Putter Hosel Types: Differences Among Them
One of the most obvious trends in the game of golf is putter fitting. If it’s been a while since you have been fitted for a putter or feel like your game could benefit from something built to your needs, then you should understand the putter hosel types.
There are a number of different putter hosel designs. When you find the best match for your game, it can really make it easier to make putts. Why match your putting stroke to your equipment when you can match the equipment to your stroke.
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What are The Different Putter Hosel Types?
There are six different putter hosel types that most golf manufacturers will offer. They include plumber, straight, single bend, double bend, flow, and slant.
This may seem a little confusing at first, but you will quickly narrow down which is best for you based on looks as well as performance.
Plumber Neck
The plumber’s neck is considered one of the most forgiving putter designs. The benefit of the plumber neck putter is that it helps players square up their faces.
I currently have a plumber neck putter in my Scotty Cameron Newport. This is a very common putter neck in the Newport style, as it really helps with an arc-style stroke with a blade putter.
Plumber neck putters are almost always offered, and they can be easy to find in both blade and mallet style putters. I find that golfers who leave their putter face a bit open at impact tend to enjoy the plumber’s neck.
Although the plumber neck putters can work both arc and straight back straight, through style putting strokes, we like this better for an arc style stroke.
Single Bend
Single bend is another common putter hosel type, and it has a more subtle look than some others on the market. Most golfers that use the single bend putter will have a straight back and straight through putting stroke.
With a single bend putter hosel, there is a bit more offset than in other models. Offset often leads to extra forgiveness, something that most golfers will benefit from.
Perhaps the most important benefit of the single bend putter is the fact that it has a clean look from the top down, something that appeals to many lower handicappers.
Straight Neck
The straight neck can also be a center shafted putter. The putter head gives a really unique appearance at address and can often help players that are trying to just focus on keeping a putter head on a single line.
When the putter shaft is almost in line with the golf ball at the address, it makes it easier to visualize the rest of the stroke and what will be necessary. The straight neck can be harder to find, so your options will be limited here.
As far as the putting stroke that the straight neck will match the most, you will likely see the most success with a straight back and straight through style. (Also be sure you have the right putter shaft for your height.)
In addition, when you can find a straight neck, it will most likely be a mallet putter.
Double Bend
A double bend putter hosel connection is another great choice for the straight back and straight through putting stroke. The technology here is quite similar to the single bend, but it helps keep the putter just a little more square through impact.
Golfers looking for a more face balanced design to keep the putter head square the entire stroke will enjoy what the double bend putter has to offer.
Many golfers over complicate their putting strokes, and for those that want to keep it simple and just keep the face square, the double bend is a good solution.
Flow Neck
The single and double bend are clearly better options for the straight back and straight-through putting stroke. However, if you are a golfer with more of an arc style stroke, the flow neck could be a good choice for you.
The flow neck has less offset. In addition, the flow neck gives golfers more toe hang. The toe hand square the putter head up at impact.
With an arc style putting stroke, golfers often rotate the face slightly open on the backswing and then square it up at impact. However, the squaring-up part is easier said than done. With a little extra toe hang, it’s easier to square up the putter head.
Slant Neck
The slant neck is a versatile putter hosel type. In other words, if you are playing with an arc style stroke and a straight back straight through stroke, this is a putter that could give you better performance and some extra versatility.
The slant neck is usually short and has a significant slant. Some golfers like the fact that the hands will naturally be set up in front of the ball. In addition, the overall look is improved because of the more natural progression from the putter head to the shaft.
Which Putter Hosel Type Do I Need?
Now that you have a better understanding as to which putter hosel types, you will have the option of you have to know which is best for you. Here is a nice video below explaining how to select the right putter hosel type.
Here are some of the things to consider before deciding on the hosel type.
Putting Stroke Style
As you can see from each of our descriptions of the different putter hosel types, the putting stroke style is the main reason for choosing one over another.
If you have an arc style putting stroke and choose something like the single bend, you won’t have a major problem or be unable to make putts. Instead, things will just be a little harder on you.
Putting is hard, to begin with, and it requires a ton of consistency. In order to improve that consistency, it’s important to look for a putter that matches your putting stroke style.
The slant neck is a good choice for golfers that are unsure of their stroke style. Single bend and double bend are great for straight back and straight through.
I’ve always had an arc-style putting stroke, and the plumber’s neck has been a good feel for me.
The key here is to choose the putter that will make it easier for you to consistently make putts.
Availability
Not all putters are offered with all of these putter hosel types and connections. In fact, some putters only come in one style with very little room for customization.
You may have to make decisions on which putter to choose based on availability.
The good news here is that availability of putters continues to get better. Golf manufacturers realize how important it is to give players choices.
Forgiveness and Putter Design
Depending on the putter hosel type you choose, it could actually increase the forgiveness that you get from the putter head. Some of these connections make it easier to square the putter head up and make more putts.
Keep in mind that the design of your actual putter will also play into the forgiveness factor.
Do I Need A Putter Fitting?
Although it’s nice to be able to figure out which putter hosel type is the best for your game, some golfers get very hung up on this concept. This is where it can make sense to go for a putter fitting.
Just as we use launch monitor technology for analyzing which driver or hybrid is the best for your game, there is technology that tells us which putter could work best for you.
For serious golfers who are struggling to make as many putts as they want, the putter fitting is a great concept.
If you are happy with your putting stroke overall and just want to make sure you fine-tune your next putter purchase to match your golf game, then the putter fitting may not be necessary.
