I am bias towards mallet putters because in part to I'm an awful short-mid range putter and mentally I feel it helps me standing over those putts. But, try out several before you break the bank.
Lengths, weights, lies, grips, etc. A putter, when proper and specified to the person, can be something you never have to buy again. So, if you do, a Scotty is a great choice.
Get fitted. You can even do this at a Golf Galaxy type store. The different neck types address different set ups. If you get something that works against your set up it won't be good.
I am a plumber neck guy due to where my eyes sit in the set up it works. I just moved from a Studio Select Newport 2 to a California Monterey. Love the new pistolero grip.
Just as Todd said get fitted and as everyone has said. Putt with all of the models and lengths at the store first. I did this 3 different times before pulling the trigger.
I have a Cali Monterey and can tell you that is highly recommended.
I am also biased towards mallets. I used one for a number of years and probably tried 30 different putters over the years until I found another that I liked as well or better than my Ping Craze.
As everyone has told you, find one that you like since it will be your most used club and one that you need to have confidence in. Once this is done, get fitted. This will help fine tune the combination of putter and puttee.
Good luck and happy hunting.
EMKelly0106:That's for you to decide. Try them out and pick the one that's best for your game.
A putter has only so many good rolls to it, when you use them up you need to get a new one. I never keep one for long.
It all depends on your stroke style and what you're looking for. I think your best bet is to go get fitted for one, from head/neck style to shaft length.
There are many scotty's out now, right? I'd try to go to a shop and try them out at a range or golf/specialty shop, and ask any questions you have to the sales rep (or pro) there.
NCBob: A putter has only so many good rolls to it, when you use them up you need to get a new one. I never keep one for long.
It's not the Colt .45's fault, it's the cowboy's. LOL Find ONE you like and perfect YOUR stroke. For what it's worth, the best putter design from an engineering standpoint is the Odessey Black Series Tour Designs 2-Ball Blade Putter IMHO. The weight is distributed very deep behind the center of percussion AND putter shaft creating an effect that inherently squares the blade to the direction of your stroke is travelling. The old Never Compromise original VooDoo putters had the same type of weight distribution. The Scotty Camerson's use back weighting that is dispersed more heel to toe and not as deeply as the aforementioned designs.
Fitting, fitting, fitting.....
Putters are a very fickle club, so you need to kiss a lot of frogs till you find your prince (or princess). I have been a Scotty Cameron guy for many years now, and I use what are mid-malletts. Used a Studion Design 5.0 for many years and just got a California DelMar. The new putter is heavier.
I can honestly say that no one, and I mean no one, can truly tell you what to get. No other club has as much personal feel to it, so only you can decide what feels best and works best.
I would support the advice from the rest of the people in this thread. It is the most important club in the bag, so try a number and get it fitted, it will make such a difference to your confidence on the green and hence your scores. The way you hit a putt makes a difference to the type you select depending on the balance of the putter and where it is weighted. If you strike the ball in a pendulum motion straight back and forward you will want a face weighted putter, while a toe weighted one may be more appropriate if your putting stroke is in to out to in. The Scotty Cameron ranges are lovely and I'm sure you'll have fun selecting one. Let us know which one you decide on in the end. Pictures are obligatory.