There are various aspects to consider when fitting for the correct putter. In this article, we will discuss the first critical aspect commonly referred to as toe hang !!

Putter fitting is a balance of art and science. It puts the right brush in the painter’s hand to create a masterpiece.

Let’s talk about the major fitting and design components of putting. I want to explain why a putter wants to move the way it does and why a player might react to it differently.

FITTING COMPONENTS

• Toe hang
• Offset
• Head shapes
• Loft
• Length
• Lie Angle
• Weight
• Grip Style/Size
• Face Material/Texture

Toe Hang

If you have always heard people talk about the toe hang of putter but still do not understand what it means, let’s go ahead and clarify: toe hang is the position in which the toe of the putter points if the putter is allowed to hang naturally.

We have found that finding the proper toe hang for your stroke is essential to squaring your face at impact.

We like to think about it like this: if a shaft were to enter the putter through the heel, it would take more effort to rotate the face closed. If a shaft were to enter the putter through the middle of the putter, the face would feel much easier to rotate closed. As we define the different types of toe hang, keep in mind that more face balanced designs release easier and more heel-shafted designs cause the face to stay more open at impact for players who have average to minimal face rotation in their stroke.

These are the five most common categories of toe hang styles:

• Full Toe Hang – Commonly found in heel-shafted blades. The toe of the putter points more directly to the ground when allowed to hang naturally.

• ¾ Toe Hang – Commonly found in blades with short and small hosels. The toe of the putter points down by about 75 degrees.

• ½ Toe Hang – This toe hang originated with the PING ANSER design. It occurs with most plumbers neck blade putters and hangs about 45 degrees.

• ¼ Toe Hang – This toe hang can be found in both blades and mallets depending on the hosel design. The amount of toe hang is about 25 degrees.

• Face Balanced – This toe hang can also be found in both blades and mallets. The face of the putter will point directly to the sky when allowed to hang naturally.

The reason that the toe hang of a putter is so critical – and one of the first design features addressed – is that it is the only characteristic that directly relates to the way the player squares the face at impact. Motion capture technology, high-speed cameras, and physics tell us that putting is almost completely ruled by face angle at impact.