ball to go and make a stroke that makes it go there. 

I also believe there is a difference in understanding a skill and applying that skill.   Let’s look at aim.  One would think you want to aim the putter on the exact line you want the putt to go so we can start the ball where aimed.   Sounds easy but even professionals don’t do that.  Tiger aims right and tries to hook putts to pull the putt back on line.   This is a compensation that relies on continuous practice to establish timing.   His putter is designed to help him feel that release.   His stroke is also inside and down the line.   
 

with putting, just like full swing,  we try to do things consistently but  have compensations and biases we need to deal with.   Continually good versus streaky is how often I can make the same “stroke” and quality of read.  Then the question about the actual putter is how well does it help me make those compensations or does it fight me.   

[Prodigal Duffer]

On 3/25/2024 at 8:28 AM, BaldJohnMD said:

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. 

Hope you follow the Edel Array testing thread!

[Mr_BogeyPro]

16 hours ago, Bobbers said:

I assume my wife isn't going to read this???

Seriously, up to around $500 I suspect.  It's the part of my game that's at least average, I enjoy practicing on the putting green, and if we short hitters can't  putt we're doomed.

Your secret is safe with us LOL

[Bossfan]

I could probably convince myself to go to $200. At the moment though I am happy with my Cleveland Huntington  beach Soft #11 I picked up for &129.

[KC Golf]

Given I change putters only once every 5-7 years at most, I think $700-$1,000 for a putter that works for me in a custom fitting is something I am willing to pay for.  

It seems like a lot but it’s a very important piece of golf equipment.

[G-Ram]

Interesting read, this thread~!

Basically see two camps divided, one side the "I'll use whatever broomstick I find for under $100", and the other extreme, of "whatever it takes, I'll pay it" in the $500 and up range.

A few outliers in the $1000 and up, you know who you are .

No judgement here though, I've got more putters than drivers, and I have a lot of drivers hahaha.

I personally land in the "whatever it takes" camp. Tried some that looked cool / had good marketing etc, some that were kinda limited run, like the OG Cobra 3D printed one.

Finally settled last summer on the Odyssey Versa 7. Then about a month ago I saw a Youtube vid where they tested the standard Odyssey face, vs the same putter with the Ai face, and of course the Ai had a way tighter dispersion etc on off center hits, so back to the well I go! hahaha

Yes, I have a problem 

[ED13]

If the putter was good enough a thousand dollars would be worth it.  Unlike a driver the putter can be used for many years and not have to worry about all the new technologies with the rest of our clubs.

[Micah T]

I really don’t have a limit to what I spend for a gamer: considering what I spent on my driver & 3 wood, I could see spending a stack on a custom LAB putter, if the results justified it. Considering you could theoretically use for the rest of your golfing career, the cost per season would be pretty low if you used it long enough.

[GolfSpy_APH]

Been fun to read the responses. I think I am in the $500 or so range. Again that caveat being that I am properly fit and I have been able to see the benefits vs my current model. 

[Richard Fahrney]

Before you buy a putter get a putter fitting. 
$150

[RoverRick]

On March 10th 2024 at 9am, I thought to myself, “There is no way that a putter is worth $1000!” This was the time Jon Sinclair was explaining the way he had developed the TPT putter shaft for LAB Golf. 

Fast forward a few hours until after I finished my fitting for driver, fairway metal, and hybrid and I went to his putter room and began putting with the LINK1 with the TPT shaft. I’ve gone back since and putted with it again. 

I have $500 set aside from selling old clubs, and plan on selling all my non-LAB putters and will be purchasing this $1000 putter in the near future. 

The only reason this has not been a priority is that I have a LAB DF2.1 with Accra shaft which is an awesome putter. Full disclosure, I didn’t pay for that one, I would have had a hard time justifying $559 for a LINK1 Stock model, would never have bought the DF2.1, and didn’t think the shaft made any difference. $698 or whatever the value was would have been unthinkable. I was wrong. 

I chose the DF2.1 to prove a point. That the head shape was a superior design in terms of forgiveness, and it was not a crutch for bad putters. I chose the Accra shaft because it was white and would look good with the bright red head. Since I was in essence promoting their product I chose flashy. Of course, if their product would have been crap, I wouldn’t have gamed it or promoted it. 

Now, it’s not without flaws. It does not feel great with every ball. For instance, Bridgestone and even the ProV1x and other harder balls don’t feel great. Conversely, the ProV1, AVX, TP5 feel awesome. So that’s an easy fix. However, it takes up a lot bag space. 

Sorry for the rehashing of the DF2.1 review, and back to the original question. I guess I would pay $1000 for a putter, but I wouldn’t be for a copy of “favorite pros” putter he used to win the “fill in the blank” Championship or even the actual putter. It would be performance driven. It would have features, advantages, and benefits that added the true value. 

Will the LINK1/TPT help me make more putts than my current putter? Probably not, but only because I already have a great putter. I also have 6 putters that I will never go back to playing, so why not sell them and get one that I will play?

[ParFore74x]

Considering that it is the most used club in the bag, I think that it would only be fair to treat the putter the same way most golfers seem to treat the driver. I would be open to spending in the $500 range for a putter assuming that it was the result of having a legitimate fitting to get everything dialed in from the start. 

[BecD75]

I would say $175, there are so many great options to be found under this price point!!!

[James Lawhead]

Was just looking into a Scotty Cameron and was wondering if it would even be worth the money. 

[Golfzilla70]

I wouldn't have thought i'd ever do it a few years ago, but i reckon about $500 is what i'd spend on one (and i did just a few years ago, on a custom LAB DF 2.1 putter).  I never really intended to do it, but i had the putter  in my hands on two different occasions over the course of about 18 months, and both times i rolled it, it just seemed to roll so effortlessly and accurately.  So i took the plunge.

It does seem to be a waste on a club that doesn't hit the ball very far, but in all  honesty,  it's probably wiser than buying a driver brand new at $500-$600 every few years.  The drivers made nowadays are absolutely fragile, and they do have a "hit limit", assuming you swing the club 95+ mph.  Putters don't.  And you're touching a ball more often during a round with a putter in crucial situations than a driver.  So when you step back and look at the big picture, a high-tech putter is probably a wiser investment than a driver.  But ONLY if you plan on keeping it for a long time.  Not a problem for me; i stuck with a Ping Pal from about 1985-2010, and only changed to the Ping Karsten TR Pal from 2010-2020

[Nunfa0]

I paid $450 for a Rife Two Bar Hybrid back in 2008, which was more than a driver back then. I still game it so I guess I have gotten my monies worth out of it.  I would do it again too.

[Braehead]

Well, I'm currently waiting for the LAB DF3 that I paid £549 for, so I guess that's my limit!  

Predictably, the Toulon Atlanta has been putting its heart out since being told it's for the spare bag!  

 

[Wburdett]

Agree with the overall sentiment here   it's a critical partt of game and used every hole...almost. that said feel changes or sometimes just looking at different head can help get out of putting funks. Stroke is so small precise lead tape could make a difference so w that said 300 would be max.  I just bought eleven from Callaway my first mallet and enjoying it 

[Dale69]

I have paid £350.00 for a putter, but I now wish I didn't as it is my technique which is the problem not the type of putter. I think £250 is probably the maximum anyone should have to pay, as we are the people paying for the pro's snapping their clubs or throwing them in a lake.

[jamespolley00]

It’s the club you use the most, plus it’s a statement club. Get the one that works for you and makes you happy to own. I love my Evnroll.

[Boogy Bob]

$250