Choosing a putter in disc golf can be one of the most challenging things a player is faced with regardless of how many years they've been playing.
There are many factors that contribute to this, but the reality is that there is no right or wrong putter for you to use, and just about every putter on the market has been used and loved some player at some time.
Even among touring pros who are all sponsored by the same brand will you see a wide variety of preferred putters and in a variety of different plastics.
While you can't go wrong with any choice, picking one that makes you feel as confident as possible every single putt will be key in keeping your scores as low as possible.
At the end of the day, comfort and personal preference is going to trump everything,
but in this article,
we're going to break down some things you'll want to consider when looking for a putter to help you choose the right one to fit your needs, style, and play.
Let's get started!
1. Comfort and Feel
As mentioned when it comes to choosing a putter, the number one thing to consider is the feel of the disc in your hand.
Putting is all about consistency, that cannot be stated enough, so at the end of the day whatever disc you feel most confident with is the right one and the “feel” of a disc comes down to a few important characteristics.
Beaded vs Beadless Putters
The first decision to make is whether to go with a beaded or beadless disc.
A bead is a small, extra lip of plastic that goes along the rim of the disc. Many players opt for a beaded disc because it will feel gripier in the hand and also helps with stability.
Beadless putters are just as popular because they offer a smoother release and may feel more natural against the hand.
Below, you can see 3 different putters; one with a bead, one with a 1/2 "micro bead", and one without a bead, to get an idea of what each one looks like.
Again, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to beaded vs. beadless, so be sure to try both out and see which one feels more natural to you.
The beaded edge of the Innova KC Pro Aviar
The Dynamic Discs EMac Judge featuring what they call a micro bead
The smooth, unbeaded edge of the Discraft Roach can be seen here
Rim Depth
Another important thing to remember about picking a putter is the depth of the rim.
Some discs have a shallow rim, while others, like Dynamic Discs’ Guard, have a much deeper edge.
This decision really comes down to the size of your palm and fingers. People with bigger hands often like discs with deeper ridges, while people with average to small hand size might not.
Plastic
Lastly, you cannot talk about comfort and feel without mentioning the plastic. I'll go into more detail later, but it's important to know that every brand has their own version of basic and premium plastics and naturally, they'll all feel just a little bit different.
Innova's DX plastic feels much different than Dynamic Discs Prime plastic and both feel different than Discraft's Pro plastic.
This variation further drives home the fact that it is important to try as many different brands and putters as possible when making your choice.
2. What is your putting style?
After deciding which discs feel good in the hand, the next thing to consider is your own putting style.
Most players either use a push putt, a spin putt, or a combination of the two, often called a spush putt. Each technique does better with certain kinds of discs, so it is important to think about which form you use.
Push Putting
Stable discs with lower speeds tend to work better for a push putt because there is often little rotation in this throw. The straight flight path of a stable putter lets a player aim right at the basket, and the low speed helps reduce any wobbles that might happen from the lack of spin normal for this throw.
Because of the lack of spin, understable discs can also be used with a fair amount of accuracy.
Spin Putting
Spin putts often have a faster rotation speed, so discs with slightly higher speeds work well for this throw.
Not only this, but picking a putter with a higher glide is also beneficial because it allows you to get the maximum distance out of this throw.
You can also use a more overstable disc if you would like, as the spin helps the putter from being too overstable. Paul McBeth's go to putter, the Luna is a great example of this as the fade of 2.3 is unconventional for many players.
Spush Putting
For a spush putt, something slightly more overstable than stable such as a fade of 1 or 2 will also work well because the throw allows you to generate enough power to fight against the overstability of the disc.
Stable and understable putters are still viable options as well for this style of putting.
Releasing an overstable putter on a flat to anhyzer angle with enough power will create an extremely straight and long putting stroke with a reliable fade.
3. What do you plan on using it for? Putting vs Throwing Putters
Don’t be confused by a disc being labeled a putter.
These discs can be useful for all kinds of shots including drives, approaches, scrambles, you name it. The versatility is thanks to their consistent flight and controllability.
This is where the term “throwing putter” comes in.
The combination of their low speed and dependable flightpath make them extremely accurate discs for long distance shots.
Compared to putting putters, ideal throwing putters have a much higher glide and are often times more overstable, although some players throw stable putters such as the Aviar and Envy too.
Their low speed makes them easy to control, but the glide and over stability makes them useful for long, accurate shots.
If you pay attention, a lot of experienced players will choose to throw these discs on drives or approach throws around 100 - 350 ft.
If you have trouble controlling drivers or consistently throw farther than you mean to, you need to try some throwing putters.
Having a reliable putting putter in your bag is a given, but having a few throwing putters can also be a complete game changer if you don't have some already.
4. What plastic should you choose?
Now that we’ve talked about putting and throwing putters, we can again discuss plastic types. The type of plastic you choose for putters is important because it greatly impacts the “feel” of the disc.
Typically, people like to go with basic plastic for putting putters and premium plastic for throwing putters. This is because basic plastic tends to be much grippier in the hand, which matters a lot when you're on the green.
On the other hand, basic plastic beats in much quicker, so opting to use premium plastic is the way to go with throwing putters since they will be thrown at higher speeds and run the risk of hitting obstacles.
Going with premium plastic ensures a greater lifespan for your throwing putters. That being said, choose whatever plastic gives you the best feel and confidence for the situation you plan on using it in.
5. Weather and Bag Variety Considerations
No disc golf list is complete without mentioning how the weather should impact decision making.
Understanding how the wind is acting is crucial when it comes to putting.
It is generally agreed that a head wind makes a disc more understable and a tail wind makes a disc more over stable.
When throwing into a head wind, you’d need to increase the overstability in order to get a straight shot. Likewise, a more understable disc would fly straighter in a tailwind. Lastly, in a swirling wind, going with a straight flying, stable disc would result in the most consistent flight path.
This constant change in wind and weather is why it's important to have a variety of putters in your bag. Instead of changing up your angle and form, which introduces more variables into your throw, sometimes it's better to change the disc so that you can perform your normal throw and get the same results.
This is mostly true for throwing putters, as most players keep their putting putters consistent in all conditions and practice accordingly to learn how their disc reacts.
When choosing your throwing putters, be sure to grab ones in different stabilities so that you have all situations covered.
6. How many disc golf putters should I buy?
Choosing a putter is a process.
There is a lot to consider: bead or no bead, stable or overstable, base line or premium plastic? It can be good to try a variety of discs when first starting out to see what feels right, and it might be good to buy used or borrow discs to try as many as possible.
The point of this stage is to try different options and to narrow down what you’re looking for. Once you have it narrowed down to just a few molds, try practicing with each one exclusively for a couple of weeks.
Committing in your mind to just one disc can help you decide if it is truly the right one for you. Once players decide on their favorite disc or two, it is common to buy a “putter pack,” or a 5 - 10 count bundle of that disc.
While this can feel like a financial commitment, it is so beneficial to have multiple discs of the same kind to practice with. Doing so will increase your confidence and consistency when putting, which in the end, is all that matters.
Having multiples of your favorite putter makes practice sessions a breeze and allows you to find your favorite among favorites to put in your bag and ensures that you always have a back up putter when yours becomes too worn out.
And that's everything you need to know to get started!
I know that it can all be very overwhelming, there are a lot of different factors to consider. But rest assured there is no wrong putter as long as it is good for you and works for you.
Every player is going to have different preferences, it's just like choosing a new car in that sense.
Sometimes the first one you test drive is the one you love, and sometimes you need to drive several.
If you need some putter ideas to get you going in the right direction, below is a mixed list of 15 popular putting and throwing putters among players from around the world.
The list is not exhaustive, but all are proven classics that can be trusted!
Simply click on any of the pictures or links to check them out
Now that you know what to look for in a putter and have a great list of options to try right away, all that's left to do is get your hands on some putters and put in the work!
Finding the perfect putter can take some time, but it is time well invested when you do!
When you settle on a putter you like, be sure to let us know which one you went with, we'd love to know!
You can shop more popular putters at Infinitediscs.com
by clicking on the banner below!
Sam is a contributing writer for Disc Golf Guys who we are glad to have on board! He has been playing disc golf for a little over a year after a decade of competitive Ultimate and is eager to learn as much as possible about the sport. He Lives in Jackson, Mississippi with his fiancé and their dog, Dexter.
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