REVIEWED: Putter fitting at Club Champion with SAM PuttLab
August 10, 2023 | by Pete Wlodkowski of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Equipment Reviews
The most important club in your bag is often overlooked, especially when it comes to the custom fitting process
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
--Albert Einstein
The most important club in your bag is often overlooked, especially when it comes to the custom fitting process.
Think about your last club fitting. Or your last three for that matter. Did you ever discuss putting? If the answer is no, you may be surprised with how much confidence and consistency you can achieve by working with an expert, particularly one that has invested in the latest technology.
My son Lawson has dedicated countless hours to improving his swing, and his scores and handicap have gone down really quickly, especially after he stopped playing high school baseball. I like to joke that he started college in Arizona with a 3.0 GPA and a 10 handicap, and finished with a 4.0 GPA and a 5 handicap.
While at the University of Arizona, Lawson found a teacher he connected with, and who took a genuine interest in his game. And that instructor (who I will link to at the end of this story) has all the latest long-game technology. Trackman, pressure mats, video analysis, and more.
A funny thing happens when you start hitting more greens in regulation. Your score goes down, but once you get to the five handicap range, you need to capitalize. on your improved ball striking. The putter is your "trigger" and if you can't hole a five-footer for birdie, or you three-putt more than once or twice a round, the putter is hurting you.
So I figured, as the dad and owner of a popular golf website, that I would use my son as the test case for getting the right putter in his hands, and I turned to my friends at Club Champion. If you're unfamiliar with them, they are the leader among a handful of companies that provide club fitting at country club-style locations nationwide. These locations are primarily indoor facilities where the weather variable is removed. With today's technology, it's the best way to get fit for clubs, with the course being the place to validate that fit.
So how does SAM PuttLab work?
It's similar to a launch monitor for the long clubs. Working with a professional fitter, it provides every detail you would want to know, starting with the all-important question of "where are you actually aimed, relative to where you think you're aimed?"
The data PuttLab provides is impressive. How the Club Champion fitter uses it to help select the right putter is too. In my son's case, as he tried putters and got more comfortable, he could see the results on SAM immediately, until it was down to two putters. And then one. (Watch the video below to see what he wound up with).
We went to the Del Mar, California location, in a really nice suburban shopping center anchored by Whole Foods. On the second level, set amongst several boutique stores, we found Club Champion. The two-level facility was bigger than I imagined, with multiple hitting bays, an assembly and inventory station, and bags and clubs everywhere.
But these high-tech items aren't organized in the hodgepodge array of yesterday's stores. Everything is neatly displayed, from clubs to shafts and grips. The entire shop speaks of what is possible.
And isn't that what golf is all about? Every day we tee it up with high hopes and great expectations. But like the famous Albert Einstein quote, if you keep doing the same thing, the game might drive you crazy.
Find a Club Champion location here, and schedule a putter fitting. Your scorecard will thank you. Just ask Lawson, who loves his new putter so much he doesn't leave his clubs in the car overnight anymore.
--Albert Einstein
The most important club in your bag is often overlooked, especially when it comes to the custom fitting process.
Think about your last club fitting. Or your last three for that matter. Did you ever discuss putting? If the answer is no, you may be surprised with how much confidence and consistency you can achieve by working with an expert, particularly one that has invested in the latest technology.
My son Lawson has dedicated countless hours to improving his swing, and his scores and handicap have gone down really quickly, especially after he stopped playing high school baseball. I like to joke that he started college in Arizona with a 3.0 GPA and a 10 handicap, and finished with a 4.0 GPA and a 5 handicap.
While at the University of Arizona, Lawson found a teacher he connected with, and who took a genuine interest in his game. And that instructor (who I will link to at the end of this story) has all the latest long-game technology. Trackman, pressure mats, video analysis, and more.
A funny thing happens when you start hitting more greens in regulation. Your score goes down, but once you get to the five handicap range, you need to capitalize. on your improved ball striking. The putter is your "trigger" and if you can't hole a five-footer for birdie, or you three-putt more than once or twice a round, the putter is hurting you.
So how does SAM PuttLab work?
It's similar to a launch monitor for the long clubs. Working with a professional fitter, it provides every detail you would want to know, starting with the all-important question of "where are you actually aimed, relative to where you think you're aimed?"
The data PuttLab provides is impressive. How the Club Champion fitter uses it to help select the right putter is too. In my son's case, as he tried putters and got more comfortable, he could see the results on SAM immediately, until it was down to two putters. And then one. (Watch the video below to see what he wound up with).
We went to the Del Mar, California location, in a really nice suburban shopping center anchored by Whole Foods. On the second level, set amongst several boutique stores, we found Club Champion. The two-level facility was bigger than I imagined, with multiple hitting bays, an assembly and inventory station, and bags and clubs everywhere.
But these high-tech items aren't organized in the hodgepodge array of yesterday's stores. Everything is neatly displayed, from clubs to shafts and grips. The entire shop speaks of what is possible.
And isn't that what golf is all about? Every day we tee it up with high hopes and great expectations. But like the famous Albert Einstein quote, if you keep doing the same thing, the game might drive you crazy.
Find a Club Champion location here, and schedule a putter fitting. Your scorecard will thank you. Just ask Lawson, who loves his new putter so much he doesn't leave his clubs in the car overnight anymore.
Most Popular Articles
Rory McIlroy Wins 2026 Seminole Pro-Member With Dad Gerry
Mar 2, 2026Rory McIlroy added another trophy to the mantle on golf’s most exclusive Monday, teaming with father Gerry at Seminole Golf Club.
U.S. Open Qualifying 2026: Local & Final Qualifying Sites for Shinnecock
Feb 19, 2026The road to Shinnecock Hills begins in April as 110 local qualifying sites and 13 final qualifying venues are set.
FINAL RESULTS: Gasparilla Invitational 2026
Feb 21, 2026Hayes Brown wins Gasparilla at 2-under, edging Peyton White by one, while Jeff Frazier claims the Senior title at Palma Ceia.
Michael McCoy Wins 2026 Jones Cup Senior Invitational at Sea Island
Feb 26, 20262026 Jones Cup Senior Invitational at Sea Island’s Seaside Course Final Results + Leaderboard
Top 10 Reasons to Compete at Sand Valley With Your Best Golf Partner in 2026
Feb 22, 2026Sand Valley makes ’26 the year for your best rivalry trip: five walkable links courses and big memories with your favorite partnerLoading latest news...