Don't rush when picking out a putter

Justin Thomas closed out 2015 with a bang, recording three top-5 finishes and his maiden TOUR win at the CIMB Classic in his final 11 starts of the year. On paper, it appeared Thomas' game was headed in the right direction going into the brief offseason. However, there was one area the 22-year-old felt needed some work: his putting. 

After finishing the 2014-15 TOUR season 95th in strokes gained putting, Thomas made the trek to California to work with putter guru Scotty Cameron on his flatstick. During the three-hour session, Cameron analyzed Thomas' address, stroke and follow through using high speed video cameras set up at various angles.

What the cameras revealed was that Thomas' body was slightly open to the target, which was causing him to pull putts. To help improve his alignment, Cameron added a crisscross design to the flange — similar to the red crisscross pop-through on the Scotty Cameron Roundback — that helped Thomas square up his body and putter face to the target.  

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"I've worked on camera before, but it just goes to show you how important it can be to have someone else take a look as well," Thomas told PGATOUR.COM. "The cross on the back of the putter made it easier to set up square to the target, After talking with [Scotty] we figured out that the cross was the best method for me, and it really works."

Thomas' recent trip to Cameron's studio to have his putting analyzed underlines the importance of getting fit for a putter. The best players in the world have putters that are tailor-made for their stroke and preferences, but when it comes to the average amateur, many forego the chance to get fit for one of the most important clubs in the bag. 

"The way I look at is if I sold you 13 clubs, and I didn't work with you on the putter, you're probably still going to love your clubs," said Hoyt McGarity, co-CEO of True Spec Golf.  "But if I can get you fit in a putter and help you make a couple more putts, your overall experience is that much better."

So what goes into the putter fitting process? If you can't find a fitter or putting lab in your area that has high speed cameras similar to what you'd find at Scotty Cameron's studios, don't fret, there are other ways to ensure your putter is dialed-in for the new season. 

The first decision you need to make pertains to the head shape. The most common shape is a heel-toe weight blade — commonly referred to as a "Newport-style" head — that offers some forgiveness in a traditional package. The other end of the spectrum is the mallet, a high-MOI model that offers additional heel and toe forgiveness you otherwise wouldn't find in a standard blade. 

"I feel like head shape is all about personal preference," McGarity said. "For me, I can tell from looking down at address if I like the look of a putter or not. I'm partial to blades, but for some, the look and feel of a mallet is the way to go. If you play on larger greens than having that extra forgiveness in a mallet might be the way to go."

These days, you can choose from a handful of custom options, including counterbalance models, multi-material inserts, sight lines and adjustable weights. 

With so many options to choose from, it's easy to get confused and choose the first putter that feels good. But like most things in life, sometimes it pays to be patient and take your time. 

Once you decide on a head shape, it's time to consider the length of the putter. If you've played golf in the past, you likely know "standard length" for a putter is 35 inches. While that's the most common length you'll find on the rack at your local golf shop, it doesn't mean 35 inches is the best option for your putting stroke.

"I think it's arm length and what feels natural in your hands," McGarity pointed out. "I think [putter length] is a feel thing. We can tell you that you choke down on the grip or could benefit from a slightly longer putter. Again, it just depends on what feels right in your hands."

Of course, there are other options beyond the three standard lengths (33, 34 and 35 inches). Non-anchored long putters and counterbalance models — putters that have a heavier head and grip promote to promote a smooth stroke — typically run anywhere from 38 to 40-plus inches.

Similar to the loft and lie check you do on a set of irons during a fitting, it's important to get both dialed-in on your putter as well. Your lie angle will likely change depending on your height and/or posture you have at address.

Putter loft is typically calculated based on how you return the face to the ball at impact. For instance, if you employ a forward press with your putting stroke, chances are you'll need loft added to your putter.

"If you turn the putter into zero degrees at impact and your original loft was two degrees, your dynamic loft is zero," McGarity said. "In that case, you need to put that loft at four degrees to get to two degrees at impact. These are common things that most golfers just don't think about."

Another part of the putter that rarely gets more than a passing glance is the grip. In years past, a standard pistol grip was a common sight on most putters. But times have changed with the rise in oversized grips.

Anywhere from 10-15 percent of the field at a TOUR event can be seen using an oversized version on their putter that takes the hands of the equation and puts an emphasis on using bigger muscles to develop a repeatable stroke.

SuperStroke has become a popular grip option on TOUR in the last few years and is currently used by Jordan Spieth, Jason Dufner, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia.

Picking a putter may seem like a daunting task, but just remember you'll use the club more than any other in your bag during the course of a round. If you have aspirations of shooting lower scores this season, take the time to go through a fitting to find a putter that matches your stroke.