WHY PUTTER FACE LOFT IS A BAD IDEA-THE ERRORS IT CAN CAUSE

A properly designed putter will achieve good roll without using face loft.

Loft on the face of a putter can cause a significant directional error if the putter heel or toe is up in the air at address or during the stroke. If a golfer's putter does not fit them properly their putter heel or toe will be up in the air at address or during the stroke. If this happens then loft on their putter face has to cause a directional error based on physics.

Most golfers have seen or even experienced the shot pulling effect of hitting a high lofted club from a side hill lie. The pulling effect occurs because when the club is not soled properly. With the toe of the club up the air the loft on the club points the face to the left of the intended target.

Putting is no different. If the lie angle of the putter does not fit the golfer, either the heel or toe of the putter will be improperly soled (up in the air). Loft on the putter face will then cause it to point away from the target.

Laboratory tests have shown that a putter with four degrees of face loft will produce a directional error of one and one-half inches at a distance of ten feet when the lie angle is off by ten degrees.

That is why golfers should always have their putter fitted so that is is properly soled. If a golfer has the toe or heel of his putter up in the air at address or during his stroke then putter face loft will definitely cause a directional error. This is especially critical with Long, Side Saddle and Face-On putters. These putters are generally used with their shafts near vertical. If they are USGA conforming their shaft lie angles can not be less than ten degrees. Holding these putter shafts near vertical results in a head lie angle of nearly ten degrees from level thereby causing a significant directional error if they have face loft.

For the above reason, Long, Side Saddle and Face-On putters especially should be made with zero degrees of face loft. And, for Conventional, Belly, Long, Side Saddle and Face-On Putters tests have shown that a properly balanced and weighted putter can still produce excellent roll and distance control even with zero loft.

John "Sandy" Reese is the founder of Golf Lab and the inventor of the REESO Putter. The REESO putter is the ultimate game improvement putter. The REESO putter is available right or left handed in lengths from 29 inches to 54 inches. Conventional, Mid/Belly, Long/Broomstick, and Face-On/Side Saddle styles are offered. This USGA conforming design even permits use of interchangeable shaft/grip units. So, for example, a golfer can have a Conventional and a Belly style putter using the same putter head.

You may view a laboratory video which discusses and demonstrates Putter Loft Caused Directional Error Putter Loft Video

You may also see a brief video and read about the features and benefits of the new REESO VTX Zero Loft Golf Putter here See The New REESO VTX Putter

Golf Lab (REESO Putters) offers a color illustrated Free Report for putting improvement entitled "Stop Missing Short Putts. Filled with up to date putting improvement tips and drills, it is a must read. To receive your free copy that you can read online or print out go here Free Putting Report