Putter fitting has so many aspects that it can be a bit difficult for golfers to wrap their minds around all of it.
In addition to figuring out if you have an arc stroke or a straight stroke, there are options for face balancing, toe hang, lie angle, and even hosel offset choices on your next putter.
However, before you purchase a putter, we highly recommend you get an idea about certain features, such as single bend vs. double bend putter shafts. Let’s take a look at the differences between these two styles and which is going to be the best for your game.
Overview of a Single Bend Putter Shaft
A single bend putter shaft has a minimal bend in the shaft about the width of half the shaft. This allows your hands to be slightly more in line with the ball. The putter will be just slightly offset, and most of the time, this bend is located just above the hosel location on the golf putter.
The single bend putter shaft is very common on a blade style putter, and it is known as a great club for the straight back straight through putting stroke.
Overview of a Double Bend Putter Shaft
The double bend putter shaft has two bends in the putter as opposed to the single bend putter shaft. With double bend, putters expect a higher MOI and even more offset. The double bend putter shafts tend to have a bit more accuracy on those shots that miss the center of the clubface.
Interestingly the double bend putter shaft is also a good option for the golfers with the straight back and straight through putting stroke. Golfers that like to keep more stability in the putter and ensure that there is less twisting in the face will enjoy this style.
Differences Between a Single Bend and Double Bend Putter Shaft
The main difference between the double bend and single bend putter shaft will be the hand placement and the offset of the putter. However, putters with more and less offset will perform differently on the course.
Although a lot of the decision as to whether to use a single bend or double bend shaft will come down to personal preference, it pays to understand exactly what to expect here.
Look at Address
The look at the address between a single bend and a double bend is considerably different. The single bend has very little offset and a more straight look to the putter head from the top down. This tends to be a better overall look for the lower handicap player that likes that smooth transition.
The double bend putters, although helpful from a forgiveness standpoint, will have a more detailed look that can be almost overwhelming for some players. If you like a clean and simple look, the double bend putter shaft is likely not the best solution for your game.
Offset
Offset is something that we see in almost any club in the bag. Whether you are purchasing a driver, hybrids, wedges, or irons, offset is a piece of the puzzle that will come into play. The more offset a clubhead is, the further behind your hands it will be at address.
The goal of an offset club is to help players that struggle to square up the face have a little extra time to do so before impact. Most golfers that slice the ball, or in the case of putting, those that hit it off the toe, will be more likely to benefit from offset.
The double bend putter, because of the two bends in the shaft, is going to have a slightly more offset design than the standard single bend putter shaft. Players who tend to have a hard time keeping the clubface square can trust that a double bend shaft will help them.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is becoming more and more important in putters, not just for beginners but for lower handicappers as well. The common terminology you will see for putter forgiveness is MOI or moment of inertia. The putters with the highest MOI will have the most forgiveness.
Most of the time, the mallet style putter with a double bend shaft will lead the way when it comes to forgiveness. A blade putter that has a single bend shaft will be less forgiving. Many golfers have a very consistent putting stroke with high levels of accuracy.
These players can use any different style putter head and shaft combination they would like. As long as the roll coming from the club head is a good one, players should be pleased with their progress.
Availability
Custom putter fitting is getting increasingly popular, but it still can be hard to find the exact putter you are looking for. Not all manufacturers offer options for single bend or double bend putter shafts in each of their models.
You may have to get a custom fitting done to find the right shaft configuration for your new putter. In addition, both the single bend and the double bend putters are designed for the straight back and straight through style stroke with high levels of consistency.
If you are set on a particular type of putter and can’t find it, talk to a local golf club repair shop and see their custom capabilities. Chances are, you will be able to find something that fits your needs.
Stability
A golf putter that is stable at impact will produce a much better roll. However, stability in a putter is not only impacted by the golf putter a player uses but also by the stroke. Players that want ultimate stability should consider the double bend putter shaft.
Most of the time, the double bend putter shaft is something that has a face balanced design and a little more stability in the overall putter head. Golfers that use this double bend putter shaft should stick with a straight back and straight through style and keep the wrists and hands out of the stroke.
Although a single bend putter shaft is somewhat stable, the double bend steals the show here.
Who Should Use a Single Bend Putter?
A single bend putter tends to be the best option for the golfer that wants a clean look at the address, one that sets them up for more accuracy and consistency. Many times players with lower handicaps are going to have a hard time finding a putter that looks good to them at address.
Typically speaking, the better a player gets, the harder it is to please this golfer’s eye. With higher handicappers, the look of a golf club is not quite as much of a concern, and it can often be something that the player overcomes.
Lower handicap players like the single bend putter because it makes it easier to square the clubface up and have a look that allows you to make more one-putts on the golf course. As with all golf equipment, nothing states a higher handicapper can’t use a double bend, but it may not be as beneficial.
Who Should Use a Double Bend Putter?
The double bend putter shaft adds some forgiveness to the golf club. With this extra forgiveness in the putter, higher handicap golfers find it to be a good fit for their game. Overall higher handicapped golfers tend to struggle with some inconsistency in their putting stroke. These players have difficulty squaring the clubface up perfectly and getting the ball to roll on the same line.
With the double bend putter shaft, players can focus more on their distance control and be more confident that the putter face will be square when the club returns to the impact position.
The extra offset of the double bed putter makes this a perfect choice for any golfer in the mid to high handicap range, as well as a beginner.
Brittany Olizarowicz
Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.