Putter Hosel Guide⁚ Choosing the Right Hosel for Your Putting Stroke

Choosing a new putter takes a lot of considerations and homework. Most golfers, however, overlook the putters hosel when picking out their putter. Often, this seemingly insignificant neck-to-head connection represents the clubs most significant impact on how it swings. Moreover, understanding the differences between hosel designs can help you determine how you approach putting and your preferred swing path.

Introduction

The putter hosel, that seemingly insignificant neck-to-head connection, plays a crucial role in determining how your putter swings and ultimately, how you putt. While many golfers focus on head shape, length, and grip, overlooking the hosel can significantly impact your putting accuracy and consistency. The hosel influences the putter’s offset, toe hang, and overall balance, all of which affect your putting stroke and how the putter feels in your hands.

Understanding the different hosel types is essential for finding the right putter for your game. Each hosel design caters to a specific putting stroke and can enhance your performance by maximizing forgiveness, control, and accuracy.

This guide will delve into the various putter hosel types, explaining their characteristics, benefits, and drawbacks. We’ll explore how each hosel design impacts your putting stroke and help you determine which hosel is best suited for your swing path and preferences.

Understanding Putter Hosel Types

Putter hosels come in various designs, each impacting how the putter swings and how it feels in your hands. The primary difference between these designs lies in the hosel’s angle and offset, which directly affects the putter’s toe hang. Toe hang refers to the angle of the clubface relative to the shaft when the putter is balanced on your finger. This angle determines how much the putter face naturally rotates during the swing, influencing your putting stroke and ball flight.

A face-balanced putter, with no offset, has a toe hang of zero degrees, meaning the face remains square to the shaft throughout the swing; This is ideal for golfers with a straight back and straight through putting stroke. On the other hand, a putter with a significant toe hang, like an inline short slant hosel, promotes a more rotational swing path, which can be beneficial for golfers who tend to pull the ball.

Understanding the different hosel types and their impact on toe hang can help you find a putter that complements your putting stroke and maximizes your accuracy and consistency on the greens.

Plumber-Neck Hosel

The plumber-neck hosel, also known as an L-neck or crank hosel, is a classic design characterized by a horizontal bend just below where the shaft meets the hosel. This bend creates a moderate amount of offset, positioning the hands slightly ahead of the clubhead during the swing. This offset helps to keep the putter face square to the path through impact, promoting a more forgiving and consistent stroke.

The plumber-neck hosel is particularly well-suited for golfers with a slightly arcing putting stroke, as it helps to maintain a consistent face angle throughout the swing. It is also a popular choice for golfers who prefer a putter with a more traditional look and feel. The plumber-neck hosel is a versatile design that can be found on a wide range of putters, from blades to mallets.

If you’re looking for a putter that offers a combination of forgiveness and control, a plumber-neck hosel could be a great option for your game. It is a balanced design that provides a good feel for the ball, making it a popular choice among golfers of all skill levels.

Short Slant Hosel

The short slant hosel is a popular choice among professional golfers and is known for its ability to promote a more rotational swing path, which helps to minimize the risk of pulling the ball. This design features a slight angle in the toe of the putter, creating a moderate amount of toe hang. This means that the putter face will rotate slightly as the club swings, which can help to ensure that the face is square at impact.

The short slant hosel is a versatile design that can be used by golfers with a variety of swing styles. It is particularly well-suited for golfers who tend to pull the ball, as the extra toe hang can help to counteract this tendency. However, it is also a popular choice for golfers who want a putter that offers a good balance of forgiveness and control. The short slant hosel is a great option for golfers who are looking to improve their putting accuracy and consistency.

In recent years, the short slant has become the most popular hosel type for modern TaylorMade putters. This Tour-proven design, used by the likes of Rory McIlory, Dustin Johnson and more, provides the best of both worlds.

Mid Slant Hosel

The mid slant hosel is a popular choice for golfers who prefer a balanced approach to putting, offering a moderate amount of toe hang and face rotation. This design strikes a balance between the more aggressive short slant and the less rotational plumber neck hosels. It’s designed to provide a smooth, consistent swing path that minimizes both pulling and pushing the ball.

The mid slant hosel is often preferred by golfers with a slightly arcing putting stroke. It allows for a controlled release of the putter face, promoting a more accurate and consistent impact. The mid slant hosel is a great option for golfers who want a putter that is forgiving without sacrificing control. It’s known for its ability to help golfers maintain a stable swing path, contributing to greater accuracy on the greens.

The mid slant hosel is a versatile choice for golfers of all skill levels. Its moderate toe hang makes it suitable for a wide range of putting styles, from slightly arcing strokes to more straight back and through swings.

Long Slant Hosel

The long slant hosel, also known as a long hosel, is a unique design that features a two-shaft offset and an additional two degrees of loft. This design is specifically tailored to accommodate Evnroll’s Midlock putter line, a line of putters known for their innovative face milling that promotes a consistent roll. The long slant hosel is designed to work seamlessly with the Midlock face, ensuring a smooth and consistent swing path.

The long slant hosel is often preferred by golfers who have a more aggressive putting stroke or who struggle with consistency in their putting. The increased offset and loft help to promote a more controlled release of the putter face, resulting in a more consistent roll. The long slant hosel is also known for its ability to help golfers minimize pulling the ball, a common issue for golfers who have a tendency to over-rotate the putter face.

The long slant hosel is a great option for golfers who want a putter that is designed to promote a consistent roll. It’s a highly specialized design that is best suited for golfers who are looking for a putter that can help them improve their accuracy and consistency on the greens.

Inline Short Slant Hosel

The inline short slant hosel is a popular choice for golfers who want a putter that promotes a more rotational swing path. This type of hosel design features a short, angled neck that creates the greatest amount of toe hang, leading to significant face rotation throughout the swing. The increased toe hang helps to prevent pulling the ball by encouraging the putter face to release naturally through the impact zone.

The inline short slant hosel is also known for its seamless presentation at address. The hosel pin, which fits inside the shaft, creates a clean and unobstructed view of the putter head, allowing golfers to focus on their alignment and target. This design is often preferred by players who want a putter that looks and feels balanced at setup.

If you tend to pull your putts or are looking for a putter that helps you generate more face rotation, the inline short slant hosel is worth considering. It’s a design that prioritizes face rotation and promotes a consistent swing path, potentially leading to more accurate and confident putting.

Face Balanced vs Toe-Hang

The terms “face balanced” and “toe-hang” refer to the putter’s balance point and its impact on the swing path. A face-balanced putter has its weight distributed evenly across the clubhead, meaning the face will remain square to the ground when the shaft is balanced on a finger. This design is ideal for golfers with a straight back and straight through putting stroke, as it minimizes face rotation during the swing.

On the other hand, toe-hang putters have a weighted toe, causing the face to hang at an angle when the shaft is balanced. This offset design promotes a more rotational swing path, where the clubface naturally releases through the impact zone. Toe-hang putters are often favored by golfers with a slight arc in their putting stroke, as the toe hang helps to control the face rotation and prevent pulls or pushes.

Understanding the difference between face-balanced and toe-hang putters is crucial for choosing the right putter for your swing style. If you’re unsure which type suits you best, it’s recommended to experiment with different putters and consult with a golf professional for personalized advice.

Choosing the Right Hosel for Your Putting Stroke

Selecting the appropriate hosel for your putting stroke is a crucial step in finding the perfect putter. The hosel’s design directly influences the putter’s toe hang, which in turn affects the swing path and face rotation. If you tend to pull your putts, a hosel with greater toe hang might be beneficial, as it encourages a more rotational swing path and helps release the face through impact, reducing the likelihood of pulls.

Conversely, if you consistently push your putts, a hosel with less toe hang might be more suitable, as it promotes a straighter swing path and minimizes face rotation. Ultimately, finding the right hosel requires a combination of understanding your putting stroke, trying different hosel designs, and seeking guidance from a professional fitter. By experimenting and gathering feedback, you can identify the hosel that best complements your swing and enhances your putting accuracy.