Flow Neck Putters: Pros and Cons (+ Top 3 Recommendations)

My favorite putter is the flow neck putter.

It wasn’t until I began to study the differences between different types and shaft connections that I realized why this was so.

A flow neck putter isn’t perfect, and not everyone should use it. However, it is very important to understand what it does and how it can help you improve your game.

So to kick this article off, let’s discuss the pros and cons of this type of putter…

 

Pros and cons of Flow Neck Putters

• It can be used to assist golfers who use an arc-style putting stroke.
• This provides a better feeling than a mechanical stroke.
• There are many toe hangs
• Allows players to stand a little closer from the ball
• Can you ensure the putter is more square at Impact?

Cons of Flow Neck Putterers

• It is not ideal for straight back and through putting strokes
• Won’t work well for a golfer that is more mechanical and less feel oriented
• Requires a more upright position

 

Who is a Flow Neck Puster Best suited for?

There is no perfect putter. Understanding the benefits and your golf style will help you choose the right flow neck putter. Here are a few reasons you should consider a Flow Neck Putter for your game.

Golfers Who Stand a Bit More from The Ball

Some players believe that they need to be a little closer to the golf ball to have better stability and a better forward rolling. If this is you, the flow neck may be something you should consider.

When you stand too close to the golf ball, it’s sometimes hard to feel where the elbows should be moving in your stroke, and that can cause miss hits.

The general rule of thumb is to try and get your eyes over the golf ball, but it’s not a fit for all players and certainly not mandatory to be a great putter.

Feel Players

Feel players are more artistic on the course than those who are not. Feel players are attracted to putters that have better sound quality, better symmetry and pure roll. These players are also less mechanical in their swing.

If you’ve watched Bryson DeChambeau putt, chances are you have seen what a mechanical putting stroke looks like. Bryson is a golfer that they have nicknamed “the scientist.”

Math is his favorite subject. He makes sure that the putter follows a particular path back and forth to the green. Bryson likes to measure his stroke length and speed.

He would not like a flow neck putter. The club has too much toe hang, and he’s more of a face balanced kind of guy.

Inside to Inside Putting Stroke

Take a look to see how your standard putting stroke looks. Is it possible to take the club back on the inside path, and then return it on the inside path on the follow-through?

A flow neck putter is a good choice. It is easier to square up the putter face with an inside-to-inside stroke and ensure that the ball goes towards the target.

The toe hang on the flow neck putsters will make it much more square when you get into the impact position.

Players Who Miss Putts to the Right

Do you feel like you’re always missing your putts to right?

It turns out that this could be a problem with the putter and not you. The flow neck putters have a toe hang that allows the putter head opening slightly, to move to a square position and then to rotate closed after making the putt.

If you have trouble doing this naturally with your stroke, it is worth looking at how the putter shaft or clubhead are connected.

 

Our Top 3 Flow Neck Putters

There are many types of flow neck putters available. Some companies will offer a standard model, and then you can choose the shaft to clubhead connection that suits your game best. These are our top 3 flow neck putters.

Cleveland Golf Frontline 2.0

The Cleveland Golf Frontline uses 2135 technology, forward tungsten weighting, and impressive speed control across all areas. The Cleveland Frontline 2.0 flow neck is for those who need more stability and consistency at impact.

Odyssey Stroke Lab Double Wide-Flow Neck

The Triple Track design of the Odyssey Stroke Lab putters is not limited to large mallet head clubs. The Double Wide Flow Neck putter offers a firm feel at the impact point, improved sound and a White Hot Microhine insert that gives you some of the best feel in golf.

TaylorMade Spider SR Flowneck #9

The TaylorMade Spider SR Flowneck golf putter is a multi-material design with a mixture of steel and tungsten. To make it a bit more soft at impact, the club features a white TPU Pure Roll Insert. The TaylorMade Spider line is also one of the most stable at impact.

 

Other types of Putter Necks

The putter necks are not limited to the flow neck. Golf manufacturers will constantly experiment with the head connection and shaft of the putter to ensure that golfers have choices. Here are some other types putter necks.

Plumber NeckA horizontal bend just below the shaft and hosel intersection; this putter is well-known for its forgiveness.

 

Flare Tip:The shaft covers the top of hosel where shaft and club head connect. This is ideal for an arc-style stroke.

 

No Hosel This will look like an S-shaped shaft that is inserted directly into the putter head

 

Slant Neck: the slant neck looks similar to the plumber’s neck but has even more offset; this is great for golfers who like a forward press in their stroke

 

Center Shaft:A center-shafted putter moves its shaft away from the heel and creates stability and high MOI in its head.

 

A custom fit is the best way to determine what type of putter neck you should use. These fittings will reveal your missed putts, your best shots, and the equipment that suits your style.

The best thing about golf putters? The technology doesn’t change as often as clubs like irons or drivers, so you can find a match which stays in your bag for a long period of time.