PUTTER LENGTHS Traditional (33-36 inches) The standard and most common lengths help create a pendulum swing in your putting stroke. Acting as an extension of your arms, it should be the perfect height to allow your arms to simply hang down and grip. This enhances a player’s ability to give the putt as true a roll as possible. Belly (41-46) These aim to stabilise putting. No longer that popular now that anchoring the club is prohibited (Rule 10.1b). The wrist action is a little easier to control as the dynamic of the swinging motion is altered by the length of the putter. The main disadvantages of a belly putter are distance control and feel. It requires the use of larger muscles during the stroke. This requires additional practice to develop the necessary feel for distance control. Counter Balanced (35-38) These might be the answer if you are not allowed to anchor the putter but need maximum assistance from the equipment. By making the head weight heavier than a standard putter and adding a large amount of weight in the grip, you end with a putter that swing weights similarly to a normal putter but has a lot more overall weight. The heavier the putter, the more stable it will be. Broomhandle (48-52) The “broomhandle” requires a change in grip compared to the others. Most will grip the club with their left hand holding the putter into their body (thumb up) and the right hand working as a claw in the middle section of the putter to pull and push through the line of the putt, like a pendulum. This puts the entire stroke in the power of the right hand. A tough skill to master and hard to perform in windy conditions.
is between C-4 and D-6, with the best range C-6 to D-4. Swing weight is a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of putter fitting. Ensuring your putter falls within the optimal weight range can make a significant difference. Swing weight matters for the following reasons: • A properly weighted putter head enhances feel and improves distance control. • Too light a putter makes controlling distance and direction difficult. However, lighter putters may work better on fast greens. • Too heavy a putter generally does not affect direction but can disrupt distance control. They work better on slower greens. Playability of Putter Heads Every putter head design has a different level of playability. Some styles are easier to use than others. A golfer who struggles to strike the ball near the centre of the putter face would benefit from a design with a larger sweet spot. A key factor in determining play- ability is Moment of Inertia (MOI) – a mea- surement of the putter head’s resistance to twisting on off-centre hits. Putters with longer heads or visible heel and toe weighting tend to have a higher MOI, so are more forgiving. Blade putters have a lower MOI, less resistant to twisting, requir- ing a more precise impact for optimal perfor- mance. Understanding MOI and playability can help golfers find a putter that comple- ments their stroke.
Despite all the diagnostic tools available in clubfitting, the most effective might be the simplest: a stick to measure the proper length for your putter. Research has revealed that most golfers don’t fit into the standard-length putter of 35 inches. A Club Champion study of putter fittings revealed only 33 percent of golfers ended up being custom-fit to a 35- inch putter, meaning nearly seven out of 10 didn’t end up as standard. Though most players were within half an inch of standard (45 percent were 34½ to 35½ inches), nearly as many – 44 percent – required a putter 34 inches or less. It’s documented that we’re getting taller as a species, but only 11 percent of golfers ended up with putters 36 inches or longer. Remember: A nontraditional-length putter might require a headweight adjustment. Shorter lengths generally need heavier heads, and vice versa. – MIKE STACHURA GD TESTED A mistake golfers make when it comes to putters
Matching Putter Head Design to Stroke Type
Selecting the right putter head design based on your type of stroke is crucial for consisten- cy and accuracy. A common fitting approach, like Ping’s model, categorises putting strokes into three types, each benefiting from a specific putter design and grip preference:
Straight Arc Stroke » Face-Balanced Putter
Best for golfers with minimal face rotation during the stroke. A larger grip is recom- mended to reduce excessive hand action and promote a more stable motion. Slight Arc Stroke » 45 degree Toe Hang Putter Designed for golfers with moderate face rotation. A mid-sized or standard grip works best, allowing for some hand action while maintaining control.
Strong Arc Stroke » 90 degree Toe Hang Putter
Ideal for golfers with significant face rota- tion and a wrist-driven stroke. A thinner grip enhances feel and allows better control, accommodating natural wrist movement.
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