Despite it being a ?little? club, the putter incorporates some really big ideas, so over the next two weeks, I’ll be highlighting some of the latest technological advances in putter design.

Designers are always looking to create that Putter with the perfect balance and feel. But believe me, it isn’t a mystical journey, creating balance and feel is all about getting a number of technologies and the weight of the Putter to work in unison.

The Weight distribution in the head is of critical importance to the designers. Your Putter must swing with a balanced feel but the weight placement must also provide a high MOI (a measurement of the resistance to twisting) and a broad sweet spot (offering increased forgiveness).

Do not under-estimate the importance of these technologies to you. After the initial impression that a Putter with great balance and feel offers, results are critical to your confidence. A Putter with a higher MOI will hit the ball straighter more frequently and a broader sweet spot will offer greater consistency on your distance.

Try comparing a Putter with a lower MOI to one with a higher MOI. If you concentrate you can feel that the lower MOI Putter is more inclined to rotate around its core.

Heel and Toe Weighting, pioneered by Ping, positions weight away from the center and that expands the sweet spot. Again compare two Putters and you will feel the difference if one is not heel and toe weighted.

When you talk about a golf club and weighting, feel and balance you will always end up talking about the CoG. In your irons, a lower COG is the norm, because it aids correct trajectory and facilitates backspin generation. However, in the design of a Putter, extreme care has to be taken in the placement of the CoG. Lowest isn’t necessarily best. Designers don’t want a backspin skidding motion on the ball at one extreme or too much over spin that bounces the ball. Getting this right will enable the putt to maintain its intended line.

Many of the manufacturers have acquired very specialist designers to oversee the development of their new Putters. The search for the perfect balance and feel goes on.

For expert advice on choosing the correct putter find your nearest PGA Golf Professional

James Langmead PGA Qualified Golf Professional and former Callaway Club fitter of the year http://www.thegolfshoponline.co.uk