The most used club in your bag and therefore much care needs to be taken in choosing your wand!

There are 2 basic features of a putter you want to check when buying: shaft length and amount of offset. Both help you create a nice arch stroke that is preferred by the best putters. The arch stroke looks like you bring the putter back slightly inside and follow through slightly inside.

The length of the shaft determines path and lie. If the ball is too close to your feet because the putter is too short, your style tends to create a more straight -back -straight- through stroke. The heel of the putter may come off the ground making it difficult to make solid contact.

Conversely, if your putter is too long and the ball is too far away from your feet, you body tends to create a stroke that loops too far inside. The toe of the putter may come off the ground making it again very difficult to make solid contact.

The other very important feature is based on eye dominance. Right eye dominant players usually prefer putters with minimal offsets or even centre shafted putters. Left eye dominant players usually prefer putters with offsets.

Putters with more offset also help players create a consistent setup. Some players forward press the shaft or lean the shaft back at setup but it actually appears straight up and down from the player's point of view. If the shaft leans too far in any direction, the resulting changes in loft will cause problems with your speed control. An offset putter helps prevent the shaft leaning too far forward and non offset putters help prevent leaning the shaft too far back.

So when you are in the market for a new putter, come along and see your local Club Professional and remember these points and most importantly find a putter that looks like a winner to you as that look inspires confidence!