Putter Length

alxmorgan

Hey all,

Reading Ray Floyds elements of scoring at the moment and was interested to see he extended his putters to 36" - mainly because his back was being affected during practice sessions with shorter puttters.

Now I don't have the time to get a sore back practicing putting unfortunately but I started to look into it and seems that some who have taken this route find it improves their putting as they get a better sense of the line when they stand up straighter.

Anyone done this or have any thoughts on it ?

thanks

BigChap1759

I think in general the shorter the putter the more control you have(broom handles aside) - I remember reading that the average putter length on European Tour is 31/32 inches whereas the majority of manufacturers make most of there models 34/35 inches(but then the same thing happens with driver lengths as well).

I moved down to 33 a couple of years back and find it far easier to control.

alxmorgan

BigChap1759 wrote: »

I think in general the shorter the putter the more control you have(broom handles aside) - I remember reading that the average putter length on European Tour is 31/32 inches whereas the majority of manufacturers make most of there models 34/35 inches(but then the same thing happens with driver lengths as well).

I moved down to 33 a couple of years back and find it far easier to control.

I hear what you're saying and maybe its personal preference
With the driver going shorter makes sense to me due to the speed the club is moving but thinking with the putter is its moving so slow it should be easy to hit sweetspot even from a few extra inches away and maybe standing straighter allows for freer movement as well as better view of line

But then maybe I'm talking rubbish

BigChap1759

Putting is such a personal thing - think you're best to try as many things as possible to find out what works best for you. You could get a shaft extender to give it a bash, cheaper than buying a new putter!

alxmorgan

BigChap1759 wrote: »

Putting is such a personal thing - think you're best to try as many things as possible to find out what works best for you. You could get a shaft extender to give it a bash, cheaper than buying a new putter!

Any idea where I'd get one ? Online only ?

BigChap1759

Have always found Gamola Golf to be reliable:

http://www.gamolagolf.co.uk/acatalog/Shaft_Extensions.html

alxmorgan

BigChap1759 wrote: »

Have always found Gamola Golf to be reliable:

http://www.gamolagolf.co.uk/acatalog/Shaft_Extensions.html

Ah yes used them myself for gripping miscellany.
Any idea how I know what to get - .600, .580, .560 ?
And I'm assuming I just stick a grip on the end ?

thanks for the info btw

Russman

As has been siad, its such a personal thing, your best bet is to try as many styles as possible.

The shorter putters used on tour promote the "bent over, purely shoulders rocking" motion that is regarded as ideal, BUT that works much better on the ultra quick greens on tour, its much harder to putt this way on greens as slow as we generally get in this country, there usually needs to be a little bit of a "hit" in the stroke.

Whatever works for you though , there's no right or wrong way to putt, just get it in the hole in as few movements possible and don't worry what it looks like.

link_2007

BigChap1759 wrote: »

Putting is such a personal thing - think you're best to try as many things as possible to find out what works best for you. You could get a shaft extender to give it a bash, cheaper than buying a new putter!

Does this work on anything apart from golf clubs?

BigChap1759

Only if you're a Terminator

Whyner

BigChap1759 wrote: »

I remember reading that the average putter length on European Tour is 31/32 inches

Seriously? that's very interesting if it's true.

Whyner

Perhaps you read it as putter length rather than shaft length?

Whyner

Most of these guys are 35ish - http://www.scottycameron.com/ontour/players.aspx

Except McIlroy cause he's a large hobbit. 32.5 for him

irish bloke

With all these different putting strokes (ball middle of stance, forward in stance, forward press before stroke, etc...)

Does anyone know or is there an optimum loft angle in which the putter face should strike the ball??

Whyner

I'm going to have to leave if putting gets technical.

Short answer is the one that gets it in the hole

irish bloke

Whyner wrote: »

Most of these guys are 35ish - http://www.scottycameron.com/ontour/players.aspx

Except McIlroy cause he's a large hobbit. 32.5 for him

Sorry, thought that info was technicial.. my mistake..

Whyner

irish bloke wrote: »

Sorry, thought that info was technicial.. my mistake..

Even if you knew this optimal loft angle, how would you apply it?

Try lots of different variations and settle on the one than sinks the most putts

I'm big into researching golf swings but I'm keen to avoid bringing technical blurp into putting. Putter, look, size and grip is about all

Russman

Whyner wrote: »

Even if you knew this optimal loft angle, how would you apply it?

Try lots of different variations and settle on the one than sinks the most putts

I'm big into researching golf swings but I'm keen to avoid bringing technical blurp into putting. Putter, look, size and grip is about all

Yep, with putting its basically just hit the ball into the hole, and you're sorted.

irish bloke

Whyner wrote: »

Even if you knew this optimal loft angle, how would you apply it?

Try lots of different variations and settle on the one than sinks the most putts

I'm big into researching golf swings but I'm keen to avoid bringing technical blurp into putting. Putter, look, size and grip is about all

Appreciate your wish to keep it simple but I would imagine there must be an optimal angle range amongst teaching professionals.

There would be a big difference in face loft between a ball forward in your stance hit slightly on the up swing, as opposed to a ball in the middle of your stance hit with a forward press.

IMO, knowing the loft of your putter face and an optimal angle range at which a putt should be struck, would help one to decide what set-up would best have the ball running true.

golfnut1

irish bloke wrote: »

With all these different putting strokes (ball middle of stance, forward in stance, forward press before stroke, etc...)

Does anyone know or is there an optimum loft angle in which the putter face should strike the ball??

4 degrees

stringy

Whyner wrote: »

Short answer is the one that gets it in the hole

that's what she said!!





(sorry.....)

k.p.h

golfnut1 wrote: »

4 degrees

Thats spot on. Done a bit of research on the inter web about this. It's pretty vital to having a true rolling putter, supposedly makes a huge difference.

irish bloke

Interesting stuff.

That means my 3 degree loft Odyssey 2 ball putter should be hit almost square or even slightly on the up swing.

Done a bit of research myself yesterday and it appears when you de-loft the putter face you will take distance and repeat control off the putt as you will be compressing the ball into the ground. (nightmare if putting from the fringe). Obviously this is opposite for lofting the putter.

The putter is also the most fragile club in the bag and it is quite easy to bend the hozel or shaft accidentally or intentionally.

Mickelson for instance used up to 6 degrees loft due to his forward hand position at impact.

Imagine having a 3 degree putter with a forward press stroke and a bent forward hozel or shaft. You could be hitting -3 degrees into the ground and not even know it.

It would be easy enough to measure this I would imagine. Just set your putter in an upright position (clamp in vice maybe) and measure the face loft.

I mean this is the club that you use the most in your bag so why not try understand it more.:)

I must measure mine..

big_drive

I recently purchased the new Yes Ann putter in 32" delighted with it