Counterbalancing shifts weight toward the butt of the putter, quieting the hands and wrists through the stroke. The result is a smoother pendulum motion, less head-twist on off-center hits, and better speed control on long putts.
What You'll Need
- Heavier putter grip — SuperStroke Zenergy, Pistol Lock, Flatso, or equivalent
- Counterweight — SuperStroke CounterCore (25g, 50g, or 75g) or lead/tungsten tip weight for fixed installs
- Standard re-grip supplies — double-sided grip tape, grip solvent, hook blade
- Two-part shaft epoxy (for fixed counterweights only)
- Bench vise with rubber shaft clamp
Three Methods, Three Levels of Effort
There are three ways to counterbalance a putter — pick the method that matches the player's needs.
Method A: Heavier Grip Only (Simplest)
Standard putter grips weigh around 50g. Switching to a heavier grip alone can shift the balance point significantly without any internal modification.
Steps:
- Remove the existing grip per our Re-Grip a Golf Club guide.
- Apply double-sided tape and solvent.
- Install a heavier putter grip (typically 80–110g):
- SuperStroke Pistol Lock: ~80g range
- SuperStroke SSR2 Squared: 109g
- Garsen, JumboMax, Lamkin oversized: 90–130g range
- Align the grip and let cure 1-2 hours before use.
Effect: Every 5g of added grip weight ≈ 1 swing weight point lighter feel. A jump from a 50g grip to a 100g grip drops the head-heavy feel by ~10 swing weight points.
Method B: Fixed Butt-End Counterweight (Semi-Permanent)
For more weight than a grip alone provides — or to use any grip the player likes, regardless of brand — install a counterweight inside the butt of the shaft beneath the grip.
Steps:
- Remove the existing grip and tape.
- Insert a lead, brass, or tungsten tip weight (25g–100g) into the butt of the shaft.
- Secure with a small amount of two-part epoxy or a tight friction fit.
- Re-tape and re-install the grip.
Note: This method is permanent — once the weight is epoxied in, swapping it requires removing the grip again. Friction-fit weights are easier to change later but can shift over time.
Method C: SuperStroke CounterCore System (Adjustable)
The most flexible option. SuperStroke's CounterCore-compatible grips have a threaded "Tech-Port" in the butt cap that accepts swappable weights — no re-gripping required to change weight.
Steps:
- Install a CounterCore-compatible SuperStroke grip per the standard re-grip procedure. Compatible models include:
- Zenergy Pistol Lock 1.0 / 2.0
- Zenergy Pistol GT
- Zenergy Flatso 17"
- Zenergy SSR2 Squared
- Zenergy XL Tour 2.0+ Plus Series
- Once the grip has cured, screw the CounterCore weight (25g, 50g, or 75g) into the Tech-Port using the included wrench.
- Test the feel. If it's not right, swap to a different weight in seconds.
Important: Not all SuperStroke grips have the Tech-Port. Check the product page — grips like the Tour 1.0 2-Piece and TLT Off Axis are explicitly NOT CounterCore-compatible.
Choosing the Right Weight
A starting point for most golfers:
- Slight head-heavy feel still preferred: 25g
- Neutral, balanced pendulum stroke: 50g (most common starting point, used by many tour pros)
- Strong counterbalance for very heavy heads or long putters: 75–100g
Tour-level counterbalanced setups typically run 50–100g of butt-end weight combined with a heavier grip.
Important Notes
- Counterbalanced putters often play better at longer lengths. A 35"–36" putter with 50g+ butt weight feels like a different club than a 33" standard. If you're building from scratch, consider 1" longer than the player's normal length.
- The grip and the head must match in feel. Pairing a 109g grip with an already-heavy mallet can over-counterbalance and make the head feel dead. Check the head weight before adding grip weight.
- Re-measure swing weight after the build. Counterbalancing drops swing weight points significantly — verify the final number is what the player wanted.