I have owned SO many putters over the years. Are you one of those fortunate golfers who can roll the ball well with just about anything? If you are, I envy you.
Because I am not one of those people.
As someone who has played golf for 50 years—once at an elite level, now at a more, let’s say, “moderate” level—putting has always been my nemesis. The one club in my bag has given me more headaches, frustration, and second-guessing than any other.
And I’ve tried everything to fix it.
The Never-Ending Search for the Right Putter
Over the past five decades, I estimate I’ve owned somewhere between 40 and 50 putters. From classic wooden-shafted blades (yes, I’m that old) to modern carbon-shafted mallets, I’ve experimented with just about every design imaginable. There are very few manufacturers I haven’t tested—maybe some of the newer ones like PXG, LAB, and SIK.
Deep down, though, I’ve always known the uncomfortable truth: it’s not the putter, it’s the person holding it.
But like any golf addict, I kept searching for the magic fix. That’s why, after all these years, I finally decided to do something I should have done a long time ago—get a professional putter fitting.
Why Did It Take Me This Long?
There wasn’t a single lightbulb moment that led me to this decision—just years of frustration and the realization that my endless putter purchases weren’t solving anything.
Then, a few months ago, I played a round with my friend Tony Howard. As usual, Tony was putting beautifully. Again.
Naturally, I had to ask.
He told me about his visit to Club Champion, the leading club-fitting company in the U.S., which recently opened a facility in Hillington, just outside Glasgow. He raved about his experience and strongly recommended that I book a session.
So, I did.
The Fitting Experience – Can I Putt Better?
My fitting was conducted by Joe Hughes, Club Champion’s Scotland Manager. When I arrived, Joe walked me through the process and explained what we would assess during the session.
We started with a warm-up. I rolled several putts with my current putter—an Odyssey DFX Rossie mallet—while Joe set up his tracking system. After a few minutes, he asked about my biggest putting struggles.
Where do I start?
I leave putts short, I miss both left and right and occasionally send the ball six feet past the hole. The full spectrum of putting disasters.
Joe then had me hit seven putts under the watchful eye of the tracking system. That’s when the real eye-opening moment happened.
The Cold, Hard Truth – My Putting Stats
When the numbers came up on the screen, I finally understood why I was struggling.
My biggest issue? Face angle.
At impact, my putter face was 1.8% closed—meaning I was missing most of my six-foot putts to the left.
That tiny number might not seem like much, but in putting, even a fraction of a degree can be the difference between making or missing a crucial putt.
The biggest shock? It wasn’t just me—it was my putter, too.
While a mallet-style putter suited my stroke (thankfully confirming my last eight putter purchases weren’t entirely misguided), my Odyssey Rossie simply wasn’t the right fit in terms of loft, lie, weight, and length.
Finding the Perfect Putter – Data Doesn’t Lie
With those insights, Joe handed me three mallet putters to test:
• Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5
• Ping Ally Blue 4 PLD Milled
• LAB Golf Mezz 1 Max
The LAB putter? That was an instant no-go for me. While I did putt well with it, the offset grip and minimal alignment aid set off my OCD alarm. It just didn’t fit my eye, so I ruled it out quickly.
That left the Scotty Cameron and the Ping.
Both felt great, but in the end, I went with the Ping Ally Blue 4 PLD Milled—purely based on aesthetics. The real question was, did the numbers back up my decision?
Moment of Truth – What a Difference!
With the Ping, my alignment and stroke were perfect. No deviations. No compensations.
And the results? 12-15 made putts out of 18 from fifteen feet.
I was stunned.
Everything about my old putter—apart from the fact that it was a mallet—was wrong for me. The lie, loft, and weight were completely off, and perhaps the biggest shock of all: I needed a 35-inch putter, not a 34-inch.
No wonder I struggled.
The Decision – Do I Pull the Trigger?
After years of spending a small fortune on putters, I faced a choice:
1. Pay the £75 fitting fee and walk away.
2. Bite the bullet and order the custom-fitted Ping.
You can probably guess what I did.
I won’t disclose the price (my wife might read this), but let’s just say it’s a fraction of what I’ve spent on putters over the years. And for the first time in my golfing life, I now have no excuses to putt poorly.
Final Thoughts – Is a Putter Fitting Worth It?
My experience with Club Champion was first-class from start to finish. Everything—from the online booking to the final fitting results—was handled with professionalism and expertise.
Yes, £75 for an hour-long fitting might seem steep. But when you consider the cost of blindly buying new putters that don’t suit your stroke, it’s a bargain.
If you order a putter through them, they even discount the fitting cost, making it even more worthwhile.
Would I Recommend It? Absolutely.
A big thank you to Joe Hughes for an outstanding session. His knowledge, patience, and attention to detail were excellent. I can’t recommend Club Champion highly enough—not just for putter fittings, but for all club fittings.
They can fit you for drivers, woods, irons, and wedges, ensuring your entire set is optimized for your game.
So, if you’re like me—someone who has spent far too much time and money trying to find the right putter—do yourself a favour: Get fitted.
After 50 years of searching, I finally found the one. Fingers crossed…….no excuses now!
At a Glance – Club Champion Putter Fitting
✅ Three fitting locations in the UK
✅ Hundreds of locations in the US and Canada
✅ Top-tier service and expert club fitters
✅ Simple online booking process
📍 More info:
Jim Callaghan CCM is a former Club Manager with experience overseeing several top Scottish clubs.
Now, as European Editor of Golf Operator Magazine and World’s Best Golf Destinations, he shares insights into club operations and his golfing adventures across Europe.
If you would like to reach over 400,000 golfers who love to travel, contact Jim at [email protected] or call Jim at 0044 (0) 78522 88732.
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