Putter Swing Weight: Is your putter heavy enough?

If you’re like most golfers you want to putt better every single round. Because let’s face it, nothing kills a round more than a missed short putt or 3-putt. 

While it’s a bit cliché, the old saying “Drive for show, putt for dough” is true. Don’t get me wrong, driving is very important too, but putting is vital to your success.

Most golfers think about putter length and type of head when finding a flat stick. However, the putter swing weight is also very important and often misunderstood as well.

Today, I’ll help you learn more about this important concept to help you dial in your putter and hopefully improve your putting fast. 

Putter Swing Weight 

So, what is a putter swing weight? 

Key Takeaways 

• A putter swing weight refers to the feel and balance of a putter during your stroke. 
• Putter swing weights are measured from A to F. The higher the letter, the heavier the swing weight. 
• The swing weight of your putter has a direct relationship with the feel and how the putter moves during your stroke.

Keep reading to learn more about these concepts to understand how the right putter swing weight can help your short game.

What is a Putter Swing Weight?

A putter swing weight is the feel and balance of a putter head during your stroke. It’s measured based on a scale that ranges from A to F. A is the lightest while F is the heaviest. 

The heavier the putter, the less it moves during the stroke. This is why mallet putters are heavier and generally better for golfers with a more straight back, straight through putting stroke. 

Your putter swing weight is extremely important as it affects different parts of the game.

• Feel. How a putter feels is directly related to the swing weight. Some golfers prefer putters that are light in their hands while others (like myself) prefer heavier ones. 

• Control: One of the most important parts of putting is the face relationship to the ball at impact. If the face is open, you’ll miss a lot of putts right and if it’s closed, you’ll miss a lot of putts left. Finding the right putter swing weight can help you gain more control and hopefully get putts started off on the right line.

• Consistency: Lastly, the right swing weight can help you have a more consistent stroke that matches your unique style. This should help you putt with more consistency and have more confidence on the greens. 

How to Determine The Right Putter Swing Weight 

You might think… this sounds great, but what is the right swing weight in my putter? Is it light, heavy, or somewhere in the middle?

This isn’t school so an F isn’t a bad thing… nor is a C swing weight. It’s all about what you like the best and more of a personal preference than anything else. 

Here is how you can determine the right putter swing weight.

• Custom Putter Fitting. A custom putter fitting is the easiest way to determine your current swing weight in your flat stick and test out others in a head-to-head battle. A professional fitter can help you understand which one is right for your stroke and provide objective data to choose the best putter for you.

• Try Out Different Putters. Go to a local golf store and test out different putters. As soon as you pick them up you’ll notice the different weights. Hit some putts of different lengths and see which one feels the best for you.

Also, below are some reviews for popular putters we’ve tested:

• LAB Putters 
• Meridian Putters 
• Odyssey Mallet Putter

Optimizing Putter Swing Weight 

After you’ve calculated your ideal swing weight, you might want to add some more (or possibly remove some). Here are three ways to add more putter weight to your club: 

• Adjustable weights. While adjustable drivers are nothing new in golf, adjustable weights in putters are newer and a game changer. I got a new PXG putter in 2022 and was thrilled I could add more weight in certain areas to help offset my tendencies. Adjusting the weights (you typically need to buy a weight kit separately) also impacts the heavier swing weight.

• Lead tape. This is a cheap accessory for golfers who love to tinker with adding weight on irons, wedges, and putters. Learn more about how lead tape can change your club’s performance and feel here. 

• Adjustable grips. SuperStroke is arguably the most popular putter grip in golf (I love the Pistol line) and they have certain grips that are adjustable. For example, the SuperStroke CounterCore gives you the option to position the ass in the butt-end of the grip. This is a 50-gram removable plug that helps the counterbalance of the putter which can improve stability. 

Removing weight is a bit trickier and not something I’d suggest for the everyday golfer. This is something you want to leave to the professionals to not damage your club. 

To remove weight they take the putter through a process known as porting. Here’s how Golf.com described the process.

“Porting is a process whereby weight is drilled out of the head to lighten the overall build. It’s typically removed from the bumpers or sole and serves a similar purpose as grinding. Where porting differs from the grinding wheel is you can actually have tungsten — a popular option — added back to the ports to increase weight.”

This is a very expensive process and not something the everyday golfer would necessarily need. 

FAQs About Putting 

Do you have more questions about putting? If so, keep reading through the most frequently asked questions and answers now. 

How heavy is Tiger Woods putter?

Tiger is arguably the most clutch putter of all time. If there was a putt on the line, it’s hard to bet against Tiger, it was like he just willed the ball in the hole. 

Behind his 82 victories and 15 major championships only one club made it through the decades – his trusty Scotty Cameron putter. It’s a bit of a legend in its own right as it’s been so key to his incredible career. 

The putter has been rumored to weigh 326 grams and is 10–30 grams short of a “modern spec” on the Titleist Scotty Cameron putter. Tiger has been known to add some lead tape to the back of the putter which does impact the feel of the club in his hands. 

How do I increase my putter swing weight?

Lead tape is the easiest way to change your total swing weight on your putter. A four-inch strip of lead tape will add about two grams of weight to the putter head. This equates to one swing weight point. 

But a lot of putters today have adjustable weights (usually in the toe or heel) that can impact total swing weight. Ultimately, adding weight is much easier than removing weight.

As the same Golf.com article from above noted, “A good club builder can remove weight from the sole without completely mangling the integrity of the design. Just be prepared to add lead tape if the lighter weight doesn’t fit your stroke, and understand that the original finish is going to be altered during the process.”

Are heavier putters more stable?

Yes, a heavier putter is less likely to twist as much during your stroke which can stabilize the head and stop unwanted twisting. A jumbo “fat grip” can also help minimize wrist action for even more stability too. 

My Experience

Playing the right putter is absolutely essential in playing your best golf. While reading greens and having a good routine are important, the right flat stick is a big piece of the puzzle.

Unfortunately, most golfers I see spend their time and money on finding the right driver and irons. But don’t forget, your putter is used on every hole so it’s key to find a club that gives you tons of confidence.

In general, I’ve found that most everyday golfers benefit more from a mallet (or mid-mallet, high MOI putter). They’re heavier, easier to line up, and generally just more consistent.

Case in point – Scottie Scheffler. Despite being the number one ranked player in the world, his putting was awful to start 2023. But a switch to a mallet led to him winning his first event with it at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational.

If you’re in a putting slump, consider trying out a new type of putter to see how it might help your short game. 

Final Thoughts 

Don’t forget, in the crazy game of golf every little detail matters. With putting, it’s about finding the right type of putter, the ideal putter loft, perfect putter length, and don’t forget about grip too. 

Not to mention, the reason you’re here – the putter swing weight. This is why it’s such a good idea to get a custom putter fitting from a professional to take the guesswork out of the equation. A professional can help you figure out the right club specifications so you can stand over every putt with confidence.

To help your putting even more, make sure to read these articles next.

• Best Putting Drills
• Best Indoor Putting Greens 
• How to Read Greens Like a Pro 
• AimPoint Putting – Should You Try It?