Double and single-bend putter shafts are a couple of options that can help you sink putts more easily. But each one has strengths and weaknesses, so which is right for you?
Let’s compare the double vs single bend putter shaft: The single-bend putter shaft is designed for straight-back, straight-through putting, offering a cleaner look at address and slight offset for better putters. Conversely, the double-bend shaft, with its pronounced offset, aids alignment and offers more forgiveness and stability, which is ideal for those needing club assistance. Both designs are face-balanced.
The putter is one of the most important clubs in your bag, so you’ll want to pick the right one. If you use the wrong putter, your game will never reach its full potential. Some of my students spend years playing with a putter that doesn’t fit their style, so they’re losing strokes every round.
Read on to learn about the single-bend putter shaft and how it compares to the double bend. I will also cover the following topics:
- Differences Between a Single Bend and Double Bend Putter Shaft
- Single Bend Putter Shaft: What Is It, Pros, Cons, & Who It’s For
- Double Bend Putter Shaft: What Is It, Pros, Cons, & Who It’s For
So grab a cup of tea or something more substantial to sip as you sit back, and learn more about the single-bend putter shaft and the double bend.
Differences Between a Single Bend and Double Bend Putter Shaft
| Single Bend Putter Shaft | Double Bend Putter Shaft | |
| Visuals Over The Ball | Clean, simple look at address. It helps set eyes over ball. | More complex design. Assists with alignment. |
| Offset | Slight offset. | A more pronounced offset. |
| Best For | Best for better putters. | Best for putters who need more assistance from the club. |
| Forgiveness | Less forgiveness than a double bend design. | Offers more forgiveness than a single bend. |
| Stability and Balance | Lighter and easier to control. Face balanced. | Heavier, and offers more stability. Also, face balanced. |
Let’s begin our examination of the single-bend putter shaft and how it compares to the double-bend shaft through this handy-dandy chart I created above. It will give you a quick reference guide to each style of putter design.
Single Bend Putter Differences: Overview
A single-bend putter design is best for better putters. The design offers a cleaner, more straightforward design that helps keep a golfer’s eyes over the ball.
Its offset design is slight but still helps with alignment. Better putters do not need as much help visually with this, so that is the reason for the slight offset.
The single-bend design has less forgiveness than a double bend.
However, the faced balanced design helps with stability and balance. This design is lighter and easier to control than a more bulky double bend. Putter putters like that as they can control the flow of the putter head themselves, without the game improvement aspects that a double bend tends to offer.
Double Bend Putter Differences: Overview
Double-bend putter design is best for golfers needing more assistance from their equipment.
The design is more complex visually over the ball, and can be seen as bulky by some.
Those aspects help golfers who need extra help with alignment and keeping their eyes over the ball with a square face.
The double bend also offers an offset design, much like the single bend, but tends to be much more pronounced. This aspect helps golfers who need as much help visually as they can get to putt better.
With all that said, the double-bend putter offers a great deal of forgiveness, stability, and balance. The double bend is very much a game-improvement club.
To learn more about all the different options of putters, you can check out my article here on Golf Span, from back in May of this year, Putter Types: How To Choose The Right Putter.
Single Bend Putter Shaft: What Is It, Pros, Cons, & Who It’s For
A single-bend putter has a single, minimal bend in the shaft. This allows the hands to better align with the ball at address. This putter is slightly offset, with the bend just above the hosel. This allows for the putter head to be positioned behind the hands.
Pros of the Single Bend Putter Shaft
Let’s take a look at the many advantages that come from using a single-bend putter. Remember, many of the advantages and disadvantages depend on the golfer themselves and at what level of a putter they may be.
An Appealing, Simple, Clean Look
The single bend shaft putter design has a much more traditional, cleaner, and simple look. As this design is generally for better putters, they will only need a little in the way of game improvement enhancements like is offered in the double bend.
Aligns Well For Better Putters
The slight offset that the single bend has, which places the head a smidge behind the golfer’s hands at set up, allows for a much more comfortable address position for better putters and those that are more straight-back-straight-through strokers.
Great Control and Feel
The single bend offers a great feel if you are an excellent putter employing more of a straight-back-straight-through putting stroke. As mentioned prior, good putters do not need or typically want any enhancements in a putter. They want something they can control and feel a tremendous free-flowing stroke with. That is only for some, especially putters that still need to have that feel for a great stroke.
Face Balanced
There are some slight game improvement aspects to the single-bend shafted putter. This mostly comes in the way of the face-balanced nature of the single bend. Face-balanced putters have a higher MOI or Moment of Inertia. This trait allows putts to come off the face straighter, with less twisting or pushback.
Cons of the Single Bend Putter Shaft
The single-bend putter has only a few cons; however, the first is the most significant and may not make this the best choice for many golfers.
Only Best For Better Putters
The single-bend design is best for better putters. True, the single bend has a very clean, straightforward look to its design, which is very appealing to almost any golfer; however, there is little that it can provide for a golfer needing help from their putter.
Not Great For Those With Arc-Style Stroke
The design of the single-bend putter does not lend itself to a golfer that is more of an arc-style putter. With a face balance design, which discourages toe hang, arc strokers should stay away.
Who Is The Single Bend Best For?
Without question, the single bend putter shaft design is best for golfers who:
- Are good putters
- Has a straight-back-straight-through putting stroke
- Can see lines of putts well
- Does not need the aid of game improvement aspects in a putter
More from Golf Span: How to Measure Putter Length Correctly: Steps and FAQs
Double Bend Putter Shaft: What Is It, Pros, Cons, & Who It’s For
Like the single bend, the double bend is best for golfers who putt with a straight-back-straight-through putting stroke but want even more forgiveness. It’s a more complex design, with, as the name suggests, two bends of the shaft. This design best suits putters needing alignment assistance and a more consistent stroke.
Pros of the Double Bend Putter Shaft
Let’s look at the many advantages of using a double-bend putter. As stated previously, the advantages and disadvantages depend significantly on the golfer themselves and at what level of a putter they may be.
A Big Selection Available
The double bend putter design is a very popular design by many manufacturers. This is largely because many golfers need the help that this style provides. I am basically saying here, folks, that you can buy your way to being a less crapy putter, at least in theory. Even with this very forgiving putter design in hand and countless configurations to choose from to fit your eye, there is no substitute for practicing your stroke!
Aligns Well For Golfers That Need Help In This Area
The offset nature of the double bend, combined with often large head designs with many alignment aids, allows for a much more confident stroke from golfers that need it.
Face Balanced and High MOI
Of the game improvement aspects that the double bend shafted putter offers, one benefit comes from its face-balanced nature and high MOI, or Moment of Inertia. This trait allows putts to come off the face straighter, with less twisting or pushback, even on toe or heel strikes.
Cons of the Double Bend Putter Shaft
There are a few cons that come with the double-bend putter. The first can be significant and one that may steer many golfers away.
Not Visually Appealing for Most
The double bend design is great for golfers that need assistance and game improvement aspects from their putter. However, a big negative for many is that this design could be more appealing. They tend to look awkward and bulky. Being visually appealing is essential to many a golfer. If something looks weird at set up, it may not make it in their bag despite being helpful.
Not Great For Those With Arc-Style Stroke
The design of the double bend putter, like the single bend, does not lend itself to a golfer that is more of an arc-style putter. With a face balance design, which discourages toe hang, arc strokers should stay away.
Who Is The Double Bend Putter Shaft Best For?
Without question, the double bend putter shaft design is best for a golfer that can check any of these boxes…
- Considers themself a putter that needs assistance with alignment
- Has a straight-back-straight-through putting stroke
- Needs the aid of game improvement aspects in a putter to feel a better stroke
Check this out: The Best Counterbalanced Putters
FAQ
Are Single-Bend Putters’ Face Balanced?
Yes, single and double-bend putters are both face-balanced. That aspect is significant for a more straight-back-straight-through putting stroke. It also offers excellent MOI or Moment of Inertia.
What Is the Difference Between a Slant Neck and a Single-Bend Putter?
The slant neck design is a bend found in the hosel. The single-bend design is in the shaft.
What Is the Difference Between Double Bend vs. Plumbers Neck?
The plumber's neck design is a bend found in the hosel and is a variation of the slant neck. The double bend design is in the shaft itself.
Read more: Best Face Balanced Putters
Final Thoughts
In this overview of the single bend putter shaft and how it compares to the double bend, I looked to educate you on both aspects, how they differ, and the pros and cons of each. As I mentioned in the opening, golf is pretty complex, and there is much to know.
You can navigate the game more easily and confidently by researching from reputable sources like Golf Span!
More for you from Golf Span: The Best High MOI Putters
Brendon is Class A PGA Professional and founded Little Linksters, LLC, and its nonprofit arm, the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development. He won 25+ prestigious industry honors, including the 2017 PGA National Youth Player Development Award. He graduated from the PGA of America Management Program and has a handicap index of 7.8.
He has played golf for over 40 years and currently plays twice a month at the Eagle Dunes Golf Club near Sorrento, Florida. He loves Srixon clubs and plays a ZX5 driver with Z 585 irons. He's written over 60 articles on GolfSpan and specializes in sharing tips to improve your golf game. You can connect with Brendon at LinkedIn, X, IG, FB, his website, or BrendonElliott@pga.com.
- Best score: 69
- Favorite driver: Srixon ZX5
- Favorite ball: Srixon Z Star
- Favorite food at the turn: Turkey and cheese on white
