Putter Jargon Workshop: Lie Angle

Lie angle is perhaps the least understood aspect of putter fitting, which also includes length, loft and weight.

Indeed, most recreational golfers are happily unaware of the importance of lie angle. Ignorance may be bliss, but it can be a drag on performance.

Lie angle is the measurement of the angle between the shaft and the ground when the putter is resting flat on the green. This angle determines how the putter head will sit when you address the ball.

If a putter’s lie angle is too upright for your physique and setup, the putter heel will be grounded and the toe will be lifted. If the angle is too flat, the toe will be grounded and the heel will lifted. Next time you’re out on the practice green, look around and you will no doubt see at least one golfer whose putter toe is sticking up when they address the ball.

Either scenario—too upright or too flat—can wreak subtle havoc on your putting game, causing alignment issues as well as making it difficult to achieve consistently solid contact.

Don’t panic if you discover that the toe of your favorite putter sticks up when you comfortably address the ball. Most putters come with stock lie angles, but can be bent by a degree or two by an experienced clubfitter, who will have the necessary knowledge and tools to get the job done right. Consult the Professional Clubmakers’ Society to find a clubfitter near you.

Rife’s 2 Bar putters offer do-it-yourself fitting with their LieAline fitting system. With this system, a notch in the crown of the putter is designed to visually connect with a sightline on the flange when the lie angle fits your natural setup (see photo). And what if the notch and the line don’t connect? No problem—the putter is designed to allow you to adjust the lie angle with an included bending tool.

Don’t forget that lie angle is only part of the larger fitting equation, which includes the aforementioned length, loft and weight, all of which are dependent on proper setup mechanics.

In other words, your ideal lie angle doesn’t exist in a vacuum. But if you aim to raise your game, make sure you’re aware of this angle’s importance to the overall goal of a perfect fit.

P.S. Portions of this piece are excerpted from PutterZone.com’s Ultimate Putter Buyer’s Guide ($5), a groundbreaking e-booklet designed to empower you with crucial fitting information before you spend big bucks on a putter. Click here for more information.