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PGA.info has tapped into its pool of pros to answer all your golfing questions - from technique and instruction through to fitness and the rules.

This week's question is on the benefits of custom fitting and is answered by Tom Gillespie - a PGA Academy tutor and teaching professional at The Kendleshire.

I've read that custom-fitting putters are really taking off - what are the benefits of a custom-fit putter?

Tom says:

If you hit a drive 20 yards left or right you can get away with it, be one millimetre out with a putt and you've got to hit another shot and the score goes up.

With accuracy of alignment, pace and stroke so critical a putter's set-up and style contributes massively to its success. This is a massive subject but these few pointers can help.

1. Putter Length - correct length will allow for a good balanced posture and correct view of the line
2. Head Style - putter heads come in a variety of shapes which alter the balance of weight, resistance to twisting, appearance at address etc. Each shape is designed to influence the stroke in some way (Mickelson for example has mainly used a heel toe weighted blade but when he began pushing putts switched to an oversize face balanced mallet to help him swing squarer to the ball to target line).
3. Loft - a putt requires a certain amount of loft to get the ball on top of the grass and rolling. Slower longer greens may require higher loft and your stroke may be influencing the loft at impact so fitting the loft relative to these factors is vital.
4. Insert/Face Material - inserts, head materials and grooves will influence the roll of the ball and the sound/feel from the putt. Each player has an individual requirement so needs to spend time working on the correct selection.

All these factors and more are hugely critical and can be addressed with the help of a PGA pro.

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