For a long time I've heard that a mallet is better for someone with a straight back and straight through putting stroke and a blade is better for someone with a slightly curved putting stroke.

Is this really the case, and if so, what is the theory behind it?

I have a straight back and straight through putting stroke but I use a Ping G2 Anser putter. I have pretty good success with it but at times I find that my backswing is not very steady and therefore I push or pull the ball off line.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Benjamin

Here is the reponse I believe you will get when Geoff responds. The notion that a mallet putter is better for a straight back and through stroke is incorrect. However, what most believe to be true is that a face balanced putter is better for a straight back and through stroke. Most mallet putters (and center shafted putters) are faced balanced, and, thus, the reason behind what you have heard. By "face balanced" I mean that the putter is constructed in such a way that the putter is neither heavier in the toe or heel of the putter. To tell if a putter is faced balanced, balance the putter by placing its shaft on your extended finger, if the face of the putter points up to the sky and stays completely horizontal, then you have a face balanced putter. On the other hand, traditional or blade style putters (and most heel shafted putters) e.g., ping anser, etc., are not faced balanced (when tested by balancing the putter by the shaft on your extended finger, the toe of the putter will point towards the ground, or at least hang below that of the heel of the putter). These style putters are said to favor those that use a "swing the gate" or "inside-square-inside" putter stroke. I think the reason behind this is that, becuase the toe is heaver in these putters, the golfer can "feel" the putter "swinging opened and closed," through the putting stroke better.

In the straight back and through stoke, a face balanced putter, if not manipulated by the golfer, will remain square to the line of the stroke and putt.

I hope this helps.

Carl Spackler

Thank you for the response...what you've told me now makes a great deal of sense. I'm not sure if the putter I tried out yesterday (Taylor Made Mezza Monza) is face balanced or not, but I sure made a ton of putts on the practice green with my straight back and straight through stroke

Thanks again for your help...I greatly appreciate it!!!

Benjamin