You're Correct!

There are many different looking putter heads out in the market place today, and one of the big questions that keeps popping up is whether or not a certain type of putter head will start your putts on your aim line more.

The answer is yes, but its not about the shape of the putter head but the way in which the weight is balanced across the head and face. There are three different ways to distribute the weight in a putter head that will influence the type of arc the putter wants to travel on.

Heel And Toe Weighted - 45 Degree Hang

A putter is heel and toe weighted when a little more of the weight is placed in the heel end but also in the toe. If you were to balance the shaft of the putter over your fingers towards the head, you will find once the shaft stays level the putter head will hang with the toe down at almost 45 degrees. This type of putter will work best in a stroke that has a slight in-square-in arc, so as the putter face stays square to the path at all times. Most head shapes of this type are blade style but some mallet heads will be weighted this way too.

The Toe Hang

A putter is known as toe hang when most of the weight is placed in the toe of the head. This putter will see the toe point almost vertically to the floor when the shaft is balanced across the fingers. This type of putter requires a more pronounced arc in the stroke to be consistent, as the heavier toe end will look to open and close much more. The head design for this type is mainly blade style.

Face Balanced

A putter is known as face balanced when the putter head is equally weighted between the toe and the heel relative to the point where the shaft enters the head. This will see the face look up at the sky when the shaft is balanced across the fingers. This type of putter is looking to stay facing the target pretty much all the way through the stroke in a straight back-straight through manner.

No matter what the shape of the head, you must make sure that the way the putter is weighted will match the type of stroke you have.

Not every mallet headed putter is face balanced, even though the vast majority of them are, you really do need to check first before you buy one. This is because some of them are heel and toe weighted and for these you will need to have a slight arc to your stroke to get the best out of it.

Although the shape of the head will not affect the way you putt, it will determine how successful you are on the greens. If you have a stroke that moves on a considerable arc in to square to in then you will hole hardly any putts with a face balanced putter as the stroke and the putter are working against each other.

Whatever putter you use, you really do need to like the shape of the head and the overall look of the putter as this will give you more confidence. But you must make sure that your putter and your stroke fit perfectly. Take time to find the right one that both looks great and suits your arc.