Center shafted putter cover fit guide

A Blade or a Mallet putter cover is chosen on head shape. A center shafted putter asks a different question first: where does the shaft enter the head?

That answer decides the cover. Pete Line of Winston Collection puts it plainly: "you can't make a universal [cover] because it doesn't work. You have to have different models."

This guide starts with shaft position, then names the putter cover Winston Collection builds for it. It also covers how to measure your putter, what separates the Standard cover from the Set Back covers, and how to keep a leather putter cover clean.

What is a center shafted putter cover?

A center shafted putter cover is a headcover made for a putter whose shaft enters the clubhead near the center rather than at the heel. The shaft position changes how the cover sits over the head and how much room the cover needs around the shaft.

Winston Collection names three geometries on its center shaft product pages: center shaft, standard center shaft, and set back center shaft. Each one describes where the shaft sits, not how big the head is.

The point of the category is fit. A cover made for one shaft position may not suit another, even when both putters are described as center shafted.

Where does the shaft enter your putter head?

Find your shaft position before you look at any cover. There are three positions to check, in the words Winston Collection uses:

• Heel shafted: the shaft enters the head at the heel, toward the near end of the face.

• Center shafted: the shaft enters the head near the center of the head.

• Setback: "a setback where the shaft is set behind the face of the golf club".

Look down at the putter as you would address the ball, then look at the point where the shaft meets the head. If that point sits behind the face rather than in line with it, you are looking at a setback.

Shaft position is what the three Winston Collection center shaft covers are split by. Settle it first, then compare covers.

How do you choose the right center shafted putter cover?

Match the shaft position first, then the model. Winston Collection makes three center shaft covers, and each one names the putters it fits.

• Standard Center Shaft Putter Headcover in Tradition Leather: compatible with most standard center shaft mallets.

• Set Back Center Shaft DF Putter Headcover in Tradition Leather: compatible with Lab DF2.1 and DF3.

• Set Back Center Shaft MZ Putter Headcover in Tradition Leather: compatible with Lab MEZZ.1, Lab MEZZ.1 MAX and OZ1.

Note the hedge on the first one. The Standard cover is listed for most standard center shaft mallets, not for every one, so check your own putter against the product page before you order.

If your putter is not on one of those lists, the fit is not published. Check the compatibility list on the product page, and call 800.755.1784 before ordering rather than assume.

Which shaft positions need which cover?

Different shaft positions need different covers. A standard center shaft mallet is served by the Standard cover. A setback shaft is served by one of the two Set Back covers, chosen by model.

Standard center shaft mallets

A putter whose shaft enters near the center of the head, with a mallet head, is the most straightforward case. The Standard Center Shaft Putter Headcover in Tradition Leather is compatible with most standard center shaft mallets.

Compare your putter head against the dimensions on that product page before ordering. The listing says most standard center shaft mallets rather than all of them, because some heads fall outside the range.

Set back center shaft: the DF cover

The Set Back Center Shaft DF Putter Headcover in Tradition Leather is compatible with Lab DF2.1 and DF3.

Those two models are the whole published list. If you own a Lab DF2.1 or a DF3, this is the cover named for it. If you own another putter and think it looks similar, the model list still governs.

Set back center shaft: the MZ cover

The Set Back Center Shaft MZ Putter Headcover in Tradition Leather is compatible with Lab MEZZ.1, Lab MEZZ.1 MAX and OZ1.

The MZ list and the DF list do not overlap. A DF cover is not an alternative for a MEZZ.1, and a MZ cover is not an alternative for a DF3. Buy against the list your putter appears on.

How do you measure and check the fit of a center shafted putter cover?

Measure the head and confirm the shaft position, then compare both against the cover's product page. Take these five checks in order:

• Shaft position: confirm where the shaft enters the head, heel, center, or setback.

• Head length: measure from the striking face to the back.

• Head width: measure the widest point from side to side.

• Head height: measure from the sole to the highest point.

• Closure clearance: confirm the cover can close without forcing the head inside.

Checking the cover on your putter

A cover that fits slides over the head without force and stays put in the golf bag. It should protect the clubhead while leaving room for the shaft and allowing the cover to close.

A cover that is too tight can be hard to remove and can press on the shaft. A cover that is too loose can shift in transit. The fit you want is secure and easy to take on and off between shots.

What is the difference between a Standard and a Set Back center shaft cover?

The difference is shaft position, not head size. Standard is built for standard center-shaft geometry. Set Back is built for set-back center shaft geometry, where the shaft sits behind the face of the golf club. Model compatibility then decides which of the two Set Back covers you need.

Start with the geometry, confirm the model, then check the dimensions on the product page. That order is what prevents a poor fit.

Which features matter when shopping for a center shafted putter cover?

Fit comes first, then the closure and the clubhead protection. All three Winston Collection center shaft covers are made in Tradition Leather.

• Fully Lined - Inside is a Polar Fleece MacKenzie Plaid lining, an iconic plaid representing the tradition of the game.

• Closure - A powerful magnetic closure, so the cover stays put in your bag.

• Handcrafted in the USA - Built to perform with premium materials and a focus on lasting quality.

Winston Collection crafts its leather goods in the USA. The leathers and fabrics themselves are imported.

How do you avoid a poor fit and care for a leather putter cover?

Avoid a poor fit by confirming your shaft position and your putter model before you order, then checking those against the cover's product page. Similar-looking putters can differ in depth, height, and shaft position.

For care, use the wording Winston Collection publishes on its FAQ page: "Traditional leather is best cleaned with warm water and a mild soap." The product pages use the same point: "Product Care - High quality, low maintenance. Keep clean with warm water and gentle soap".

How do you find the right center shafted putter cover?

Start with the shaft position, confirm the putter model, then check the dimensions on the product page. A standard center shaft mallet is served by the Standard cover, while Lab DF2.1, DF3, Lab MEZZ.1, Lab MEZZ.1 MAX and OZ1 each have a named Set Back cover.

Working in that order is the reliable way to buy a putter cover that protects the clubhead and comes off easily on the green. Once the putter is covered, the leather Headcovers range covers the rest of the bag.

SHOP NOW: compare Blade, Mallet and center shaft covers in Putter Covers.

Frequently asked questions

Can a center shafted putter cover fit a heel shafted putter?

Winston Collection publishes no fit for that combination, so don't assume it fits. The three center shaft covers are built for different shaft positions, and each names the models it fits, so check the compatibility list on the product page.

Does a center shafted putter cover need a special shaft opening?

Yes. The cover has to let the shaft sit naturally without forcing the head into place, which is why the Standard and Set Back covers are separate products rather than one cover.

Can a putter cover be too tight even if it closes?

Yes. A cover can close and still press on the head or the shaft. A cover that fits comes off and goes back on without forcing the putter into it.

Should I measure my putter before buying a headcover?

Measure it whenever your putter isn't listed on the cover's compatibility list. Compare shaft position, head length, width, and height with the product page.

Can I use the same center shafted putter cover for different putters?

Only where the product page names both putters. The DF and MZ lists do not overlap, and the Standard cover is listed for most standard center-shaft mallets rather than all of them, so check each putter separately.