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Sergio Garcia is lighting up the greens at The Open Championship with a long putter today. What length of putter is right for you? How do you find the correct putter length for you?
Conventional Putter
A conventional putter would be a putter 36 inches or shorter. To insure the putter fits properly, take your stance while the sole (bottom) the putter. Your eyes should be over the ball. Check this by dropping another ball from in-between your eyes while taking your putting stance. This ball from between your eyes should hit the ball on the green.
Next, allow your arms to freely hang and take your grip. Once comfortable, this should reveal your proper putter length.
"The rule of thumb is: If you can use a conventional putter, then use a conventional putter" Bill Craig, Head Professional at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center in Houston , TX .
The Belly Putter/ The Long Putter
The Belly Putter or Long Putter would be a putter 37 inches or longer. The belly or Lon Putter attaches to your body to insure a pendulum stroke while eliminating wrist movement. Many players who use this style do so because they have been challenged by "the yips" or as Sergio said after his round today "I just wanted to try something different."
Fitting the length of a belly or a long putter is much more personal than the conventional putter. Your eye-line will be "inside" the ball due to the length of the shaft. The sole of the putter needs to lie flat on the green. You will need to try many different lengths as all of us are built differently. Unfortunately, trial by error is the best way to find the proper length for the belly or long putter. Your local PGA Professional can help you with this.
The main advantages of the longer putter length are 1. the putter is anchored against the body 2.wrist action is minimized. The main disadvantages that are discussed are 1. feel is reduced 2. distance control is more difficult.
Which putter length is right for you? Take the time and use these tips to find the correct putter length for you. If you have any other questions, go to http://www.virtualgolfswing.com/
Brad Myers - Certified PGA Professional
The Wireless Golf Coach is a Certified PGA Professional and has taught at the top resorts and country clubs in the United States such as the TPC at Sawgrass, The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and The Woodlands Country Club. Find personalized online golf instruction at www.virtualgolfswing.com. Also check out all of the great information on our blog at the Wireless Golf Coach Blog at www.wirelessgolfcoach.blogspot.com.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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