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Yes, the putting is on average the easiest way to lower your scores, most people agree on that. Gaining 30 yards on your drives takes a lot more practice than knocking down more putts for the average joe.

But is the putter technology really important? I Noticed a member here saying he advocated not bying a ****** putter because its such important for your game.

But here I am, an amateur golfer playing against to older guys yesterday. My HC is about 29 and theres was 21 and 17. Needless to say they where older guys playing from the mens tee so I reckoned they where excellent on the short game because of their flexibility issues and lack of muscles.

But it was me who was the putter king that round. Didn`t make one 3 putt wich they both did. I played ****** otherwise but thats not the point of this thread. I'm not here to brag but point out that I don`t believe the putter is all that important.

Why? Well they both had fancy putters and I used a putter that is probably 8-10 years old that is completely standard. Also the metal have started to "peel" off on the putter head. Does that give you the impression of a putter that is up to date?

If the putter is that important why on earth did I manage to whoop these older guys on the putting green that have been playing for so much longer than me and had relatively new putters with more appealing design? Well because I have studied my alignment and worked on my stroke to make sure my ball starts on on the right line.

Maybe I will do even better with my new Ping putter for all I know (its on its way) but I doubt it would be very noticeable.

Do you really feel the putter makes a great impact on how well you put? And therefore feel the need to spend much money on it??

speaking from experience the putter made a big difference for me. To be honest, I was surprised by how much of a difference. I use to use a 35 inch VooDoo. It was too long and I had trouble lining up the target. I think I must have tried every putter imaginable between golfsmith and Edwin Watts. I ended up buying what felt best and made lining up easier.

Glad to hear that. Nothing sounds worse than buying expensive equipment and not improving at all..

Maybe I'm mistaken and that I will too benefit from a better putter..

What is considered to be decent putting for a serious amateur?

If you have an average of 2 putts per green or better?

Pro's have everything from 1,5 to 1,8 on much more difficult greens though so close to 1,8 should be attainable?

You need a putter that you can work with. It needn't be a state-of-the art putter.

I don't know how amateur putting compares to pro putting (except that the pros are much better at it), but using the putts per GIR statistic can be deceptive, because the pros probably hit their approaches closer than amateurs, with their great aim and distance control. Using the total putts statistic may be deceptive also, because the pros hit their sand shots, chips, pitches much closer (if they missed the green with their approach).

That is true.
These factors also has to be considered:
- There greens are faster and slopes more.
- They might make par 5`s in 2 shots and have long ways to the flag.

But to make putts per round to be around 1,8 for a dedicated amateur doesn`t seem all that impossible.

Does not every pro say " Calculate 2 putts per whole and you know how many strokes you have with your regulation to make the green" ?

At least thats what they say here.

I found a new putter made a huge difference for me. The soft feel of the insert gave me a lot better touch, especially on fast greens. But it's the indian, not the arrow - a good putter can use almost anything. I'm not a great putter.

What matters is that the putter works for you and you have confidence in it. I wouldn't trade the putter I got on clearance for $70 for anything, because its what I've found works best for me.

I don't think you necessarily need a "fancy" or "expensive" putter, but I do think you need a putter that's right for you. For all anyone here knows, you already have that, and if so, great. Think no more of it. But if you're not sure, then take your current gamer to someone who knows a little about fitting and have them take a look at your stroke and see what happens. Yours might not be right for your stroke, in which case a different model might just suit you better. For example, if your stroke is straight back and through, a face-balanced mallet-style is generally recommended. If you have more of a gated stroke, a blade with some toe-hang is usually better. But again, if you do need a new putter, it really doesn't have to be anything special. Go with a tried and true design--like the old Ping Anser-style, if it's right for you--and you'll be fine. Just make sure it feels good and looks good to the eye.

For me, putters are not unlike shoes; price isn't always a factor on a pair that fit you well and are comfortable.

I am guilty of trying and buying several putters. I had the Nike Oz T130, Rife mallet and blade, and the Yes Marilyn. Yes, I have spent enough to buy two Scotty Camerons, already.

I narrowed it down to two putters The Rife 2 bar blade and Yes Marilyn.

I am putting well with the Yes Mallet (very good distance control) but I don't have a sense of feedback like I have with the Rife. I am working on putting with something that doesn't give me a muted feel.

I would disagree with that statement 100%. I would also say that chipping the ball twice as close to the hole will cut more strokes off your game than an extra 30 yards on every drive. If I had an hour to warm up for a tournament, I'd putt for 30 min, wedges from 40 yards in for 20 min, hit some short then long hybrids and about 10 balls with the driver.

I have two putters, a Ping Zing 2 Beryllium, and a blonde maple Ping Danser, both circa 1980 and see no need to "upgrade" to anything I've tried out recently.

Better yet, if you can chip it into the hole, you don't need a putter.

Too bad my ratio is about 1 in 25 (practicing) of holing out chips (close ones at that - last Friday, they were 20 feet and 15 feet)- even worse is that it's just 1 in every 36 to 54 holes in play.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. In fact, I'd even say that any person (with competent motor skills) can learn to putt well with any putter with practice. Not necessarily putt great, but putt well enough that they should be 2 putting from almost any place on any green the vast majority of the time. The real key is practice, and the fact that most golfers don't practice putting anywhere near enough. Most golfers go to the range and hit a bucket of balls and may only hit "a few wedges" to warm up. Whereas more golfers would probably see the most rapid decrease in their scores if they hit nothing but wedges at specific targets and distances and then putted for 60 or 90 minutes.

Now, all that said, there isn't much reason not to find the putter that is "the one" for you. The new really high MOI putters do work better than the old ones in that if you hit the ball off center, the putter head won't twist and cause a significant amount of distance loss. But, putters are so individual, everyone should find the one that works best for themself.

Guess it also depends on the rest of your game. If you can stick the green with your short through long irons, putting would probably be a lot more important, since you are gonna face some longer putts more often. If you miss most your greens, it would be more likely that you can chip it to within 5-10 feet, where i am guessing more chances for 1 putting, and 2 putts at the very most? So i guess the more important questions when it comes to how important putting is, would be asking what your percentages are from 5 feet, 10- 15 feet, 20-25 feet, and 30+feet. And how much you face each of those distances over 18 holes on average. Theoretically, I can be a horrible putter with a 1.5 putting average just because i stick the iron shots within 5 feet of the cup on every hole. So at times, unless you are at the professional level, certain stats are arbitrary.

And yes, a **** putter in a good golfers hands can still sink shots, but a good putter in a good golfers hands can probably sink more shots.

if you have to ask, "is it worth it?" then, no...it's not worth it.