YOUR QUESTIONS
Q: I BUY MY GOLF SHOES AT A SPORTING GOODS STORE, BUT I’M RETHINKING THAT. ANY ADVICE? Consider this: Golfers who walk take about 11 000 steps over 18 holes. There’s no doubt that a properly fit pair of shoes will help you feel and perform better. A look at your old shoes can provide clues to what you need. The inside of a worn shoe might indicate pressure points where the shoe is not fitting right. If your insoles have deep impressions, consider an extra cushiony design. On the outside, severe wear along the inner part of the heel suggests you should be wearing shoes with more arch support. Conversely, excessive wear on the outside of the heel indicates that a more flexible shoe would make sense. Don’t forget about weight. If 18 holes is 11 000 steps and you reduce the weight of a shoe by 30 grams, that’s a savings of 330 000 grams – or 330 kilo- grams – of leg fatigue during a round. Start with the fit. Using a Brannock device (found wherever shoes are sold), measure your feet while standing and wearing your golf socks. Measure for length and for width at the ball of your foot. Always measure at the end of the day, when your feet are likely swollen. Once you find your fit and a style you like, consider buying a couple of pairs and rotating them. That’ll help your feet and maybe even your scores.
Why the Long Putter Never Disappeared Q: straight back and straight through. That’s a comfort- ing feel, especially on short putts, but I THOUGHT ANCHOR- ING WAS BANNED, BUT I SEE LONG PUTTERS ON TOUR. SHOULD I TRY ONE?
GOING LONG Akshay Bhatia uses a long putter without anchoring.
it takes some getting used to. Also, the split grip they require and the sheer weight of the putter take your wrists out of the stroke, leaving the shoulders to control it. Again, that can be a big benefit, but it does take some practice. If you have the patience, Sonny Bur- go, a master fitter at Pete’s Golf, a Golf Digest 100 Best Clubfitter, has some ad- vice. “It offers a fresh start,” Burgo says. “It also involves, in a way, a learning pe- riod, so there’s no pressure and offers hope to golfers in the struggle.” Burgo also notes the learning curve can be tough. Long putts can be hard to gauge and finding a putter demands a fitting. In addition, some players think people will be constantly watching them to make sure they aren’t anchoring. Pro tip: Wear a tighter shirt so those watchdogs will clearly see the space be- tween your chest and putter.
As of 2016, anchoring a putter against any part of your body is illegal, but long putters are still OK. Mike Davis, the USGA executive director at the time of the ruling, explained the difference. “We’re not going to take away your long putter,” Davis said. “All you need to do is this (hold the club away from your body), where you control the whole club with your hands. So long and belly putters are still legal, as long as you don’t anchor them.” That ruling let tour pros such as Adam Scott, Lucas Glover, Akshay Bha- tia, Will Zalatoris and Bernhard Langer to keep – or start – using these clubs by holding them away from the body. As for whether you should try one, that’s a question of commitment. Long putters are very upright, allowing the putter to move less on an arc and more
Answers by Golf Digest equipment editors Mike Stachura, E. Michael Johnson and Jonathan Wall
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GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 95
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026
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