Choosing the right putter: a beginner's guide to finding your feel on the green

When you’re new to golf – or starting to take your improvement more seriously – the putter is one of the most important clubs in your bag. You’ll use it more than any other club during a round, and yet it’s often the one golfers know the least about.

The good news? There’s no “one-size-fits-all” putter. Modern putter design offers a wide variety of shapes, styles and technologies, helping golfers of all abilities find something that feels comfortable, confident and consistent on the greens. In this PGA Play guide, we explain all.

Why the putter matters so much

Putting isn’t about power – it’s about feel, alignment and confidence. A putter that suits your stroke and eye can help you start the ball on line more often and control distance better, even without changing your technique. For beginners especially, finding a putter that feels natural can make a big difference to enjoyment and progress.

The main types of putters

While there are lots of designs available, most putters fall into a few simple categories:

Blade putters

These are the more traditional-looking putters with a slim profile. They tend to suit golfers who like a clean, classic look and have a more arcing putting stroke. Many players enjoy the feedback and feel blade putters provide.

Mallet putters

Mallet putters have a larger head shape and often feature alignment lines or shapes that make aiming easier. Their design helps improve stability and forgiveness, which can be especially helpful for newer golfers or those who want extra confidence over shorter putts.

Mid-mallet putters

Sitting between blades and mallets, mid-mallets offer a balance of feel and forgiveness. They’re a popular choice for golfers who want some help with alignment without moving to a very large head shape.

Head shapes, balance and feel

Putters also vary in how they’re balanced:

• Face-balanced putters tend to suit straighter putting strokes
• Toe-hang putters are often better for strokes with more arc

You don’t need to overthink this as a beginner – the key is how the putter feels when you swing it and how confident you feel standing over the ball.

PING putters are designed with this variety in mind, offering a wide range of head shapes, balance options and alignment aids. This means golfers can choose a putter that complements how they naturally move the club, rather than trying to force a certain style.

Alignment and confidence

One of the biggest challenges for beginners is aiming the putter consistently. Many modern putters – including PING designs – use clear alignment lines, contrasting colours or shapes to help your eyes set up square to the target. If a putter makes aiming feel easier, that confidence alone can lead to better results.

When to consider a putter fitting

As your interest and commitment to golf grow, you might start to notice that some putters simply feel easier to use than others. That’s where a fitting can help.

PING offers an easy-to-use WebFit Putter fitting tool, designed to guide golfers towards a putter that suits their stroke, preferences and set-up. It’s a simple way to narrow down options and understand what might work best for you, without needing in-depth technical knowledge.

The takeaway

Putting is personal. The best putter for you is the one that feels right, helps you aim confidently and encourages a smooth, repeatable stroke. With the wide variety of putters available today – and trusted options from brands like PING – finding your match has never been easier.

If you’re ready to take the next step, exploring putter fitting tools like PING WebFit can be a great way to build confidence and improve your performance on the greens.