Putter

A putter is a golf club used primarily on the putting green to roll the ball into the hole. It differs from other clubs in its short shaft, a flat-faced head, and a very low amount of loft, which favors rolling rather than lofted shots.

Putters come in several shapes, with blade and mallet heads being the most common. Blade putters have a traditional, slender profile, while mallet putters feature a larger, more rounded head and often higher moment of inertia to resist twisting on off-center hits. Lengths typically range from about 32 to 36 inches, and loft is usually around 1 to 4 degrees. Alignment aids such as sight lines, contrasting inserts, or distinctive top lines are common to assist aiming.

Materials and technologies vary. Heads can be solid milled steel or stainless steel, sometimes aluminum, and many include face inserts of polymers or other materials to alter feel and acoustics. Perimeter weighting and other high-MOI designs aim to stabilize the stroke. Some putters have adjustable weights, lie angle, or length to customize balance and fit. Hosel configurations include plumber’s neck, center shaft, and various toe-hung shapes, affecting alignment and feel.

Balance and stroke characteristics are influenced by design choices. Toe-hung putters tend to promote an arc stroke, while face-balanced models are often paired with a straight-back-and-through stroke. The popularity of mallets has grown in recent decades due to increased forgiveness and alignment options.

Historically, modern putters gained prominence in the late 20th century, with influential models such as the Ping Anser shaping blade design. In 2016, anchoring the putter to the body during putting was prohibited by the governing bodies of golf.