In any sport that uses equipment, weight matters. A 32-ounce baseball bat feels nothing like a 36-ounce bat, even though the difference is just 4 ounces. Some players want the heavier bat for power. Others want a lighter one for bat speed.
Golf is no different. A heavier implement transfers more energy into the ball, but that only helps if you can control it. Weight preference is personal, driven by feel and performance.
Key Takeaways
- Putter weight is subjective and depends on personal feel, and is as important as other factors in putter selectio
- Both static and swing weight measurements matter in putter performance
- Counter-balancing, adding weight at the grip end, can enhance stability but may not suit everyone
Putter Weight Comes Down to Feel
One golfer may prefer a heavier head weight, while another likes a lighter profile. The only way to find out is comparison testing. If you skip that step when shopping, you’re leaving strokes on the table.
We’ve covered other putter selection factors elsewhere, including correct putter length, loft, lie, and head shape (blade vs. mallet). Putter weight belongs on that same checklist.
A Little History About Putter Weighting
Today, the average weight of a putter head is in the range of 350-400 grams. In historical terms, that is relatively heavy. For example, the average weight of a putter head in the ’60s and ’70s was closer to 300 grams (when announced in 1966, for example, the original Ping Anser putter weighed 290 grams). Why has there been this gradual increase in average putter weight over time? It comes down to how agronomy has changed.
For instance, in the ’60s and ’70s, the green speeds on golf courses were much slower than they are today. Typically, they measured well under 10 on the Stimpmeter. Putter manufacturers of the day recognized that and defaulted to designing lighter putters so that golfers could make the longer swings necessary to putt on those sluggish surfaces.
But as agronomy improved over the years, putting surfaces got faster and faster. Today, green speeds are routinely measured at higher than 10, and it’s not uncommon to see them as high as 12-14 on championship venues! With green speeds becoming so much faster, the long strokes that golfers used to take were no longer necessary or advisable. Shorter, more manageable strokes became the norm, and a corresponding evolution to heavier head weights began.
Static Weight vs. Swing Weight
In measuring the weight of a putter, you should understand that there is a difference between “static weight” and “swing weight.” Static weight represents the entire weight of the putter, including all its components. Three components contribute:
- The weight of the putter head (averages about 350-400 grams)
- The weight of the putter shaft (averages between 100-110 grams)
- The weight of the grip (averages about 75 grams)
When you hear people discussing putter weight, you’ll often find that they are referring only to the weight of the head itself. In actuality, though, the combination of those three components determines the overall static weight of the putter.
But, just as important as the overall static weight of the putter is its “swing weight.” Swing weight is a concept entirely different than static weight. Swing weight represents the relationship between the weight at the bottom of the club and the weight at the top. So, in essence, it’s all about the club's balance and how weight is distributed throughout the club. Essentially, swing weight expresses how heavy a club “feels” when you swing it.
An explanation of swing weight
Most golfers are familiar with the concept of swing weight as it applies to their driver, irons, and fairway woods. Not as many think about swing weight concerning their putter. But they should. How the head's weight feels in relation to the rest of the putter (its overall balance and weight distribution) is a critical factor in determining how well that putter will perform for you.
There is a range of acceptable swing weights for putters. Generally speaking, putters should be between a C8 and a D6 on the swing weight scale. Why this range? Anything lighter than a C8 would make it difficult to “feel” the weight of the head, resulting in a struggle to consistently control distance. Similarly, a putter with a swing weight heavier than D6 would present comparable consistency issues.
Counter-Balancing in Putters
About 10 years ago, a new concept in putter weighting became popular. It is referred to as counter-balancing. In counter-balancing, the weight distribution in the putter is altered so that extra weight is placed in the butt (grip) end, which shifts the balance point quite a bit higher up on the club.
Typically, counterbalanced putter heads are quite a bit heavier than conventional putter heads (occasionally by as much as 50 grams or more). So, to compensate for all that added weight in the head, the designers placed even more weight above the golfer's hands, which necessitated extending the shaft length (that’s why the original counter-balanced putters looked a bit like the old belly putters).
The theory is that, through counterbalancing the putter, this higher balance point gives the golfer a bit more feel at impact. Also, because of the added weight in the putter head, counter-balanced putters usually have a higher MOI. The extra weight adds stability to the head, and certainly, many golfers can benefit from better performance on off-center strikes.
With these apparent benefits, should counterbalancing be the answer for everyone? The short answer is that it may work well for some and not so well for others. On one hand, the heavier head weight may provide stability and MOI, but it may present problems for some when hitting softer putts on faster greens.
As with any selection process, if you think a counter-balanced putter may provide you with some performance improvements, you should do some comparison testing when you shop for a new putter.
A Final Thought on Putter Head Weighting
There’s been plenty of discussion about putter head styles and which shape works best for a given stroke path. We’ve provided information here on this site, discussing the differences between blade putters and mallet putters and how their respective weight profiles may favor one golfer over another.
Those articles explained how these different head shapes affect whether a putter tends to swing on an arc path (to the inside on the backswing and to the inside on the through-swing) or whether it allows the putter to move more on a “straight-back-straight-through” path. Putters that move on an arc path are usually described as having “toe-hang” (and are usually blade putters), while putters that move more on a straight line are described as “face-balanced” (and are usually mallet putters).
The reason we are re-stating that information here in this article on putter weight is that, at its core, the difference between toe-hang and face-balanced putter comes down to how the weight of the putter head was distributed by its designers and how that distribution of weight affects its path.
By definition, toe-hang putters have more of their head weight allotted at the toe end of the club, so blade putters often tend to close gradually in the through-swing. By contrast, the weight on face-balanced putters (mallets) has been distributed around the head to encourage less of an arc in the swing path.
Final Thoughts
Most amateurs ignore weight when shopping for a putter. That’s a mistake. Total weight and weight distribution directly affect feel and performance.
No tour pro picks a putter without knowing its weight profile. Follow their lead, and for a look at what the pros actually game, check out these Scotty Cameron putters.