For years changing putter head weight meant changing putters, adding internal weights or adding lead tape. That all has changed. Lets look at the advantages or disadvantages of different head weights.
I’m pretty old school. I’ve had 3 sets of clubs in 60 years and 5 putters. I’ve purchased numbers four and five in the last 15 years of so. They are putters with the same design and two different head weights.
Bottom: Ghost Tour Daytona (Laser Aimer attached)
I use my second putter for aiming practice
It’s said that all time great putter Ben Crenshaw carried four putters with different internal weights. He would choose the one to use based on where he was playing.
I’ve been thinking about purchasing a putter with interchangeable head weights.
Why? I’ve got the itch for something newer. Maybe.
Let’s take a look at why you might want a lighter head weight or a heavier head weight.
I’ve seen estimates that head weights are usually between 330 grams and 370 grams. Some maybe higher.
There are many different choices. The average is around 350 grams as far as I can tell.
I’ve heard 90 percent of recreational players have never been fitted for a putter.
So you get a standard 35 inch long 350 gram head weight putter right off the shelf.
(Note: You may want to watch the videos at the end with a professional fitter explaining all of this)
Lighter head weight
A lighter head weight should give you more feel. It works out for me on faster greens.
My Taylormade CGB Rossa Daytona 1 has a head weight of 335 grams. That’s pretty light by todays standards.
On slower greens, I have to rap the ball harder.
The head can also twist with a lighter head weight.
I’m confident with it on greens with a stimp reading of 10, 11 or faster.
Heavier head weight
I have another putter that has the same design, shaft and grip. It’s identical to the Rossa Daytona. It’s called a Taylormade Ghost Tour Daytona 12.
The big difference is that the head weight is 350 grams.
This one is more stable at impact.
On slow greens the added weight allows you to use a more normal stroke.
Heavier head weight is supposed add more stability on shorter putts.
The down side for me is that I feel like I’m putting with a sledge hammer on fast greens and tend to lose control of my distance.
Example: Justin Thomas likes to use a putter with a heavier head weight. He feels that on really fast greens he is regularly blowing the ball by the hole on the high side. He has suggested he needs a lighter head weight on greens like the ones at the Masters.
New Options
Before I start…Let’s talk about price.
List prices on my Rossa Daytona 1 CGB was $160. List price on my Ghost Tour Daytona 12 was also $160. So I have $320 invested in putters I like right now.
So, the two putters I’m looking at list at $399 and $449. Both have changeable putter head weights.
Note: All of the putters I have and the ones I’m looking at are 35 inches long. New putters may come with different changeable weights depending on the putter length.
The correct thing to do is to go to a club fitter and get fit for a new putter. Get a putter you can live with and find one with the option to change weights if that is appropriate for you.
I’m going to a Golf Galaxy or a PGA Superstore to try these out and ask a lot of questions. I might try a putter fitting.
Odyssey Tri-Hot 5k Two
• The first one I like is an Odyssey Tri-Hot 5k Two putter. $399
From Odyssey:
- High performance and tight dispersion from a stainless steel front.
- Unprecedented forgiveness for a blade and improved roll from tungsten front weights.
- Interchangeable front weights
- Legendary white hot insert
- Red Stroke Lab shaft
The standard head weight is 360 grams and the removable weights are 27 grams each.
It comes with a Stroke Lab Red shaft and Tri-Hot pistol grip.
There are options for left or right handed, type of shaft, putter length, lie angle, type of grip and grip wrap.
They sell weight kits of 5 grams, 10 grams, 15 grams and 20 grams. Each is separate and $50 per kit.
Odyssey Toulon Madison
• The second one is also an Odyssey called the Toulon Madison. The 35 inch putter has a head weight of 360 grams. $449
Note: This one is really sharp, but also pretty expensive.
It comes with a Stroke Lab Green shaft and Toulon Design pistol grip.
There are options for left or right handed, type of shaft, putter length, lie angle, type of grip and grip wrap.
You can buy a weight kit for this one with multiple options. Individual weights are $50 a set, multiple sets or 4 weights in a set for $160. The price changes with more weights in the set.
Conclusion
Is there a reason for most people to have and use several putters? Maybe.
I’m pretty sure I have my forever putter in the Rossa Daytona. The other putter I have is identical, but 15 grams heavier.
I can use the heavier one in the Spring / Fall when greens are slower or on slow greens.
Currently, my thoughts are that if I needed another head weight I could buy a third putter for a lot less than $400 or $500 dollars.
However, I really like the Odyssey Tri-Hot 5k Two putter and I’m going to try one out.
I have never been fitted for a putter.
So, I may have adjusted my stance, grip, ball positions, etc. all because I have the wrong putter.
Since my stats are pretty darn good now, what do I gain from getting a fitted putter?
My current putts per round are 31.6 or 4.4 putts less than expected per round. Strokes gained per round versus a 20 handicapper is plus 0.97.
If you are a pro, maybe changing head weights lets you gain a stroke over 4 rounds. Continued over the whole year maybe you win $500,000. Maybe you win a major or a tournament.
For me, I’m can see making longer putts with a more stable putter, but I’m not going to win a prize for it.
It’s a personal choice.
Remember, everyone is different and putting is about feel.
Videos
Edel Golf – How putter weight impacts speed control
Edel Golf – Putter fitting for speed example