Single vs Double Bend Putters: A Comparative Analysis

Author: Pratik Ghadge

Selecting the right putter is crucial for any golfer aiming to enhance their short game. The choice can significantly influence accuracy, control, and overall performance on the green. Among the myriad of options available, the debate between single vs. double bend putters stands out. Both designs offer unique advantages, and understanding their nuances can be the key to unlocking a golfer's full potential during those critical putts.

Complete Overview of Both Types of Putter

Golfers often find themselves at a crossroads when choosing between single and double-bend putters. Both have distinct designs, and their construction can significantly influence a player's stroke.

Single Bend Putter: A Closer Look

Design and Construction:

The single-bend putter is characterized by its shaft, which typically inserts directly into the putter head. This design offsets the putters face, allowing golfers to position their hands in front of the club. The bend in the shaft aids in this offset, ensuring the face remains square at impact, leading to straighter shots.

Advantages:

Straight Strokes: The single bend design is tailored for golfers who prefer a straight back and through stroke. The face-balanced nature ensures that the putter face remains square at impact, promoting straighter shots.
Aesthetic Appeal: Unlike its double-bend counterpart, the single-bend putter boasts a cleaner look at address. Its streamlined design is less distracting, allowing players to focus more on their stroke and less on the equipment.
Increased Accuracy: The offset design combats twisting, ensuring that the ball is struck with a square face. This design feature enhances the accuracy of putts, ensuring they stay on the intended line.
Stability: Thanks to its face-balanced design, the single-bend putter offers increased stability during the stroke, resisting any unwanted movement or twisting.

Disadvantages:

Not Suitable for Arc Strokes: The primary limitation of the single-bend putter is its unsuitability for golfers with arc strokes. Those who have a pronounced in-to-out or out-to-in path might find it challenging to get consistent results with this design.

While the single-bend putter offers numerous advantages, it's essential for golfers to understand its limitations and choose a design that complements their natural stroke.

Single Bend vs. Double Bend Putter

In the context of dynamic golf warm-ups, understanding equipment is crucial. The golfing world is rife with debates, and the one between single-bend and double-bend putters is no exception. Both putters have their unique characteristics, and the choice often boils down to individual preferences and playing styles.

Who Should Use Which Putter?

High Handicappers: For those with a higher handicap, consistency and forgiveness are paramount. The double bend putter, with its design that often appears on mallet putters, offers a higher moment of inertia (MOI). This design helps in resisting twisting, ensuring a square clubface at impact, leading to straighter putts. Thus, high handicappers might find the double-bend putter more beneficial.
Professionals: Pros, with their refined skills, often seek equipment that complements their precision. The single bend putter, with its cleaner look and design that promotes straight back and through strokes, might be more appealing to them. Its aesthetic appeal combined with its performance makes it a favorite among many professionals.

In-depth Reviews

Best Single Bend Putter: TaylorMade Spider EX Single Bend

The TaylorMade Spider EX Single Bend stands out in the single bend category. It boasts a mallet head construction that offers advanced MOI, ensuring a square face at impact and increased accuracy. The putter also features a co-molded pure roll insert, providing a soft feel and promoting a consistent roll for superior distance control. Its design and features make it a top choice for mid to high handicappers with a straight stroke.

Best Double Bend Putter: PXG 0211 Lightning Putter

The PXG 0211 Lightning Putter is a gem for those leaning towards the double bend design. Its mallet head is packed with weight around the face, increasing MOI and resisting twisting during the stroke. This design ensures that the ball starts on the intended line, making it a favorite among high handicappers.

Basics of Single and Double Bend Putters

Unique Characteristics:

Single bend putters are characterized by their shaft inserting directly into the head, promoting a straight stroke. In contrast, double-bend putters often feature mallet designs, promoting straighter strokes but with a different aesthetic appeal.

Recommendations for Different Player Types:

For players aiming to master golf distance control with a straight back and through stroke, both putters can be effective. However, those seeking a cleaner look might prefer the single bend, while those needing more forgiveness might lean towards the double bend design.

Face-Balanced Putters

The world of golf putters is vast and varied, with face-balanced putters being one of the most discussed types among enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Explanation and Significance:

Face-balanced putters are designed such that when the shaft is balanced on a finger or set on a flat surface, the putter face points directly upwards. This design ensures that the putter face remains square to the stroke path during the putt, making it ideal for players with a straight back and through stroke. The significance lies in its ability to resist twisting, ensuring consistent and accurate putts.

Are Single Bend Putters Face Balanced?

Yes, most single-bend putters are face-balanced. Their design inherently promotes a straight stroke, and the face-balanced nature complements this by resisting any unwanted rotation of the clubface during the stroke.

Slant Neck vs. Single Bend Putter

What is a Slant Neck?

A slant neck putter features a hosel that slants from the shaft towards the putter head, creating a slight offset. This design is often associated with a moderate toe hang, making it suitable for players with a slight arc in their stroke.

Differences and Similarities:

While both slant neck and single bend putters aim to improve putting accuracy, their designs cater to different stroke types. Single-bend putters, being face-balanced, are ideal for straight strokes. In contrast, slant neck putters, with their slight toe hang, cater to golfers with a mild arc in their stroke. The similarity lies in their goal: to enhance alignment and improve the consistency of putts.

Double Bend vs. Plumbers Neck

Definition of Plumbers Neck:

The plumbers neck is a design where the hosel has a distinct bend, resembling the shape of a pipe, creating an offset between the shaft and the putter face.

Differences in Design and Performance:

Double bend putters are characterized by two distinct bends in the shaft, positioning the putters head behind the hands and aiding in face balance. This design is often associated with mallet putters and is suitable for straight strokes.

On the other hand, plumbers neck putters, with their unique bend, offer a slight offset, promoting a forward hand position and catering to players with a slight arc in their stroke. In terms of performance, while double bend putters offer stability and resistance to twisting, plumbers neck putters provide enhanced alignment and feedback, making them a favorite among many tour professionals.

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Final Thoughts

Navigating the intricate world of golf putters can be daunting, but understanding the nuances of each design is pivotal. Whether you're a novice or a pro, selecting the right putter can significantly elevate your game. Dive deep into each type, align it with your stroke, and watch your performance soar.