What is Toe Hang?
What is Toe Hang?
The toe hang of a putter is determined by the relationship between the neck or shaft of the putter’s connection to the head and its center of gravity. Measuring the toe hang of a putter can be done by holding the putter parallel to the ground or placing the shaft on a flat surface, and allowing the putter head to hang freely.
It’s important for every golfer to have a putter with proper toe hang to optimize their putting stroke. But in order to determine how much toe hang your putter should have, first you’ll need to determine how much arc you have in your putting stroke.
What is Arc?
The arc in your putting stroke is the imaginary line that your putter makes on the ground in your backstroke and follow-through. If that line is straight, your stroke has no arc. Otherwise, if that line makes a semi-circle around your body, your stroke has an arc.
The best way to determine your arc is to set up a camera behind your putter and ball and record yourself hitting a few putts. It’s also helpful to utilize an alignment tool, such as an alignment stick, yardstick, broomstick, or string on the ground next to your ball to line up your putt while recording your video. Not only can you use your eye to watch if the putter head remains parallel to the alignment tool during your putt, but you can also then look back at your video to see if your stroke remains straight or has an arc.
A stroke that moves less than an inch has a minimal arc. A stroke that moves inside 1-2 inches is a moderate arc. Anything beyond 2 inches is a maximum arc.
Measuring Toe Hang and How Much Your Putter Should Have
Generally, the amount of toe hang should correspond with the amount of arc in your stroke. This is because a putter with toe hang facilitates the opening and closing of the putter face in the backstroke and follow-through, while a putter with no toe hang keeps the face fixed through the stroke.
To determine a putter’s toe hang, hold the shaft of the putter loosely in your hands with the shaft parallel to the ground, or place it on a flat surface and allow the head and neck to hang freely over the edge. The further the toe points downward, the more toe hang the putter has. If the toe does not point downward and the face remains parallel to the ground, the putter has no toe hang and is considered “face-balanced.”
Toe hang is often measured in fractions or degrees. Golfers with a minimal arc will want a putter with toe hang between 0 and 1/8 toe hang. Golfers with a moderate arc will want a putter with 1/4 to 1/3 toe hang. And golfers with a maximum arc should use a putter with 1/2 or more toe hang. For golfers with no arc in their stroke, a face-balanced putter will suit them best.
Between the many variables that help create unique Bettinardi putters, choosing the right putter can be tough. In the end, toe hang alone isn’t the only factor you should consider when identifying the right putter for you. Personal preference also plays a significant role in putter selection, from head shape to finish to face milling- when you’re looking down at your putter on the green, you should like what you see.
We’ve included a breakdown below of the current production putters that we offer organized by toe hang.
The best way to choose the right putter for you is to get fit with a professional. We offer personal putter fitting services at Studio B in Tinley Park, IL.
Schedule your fitting today by clicking here.
