What Lie Angle Should My Putter Be & Does It Matter?

What Lie Angle Should My Putter Be & Does It Matter?

As the famous saying goes, “Drive for show, Putt for doe”. This can not be more true. Being able to putt well can save you many shots during a round.

Being able to putt well needs a lot of practice and some natural ability to be able to read the line of the putt, as well as have a natural ‘feel’. But having said that, the putter itself is just as important. If you are not using a putter built specifically for you and your stroke, you will have a much harder time making putts.

Below we will answer all your questions regarding lie angles, and how they can affect your game.

What Putter Lie Angle Is And Why It Is Important

The lie angle of the putter is the static measurement from the center of the shaft and the sole of the club. It is the angle from the center of the sole to the ground.

Having the correct lie angle with your putter will ensure solid contact and the correct starting lie. These are the two main aspects when it comes to putting, so you can imagine having the correct lie angle has the utmost importance.

Being able to start the ball on line and strike it out of the middle of the face will help you with direction and speed, helping you make more putts, and ultimately lower your scores.

Does Lie Angle Matter In A Putter?

Lie angle with loft are the two most important aspects when it comes to your putter. Forget about the club length, neck and head shape, if your lie angle or loft is out, the chances of you putting it well get a lot less.

Whenever I have been for a putter fitting, the main thing we focus on is getting the putter bent to the correct loft and lie before I even start putting with the putter. As I have been around for a while I know what my loft and lie needs to be with a putter, this helps me start the ball on line, have a consistent roll and speed.

How Should The Putter Lie At Address?

The putter should lie flush with the ground, when you stand in your putting position with the putter in your hands, you should not see any gap between the toe and the ground, or the heel and the ground.

If you see no gap, this means you have the correct lie angle. This means you will have the best chance to start the ball at your intended target, strike the ball out of the center of the putter and have the correct speed on your putts.

How Do You Find The Lie Angle Of Your Putter?

The standard lie angle of any putter is 70 degrees, 70% of the time this will be correct for you too, however we all have different postures, strokes and are different heights, so having your lie angle fitted for you, or atleast checked is very important.

The only way to find out what lie angle your putter is to check it on a putter bending machine, similar to an iron bending machine, your putter gets clamped into the machine, from there you are able to check the loft and lie angle of your putter, and if needed bend it to your specs.

Unfortunately, there is no other way to check your putter lie angle.

What Will Happen If Your Lie Angle Is Too Upright

When your lie angle is too upright a few things will happen.

Firstly, your face angle will be pointing slightly to the left, this will cause the ball to start left of your intended starting line, forcing you to push your putts. This will cause inconsistencies with your stroke.

Secondly, it will affect your speed and roll. Your speed will be affected because you will not be striking the ball out of the center, rather towards the bottom of the putter. Your roll will also be affected, when your lie angle is too upright, the ball will bounce more than it should on the green, again affecting your speed.

What Will Happen If Your Lie Angle Is Too Flat

Opposite to when your lie angle is too upright, when it is too flat your face angle will be pointing to the right, causing you to start the ball right of your intended target line. This will force you to pull your putts, also causing inconsistencies in your stroke.

It will also affect your speed and roll. Your speed will be affected because you will not be striking the ball out of the center of the putter, rather towards the bottom. Your roll will be affected, the ball will bounce more than it should on the green, also affecting your speed.

When your lie angle is too flat or too upright not only does it affect your starting line, speed and roll, but also your putting stroke, you will have to compensate by changing your stroke, more often than not you will make a bad stroke, which will also make you make less putts.

What Is The Maximum Lie Angle Of A Putter?

There is no official limit, however going over 75 degrees or under 65 degrees, means your hands are far too high or low, which is never a good thing.

The perfect range is somewhere between 68 and 72 degrees.

Can Lie Angle Be Adjusted In Putters? How To Do It?

Yes they can. A putter bending device is used. Most golf retail stores that do repairs should have one of these devices.

You place the putter in the device and clamp it down, you have to make sure the putter is sitting flush with the machine or the readings will be off, from there you measure the loft and lie angle, and bend it accordingly with a bending rod or pole.

We highly recommend letting someone with experience do this, as it is very easy to break the hosel.

Can You Bend Putter Shafts?

When bending a putter you do not bend the actual shaft, but rather the hosel of the putter. This is where the shaft connects to the putter. The shaft itself does not get bent.

Should Your Eyes Be Over The Ball When Putting?

This is always a big debate between coaches and players. It all depends on where your eyes line up to the ball and the target, this is usually directly over the ball or slightly on the inside, no more than an inch.

The best putters in the world will never have their eyes past the ball, either directly over the ball or slightly on the inside.

Our advice, get a putting mirror and see where your eyes line up, start with your eyes directly over the ball, from there move them slightly inside if needed and find your sweet spot. This will be the best spot for your eyes to be positioned.

How To Adjust Putter Lie Angle At Home?

Please do not attempt bending your putter at home unless you have a putter bending machine. The putter is extremely fragile, and can break easily.

The best way to change your lie angle at home would be to adjust your hand position. Move your hands away/upward to flatten your lie angle, and lower or move towards yourself to make your putter more upright. Remember you do not need to move a lot, a degree or two is a small movement with your hands.

What Is The Benefit Of Having The Correct Lie Angle

Simply, you will make more putts. It will be much easier to start the ball on your intended target line, as well as you will have a much more consistent roll and speed when putting.

These three things will no doubt cause you to make more putts, without even working on your stroke.

What Is A Mallet Putter – Pros and Cons

A mallet putter is a large shaped head, the reason for a mallet putter is to increase the MOI of the putter making it more forgiving. The weight of the putter is moved to the perimeter and as far back as possible, helpling the face stay square when you miss hit your putts. By moving the weight back, you lose a little bit of feel off the face.

Pros

• Forgiveness
• Alignment aids can be added to the large head
• Softer feel off the face (could also be a con for some players)
• Heavier compared to a blade

Cons

• Large head may be off putting
• Some players might not like the soft feel

What Is A Blade Putter – Pros and Cons

This is your traditional putter, only in recent times has the mallet putter been introduced. The blade putter is a small head. It has most of the weight in the face of the putter, this will give you exceptional feel when putting, however they are not very forgiving, so any putt struck slightly off center will cause the putter to either open or close slightly.

Pros

• Exceptional feel off the face
• Sets up nicely behind the ball

Cons

• Not very forgiving
• Very little alignment aids (this also might be a pro to some)

What Is A Half Mallet Putter – Pros and Cons

As you might have guessed the half mallet is the best of both worlds between the blade and mallet putter, however it is still not the most popular style, as people tend to either like the mallet or blade, and not a little bit of both. The half mallet won’t be as forgiving as a mallet, but certainly more than a blade. The feel will be somewhere in between the mallet and the blade. Half mallets will still have alignment aids which is great.

Pros

• Good feel off the face
• Forgiving
• It has alignment aids
• Best of both putters

Cons

• Some people prefer either a mallet or blade, not something in between

Conclusion

Having the correct lie angle is one of the most important things when it comes to putting. It will help you start the ball on your intended target line, and will give you a better roll and speed.

If you are struggling with your putter, get your lie and loft checked before you decide to purchase a new putter.