Courtesy: Hookedongolfblog.com

The science of metallurgy has taken golf equipment forward in leaps and bounds in the past 10 years.

The use of titanium and other even stranger sounding metals, cutting-edge welding techniques and so forth have given us clubs that do result in longer shots, all other things being equal - like a decent swing, for example.

But, with all the changes in metal content and composite construction, the club heads look pretty much like they always have.

Sure, the big, bulky square head drivers are new and different looking. But "regular" 460cc driver heads are just bigger versions of the ones from a decade or more ago.

And iron heads still look like iron heads.

But putters, well, that's a different story. Putters look more and more like creatures from outer space these days.

And the names! TaylorMade, for example, has an entire line with Italian names, many of which are found on various Ferraris. Their Monza Spider was in the J.P. Holmes' bag when he won the recent FBR Open.

An odd moniker for a club that you use with a slow, relaxed motion.

It seems that designers have more leeway with putter design than with the other clubs in the bag.

There is, of course, always method to the madness. Golf Industry Online has a review of 8 putters on their site that have recently been released.

Some of them look weird; some look normal. But there's definitely a design for everyone out there.

And, frankly, it doesn't matter what it looks like. If it feels good, um, stroking it, go for it.