What is the difference in golf putter designs?

I'm new to golf (so don't laugh please :P), but when purchasing a putter I noticed that some were designed like a traditional putter (flat, rectangular) but some had differently designed and 'fancy' club heads... what is the difference? Is there an advantage based on the design?|||As you have already noticed, there are basically 2 types of putters. The more rectangular traditional looking putters, which are commonly called "anser style" or blade putters. Anser is in reference to the Ping Anser, the putter that basically created the standard. The other type, which can take all sorts of variations, are all "face balanced mallets". A face balanced putter has the weight spread evenly across the face so that if you lay the shaft across your finger and hold it parallel to the ground the face points straight up. These are designed to putt with little or no face rotation, and match up well for very straight back straight through type strokes. The anser style has more weight out on the toe, so that when laid across your finger and held up the toe hangs down to the ground. These match up well for golfers with a more swinging gate type putting stroke, where the face rotates more in the backswing and through swing. Those are the fundamental differences. It is important to know what kind of stroke you have so that you can always select a putter from the correct category.





Hope this helps|||the rectangular types are called "blades". They have more weight in the toe, to promote a more circular putting stroke, a miniscule version of the full swing.





The bigger heads with the funny shapes are considered "mallets". They are designed for a more straight-back-and-through swing (or pendulum swing- think of a grandfather clock). They are also designed for forgiveness, so an off-center hit will go almost as far and on a similar path.





There really isn't an "advantage", per se... if a putter feels good to you, looks good to you, makes a pleasing sound at impact, and works with your natural swing (instead of against it), that's "the One"- regardless of what it looks like.|||The differences in clubs is mostly just looks but there some things that separate an OK putter from a great one.





-The putter feels balanced in your hand.


-The putter's shaft is made from a superior and flexible material


-The directional line painted on the putter's top is clear to your eye and is easy to follow as the swing motion activates. These markings help you to see the line you are drawing as you swing and follow through after you hit it.


- the shape of the putter head seems to you to help you keep it straight through the swing.


- advertised to have a wide "sweet spot"





Now all of that said, the most important thing is not the putter. It's you and your ability to read the ground surface for what will affect the ball as it rolls to the hole. The speed that you hit it is also very important and is learned with practice. This will come form experience and is an art within the game of golf.|||Putters are based on weight, look, and, and personal feel. Along with a longer or shorter shaft you will find one that just "agrees" with you.





When it comes to putters I always liked Craig Stadler's quote when asked why he was using a new putter from the previous week. His reply "the last one didn't float." i.e. we all find a putter that works for us, and then sometimes you don't.





You hit almost half or more of your shots on the green, so when you see players changing a putter...it is just for more confidence (even though more practice on the practice green would be better. Good luck.