Which Putter Is Right For Me?

Picking your putter is a highly personal endeavor. We all have our quirks and preferences that lead to making a decision. But everyone’s putting journey started somewhere. Maybe a friend gave you a putter or you happened to buy a putter off the shelf. This is a great place to start. If you are at the beginning of your playing days or you have no desire to progress in the sport then stick with whatever putter you have. But if you have aspirations of progressing in disc golf you will want to find the right putter for you. As the old adage goes, “Drive for show and putt for dough!”

You will be using your putter more than any other disc in your bag. Think about this; you putt on every hole. However, you don’t throw the same disc off the tee on every hole. Therefore it can be inferred that your putter is the most important disc in your bag. This is why it is important to do research and find the putter that is right for you.

Characteristics of a Putter

Putters are shaped with a blunt edge that makes them fly straighter at low speeds. This allows for a more consistent flight pattern when close to the basket. Higher speed discs have a lower profile and wider rim that make them turn quicker at lower velocities with less spin. This makes them less consistent when thrown short distances. Most putters tend to fly similarly inside the circle. However, there are three main characteristics that fluctuate between putters and will be the basis for your putter choice. They are as follows:

1. Beaded vs. Beadless
   • A bead is a lowered lip on the bottom side of the rim. It gives players a consistent place to rest their fingers when gripping a putter.
   • An example of a beaded putter is the Dynamic Discs Judge.
2. Depth
   • The depth of a putter refers to the height of a putter from the top of the flight plate to the bottom of the rim.
   • Putters that are more shallow allow the player a firmer grip and more snap out of the fingers.
   • Discs that have more depth rely more on the wrist and elbow snap to propel the disc towards the basket.
   • The size of your hands will play a critical role in which discs feel comfortable in your hands.
3. Plastic Type
   • This may seem counterintuitive but choose a base plastic rather than a premium plastic.
   • Base plastics tend to be more grippy both in your hands as well as in the chains while premium plastics tend to be more slick.
   • This translates to more slips out of your fingers as well as out of the chains.

Putter Trials – What Feels Right?

To figure out what putter is right for you it is imperative to test out different putters in various plastics. Every putter feels different in your hand and plastic-type will typically be the deciding factor. I recommend researching putters and choosing characteristics that work for you. Then head out to a basket and put in hundreds of putts with each putter. Approach this research with a scientific mind and ask yourself what works best for you and why.

Once you feel confident in your decision, pick one disc and stick with it. Even if you go through difficult times for a spell, stick with it. I have seen many players become indecisive and lose confidence in their putters. This leads to a blame game where players blame their putter for poor play and compulsively switch out discs. While it is certainly encouraged to try new discs and continue to learn, I recommend sticking with a putter so that you can gain confidence and familiarity as your game continues to grow.

Most Popular Putters

Every year Infinite Discs breaks down their best-selling putters. Due to the pandemic and a huge surge in new players, 2020 saw massive increases in putter and basket sales. Many players were putting! What a great way to spend your time. For the sake of putting I am only including “putting putters” instead of “throwing putters.” I am including the top 5 selling putting putters in this list and I highly recommend putting with at least some of them. Their consistency and longevity can shave strokes off your score. Let’s see how the numbers shake out.

1. Discraft Luna (3 / 3 / 0 / 3)
   • “The Luna is the first putter in the Paul McBeth line for Discraft. It is his primary putter and is more overstable than a lot of other putters. It works great as a low-glide, beadless putter for players who putt with a lot of confidence.”
2. Discmania P2 (2 / 3 / 0 / 1)
   • “The P2 is a straight flying, but slightly overstable putter made by Discmania. This disc is stable enough that it can handle headwind throws and fairly long approach shots. This putter was designed specifically for pro players, but can be useful for disc golfers of all skill levels.”
3. Innova Aviar (2 / 3 / 0 / 1)
   • “James Conrad has made this putter famous by throwing it on every line imaginable. It is a straight flyer with a predictable finish. On the putting green you can trust it to fly true in head winds. Comfortable in the hand, the Aviar has won more world championships than all other putters combined. Great for all skill levels.”
4. Dynamic Discs Judge (2 / 4 / 0 / 1)
   • “The Judge was the first putter released by Dynamic Discs and it continues to be one of the best molds they have ever designed. The Judge is an overstable putter with a thin rim and a bead. The small rim and bead make it feel very comfortable in your hand. It also allows for a consistent release every time you putt.”
5. Gateway Wizard (2 / 3 / 0 / 2)
   • “The Wizard is a true, stable workhorse putter. It holds whatever line you throw it on with very little fade during its drop. It also works as a great putter in windy conditions and handles controlled power very well. This makes it an excellent choice off the tee for mid-range drives in addition to upshots.”

Bringing It All Together

Picking the correct putter is a highly personal endeavor. Be sure to give yourself plenty of options and try out multiple molds of putters. This will allow you to know which combination of plastic, flight characteristics, and feel are best for you. Then with some practice and a whole heap of confidence, you can hit the course knowing that you chose the right putter.

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