CENTER OF MASS IN PUTTERS
Why Putters Rotate
Every putter has a center of mass.
When the putter moves, forces act through that point.
If the shaft axis and the center of mass are not aligned:
the putter rotates.
That rotation isn’t a flaw.
It’s physics.
Rotation Comes From Geometry
Rotation is created by the relationship between:
• where the shaft is located
• where the mass is located
When those don’t align, a moment is created.
That moment causes the face to open or close.
This is built into the design of every putter.
There Is No “No Rotation” Design
Some putters are designed to reduce rotation.
None eliminate it.
Even small changes in mass placement will change:
• how much the face rotates
• how stable the head feels
• how consistently the face returns
The question isn’t whether rotation exists.
It’s how it behaves.
Why This Matters for Putting
If rotation doesn’t match your stroke:
• timing becomes more important
• consistency becomes harder
• small errors become misses
If rotation does match your stroke:
• the face returns more predictably
• the ball starts more consistently
• the stroke becomes more repeatable
What Most Golfers Are Told
• “face balanced putters stay square”
• “this design eliminates rotation”
These are simplified—and often misleading.
A Better Way to Think About It
You’re not trying to remove rotation.
You’re matching it.
That means finding a putter where:
• the amount of rotation
• the timing of rotation
• the feel of rotation
work with your stroke—not against it.
What This Means for Fitting
• center of mass location
• how the putter rotates
• how it behaves through impact
A proper fitting doesn’t assume.
It tests. It measures. It verifies what actually happens.