Purchasing putters

WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- On a par-four hole, half your shots are expected to be putts. Considering the importance of putting, it's not surprising that some golfers have gone to extraordinary lengths to get the perfect putter.

You can get putters with gold or silver on the striking edge. You can find them with heads made of bronze, ceramics, or space-age metals. Some putters are designed traditionally, while others look like something out of a science fiction movie.

Prices range from under 50 dollars to custom and collectible models costing thousands.

Conventional putters have the club head attached at one end, while center-shafted models put the shaft closer to the middle. Many have extra weight at the bottom of the head to add to the pendulum motion.

As you develop your own personal putting style, you'll get a better idea of which type of putter works best for you.

Try out a lot of them. Borrow your partner's and see how it feels.

Many golf shops will let you try one out on the course. With the wide variety of putters available, it may take you a while to find the one that's most effective at putting the ball in the hole.