You are a passionate golfer, you play fairly well according to your friends, but what if we told you that the way your putter is shafted may drastically change the way you putt? Today is the day where we answer the question that has been on so many beginners’ and amateurs’ minds.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CENTER SHAFTED AND A HEEL SHAFTED PUTTER?
For those of you for whom these terms are completely new, here’s a quick explanation for each. Overall, it’s mostly a matter of stroke and weight distribution. Each shaft type has a specific purpose that will help your game and most importantly, reduce your amount of frustration on the green.
CENTER SHAFTED PUTTERS
A Center Shafted putter is really nothing more than a putter with a hosel that connects the shaft to the center of the head. There are two ways the hosel can connect. Either right on the center of the head, or sometimes, closer towards the heel. The key factor in a Center Shafted putter like the PENDRAGON Mallet putter is that it is face-balanced meaning that if you balance the club on your hand, you will notice that the face of the club faces upward.
These Center Shafted putters are usually ideal for golfers with a pendulum stroke. The trajectory of the face is most of the time in a straight line as only the shoulders of the golfer are supposed to move. In addition to being the “go-to” shaft type for a pendulum stroke, they are also very beneficial to golfers who are left-eye dominant.
Keep in mind that any golfer choosing a putter, needs to choose a putter that is suited for their putting stroke. Some of the professional players that did not play with Center Shafted putters have realized why their putts were so much better than before. The common mistake with all of them was that they did not adapt the club to their putting style. When you have a straight back form with a straight through stroke (commonly referred to as “SBST”) it is to the golfer’s advantage to get their hands on a Center Shafted putter.
HEEL SHAFTED PUTTERS
On the other hand, a Heel Shafted putter, is a putter which has a hosel that connects the shaft to the heel of the head. Most of the time, these Heel Shafted putters like the ARTHUR Blade putter are toe-balanced, meaning that when you balance them out on your hand, the toe of the head will point towards the ground. This type of response is mostly found on blade putters.
These Heel Shafted putters are usually geared towards the golfer with an arced putting stroke. This means that it is more of “natural putting action” that curves through the stroke. PGA Tour player Rickie Fowler, can demonstrate a beautiful arced swing. Heel Shafted putters are considered today the most common putters out there and more often than not, are also the best-looking ones on the greens.
However, (and this is important), DO NOT SETTLE for a Heel Shafted putter either because it is good looking, or because you haven’t tried out a Center Shafted putter.
CUSTOM FITTINGS
ARGOLF strongly believes that the best way to perform on the greens is by having properly fitted equipment. Whether you are a professional, an amateur or a beginner, fitting your putter to your needs should be your first concern when purchasing one. Your putter will be your most used club, consisting of more than 30% of your swings. You can see how this club can be important, especially when the game is won on the greens.
The fitting process starts with your putting stroke and whether you should get a Center Shafted or a Heel Shafted putter. Get in touch with ARGOLF’s putting lab today for your custom fitting experience with the pros.
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