Golf Putter Balance

To determine the balance of your current putter, try this simple little exercise.

Lay your putter on a table-top with the head hanging over the side. If your putter balances with the head parallel to the table-top, it's Face Balanced. If your putter balances with the face at an angle to the table-top it's a Heel-Toe weighted design.

Matching a putter to your putting stroke includes using the right kind of balance.

• If your Putting stroke is more straight-back-and-through,
  use a Face Balanced putter

• If your putting stroke is more in-to-out, use a Heel-Toe balanced putter

Putter Balance has a lot to do with the Closure Rate, the ease with which the putter head closes to the target line.

A straighter putting stroke benefits best from Face Balance which has a lower closure rate. A more rounded stroke needs the extra closure of Heel-Toe weighting.

Closure rate is also affected by the positioning of the shaft. Center shafted putters have a lower closure rate. Heel shafted putters have a higher closure rate.