41 replies to this topic

[SoDakAmateur]

Hello All,

Recently new to this forum and I am sure this topic has come up more than once within this forum, but I am just feeling too lazy to go and look for it right now.

Just to give you a little background information, I am 6'8" or 6'9", something like that, and I currently have a 35" putter. I coach a high school golf team and I get a lot of time to work on my putting...A LOT...
Earlier, in another topic, I posted that I was getting a shaft extension to my putter. It's currently at 35" and I went through the Ping fitting web site and found that apparently 35" is the perfect length for me. My only issue is the amount of back problems I've been having. When I was younger and about 4-5" smaller, 35" was much better for me.
Now that I am taller, I am starting to get a lot of back issues and I am going to extend my putter...but I am just curious what others are doing with their putter length. I've heard that like, Ernie Els has a 35.5" putter...I am thinking about going up to 37...possibly 37.5"
I understand that it's going to make the head a little heavier, but I can easily make that adjustment over a few days, I'm sure...

Any input please?

Thanks,

SoDakAmateur

[shorrrno]

Putters are all about feel. There is no generic advice. Whatever feels best you should use. Obviously if you are putting a lot and it hurting your back with a 35", a longer putter could be a better option to keep you playing in the long term.

[mac94]

I'm 6'4" and I use a 36.25".

[Thaddy]

I'm 6'1" and use a 34".

[SoDakAmateur]

I see. Do you ever get the back issues? I mean, my arms hang pretty low, but I still find myself bending over a lot to have a comfortable grip on the putter.

[feedlotdoc]

I'm 6'1" and use a 36" for the same reason, back pain. It helped me some, not totally, losing 50lbs would probably fix the rest of the issue.

[Dean NC]

I am 6'0" and use a 34"
use to use a 35" until i got on a SAM putt lab and reccomended to go to the 34"
34" is working better for me.

[DNice26]

About 8".......oh, my putter......... 35".

[SoDakAmateur]

feedlotdoc, on 06 May 2010 - 09:46 PM, said:

I'm 6'1" and use a 36" for the same reason, back pain. It helped me some, not totally, losing 50lbs would probably fix the rest of the issue.

Yeah, I am on the weight loss kick, too. Doctor said I probably needed to lose 35-40 pounds in the next few months.
It would be easy for me if I could stay away from the crap I eat in a day...that's a whole new story.

Well, I am thinking about jumping my putter up to about 37"...

[benclab]

Mine is 33.  For proper arm hang and eyes over the ball, usually your inseam is a good length.  It's an unusual theory, but when I was teaching, I'd say out of all of my students, maybe 5 at the most needed something longer than that.  May not be true for everyone but it's a great starting point.

[drjbyaz]

Like the OP, I'm 6' 8.5".  Been using a 36" putter for about 5 years now, previously had a 35."  That extra inch makes a world of difference as my putting has greatly improved.

[RainShadow]

Mine are all between 33-35 inches.  Heel shafted mallets and 8802 styles are 33 (odyssey WHT#9) and 34( Miz Betti BC7, Kia Ma Marenello). The Blade/answer style I like alittle longer. Tm Imola 8 w/asgi is 34, I believe. I have a Scotty Circa 62 #6 at 35" which is the longest I play regularly. My current gamer is a Miz TP Mills workshop #2 at 34.5.

I seems to depend on the style of putter what works best for me lenth wise. I seem to put pretty well with all of these, depending on quality and speed of the greens.
I'm 5'9" tall.

Edited by RainShadow, 07 May 2010 - 11:49 PM.

[SoDakAmateur]

Thanks for your input guys!
I got it changed up to 36.5" and went out and had 13 in the nine holes that I played. I think we are on to something here!
Keep in mind I only hit 4 of 7 fairways and this particular course, which is not my home course, thankfully, is only 2800 yards long. It's literally just a pitch n' putt, but a great place for me to get used to the new length on my putter.

[502 to Right]

Go ahead and extend it.  Raymond Floyd played top quality golf with a putter that was 37 to 38 inches in length due to his back problems.  It allowed him to practice without pain and didn't hurt him putting-wise in any way.

[SoDakAmateur]

502 to Right, on 07 May 2010 - 11:55 PM, said:

Go ahead and extend it.  Raymond Floyd played top quality golf with a putter that was 37 to 38 inches in length due to his back problems.  It allowed him to practice without pain and didn't hurt him putting-wise in any way.

I agree. I just made the change.
Sad part about it...I just got an article today that said Ernie Els had gone to a shorter putter and blah blah blah....ughh did that ever throw some doubt in my mind!

[ZombieDave]

I'm 6'4 and use 35 inch putters, but also going to extend mine.

I cut one down to 33 a few years ago after reading Pelz books, and trying to get a SBST stroke.  My putting became awful.  Now I'm back to 35 it's improved, but I actually change my position to suit the putter.  Best way to find out what length you need is to forget about standard lengths, get a putter with an uncut shaft, stand comfortably and naturally with your eyes over the ball, and go with that.  Doing this I found out 36.5 is best for me, plus I find standing taller gives me a better view of the target.  Now I just need to lengthen all my putters

[HackerD]

I'm 6'1", and trying to follow the Utley putting method. He recommends going longer.  I'm currently using a 35" and going to try 36".  I would think wrist-to-floor measurement would help determine putter length and my WTF is 36".

I think the Ping web fit will never recommend a putter longer than 35" even if you are a giant, so take that with a grain of salt.

Edited by HackerD , 08 May 2010 - 01:10 PM.

[rblmp32]

34.5"

[irul&ublo]

I am 6'1" and use a 37" Ping Anser.

I have never been a good putter but when I tried to spend more than 15 minutes or so on the practice green, my back would just tighten up. I decided to give the 'Utley' method a try since he advocates a more 'upright' stance and I am a very much a feel player overall. I tried the Ping in-store putter fitter thingy and it felt really good when the putter was around 37" or so.  About that time, I was planning a trip to Phoenix to visit family.  While there, I stopped by the Ping facility and got a free putter fitting.  It was great because one of their expert club(putter) fitters spent about 30 minutes measuring and custom fitting a putter to my stroke.  I then came home and ordered it with their specs from Edwin Watts.

I now stop by the putting green a couple of times a week and spend 30-40 minutes at a time.  Needless to say, my putting stats have improved greatly and I have so much more confidence.

You can get a nice custom Ping for around $100. or less, so I would say go for the longer putter.

[alpsburner]

With short putters i pull every stroke - returned to 35" and never looked back

CU

[SoDakAmateur]

So, then I suppose this begs the question...what type of stroke are you using? Straight back-straight through or an arc-like motion?

If you have an arc-like motion, most teaching pros reccomend a longer putter, but if you have a shorter putter, pros reccomend a straight back-straight through type of stroke because it's supposedly easier to control. During my college days, I gave an honest attempt at the arc-like motion and would have have had a croquet mallet in my hand I was putting so bad. I've always played some pros who will use a variance of strokes depending on the length of putting - for example: if it was a really long putt, they use the arc-like motion and on shorter putts they'd use the straight back-straight through motion.

Since my putter is now up to 36.5", I am going to stick with the straight back-straight through and just work through it. I've been pushing everything to the right, so I know what I am doing wrong, but yeah...and I've got about a month or so until my next "major" event, so I think I could figure it out by then.

[Mizuno 23]

I am 5'11" and use a 34" putter.

[elcantante]

I think the shorter putter has more feel. I believe Phil plays a 33.25inch Odyssey #9. What ever works. If you have back pain then thats bad. try bending the knees more and not arching the back to much

Edited by elcantante, 10 May 2010 - 08:16 AM.

[PixlPutterman]

Im 5'11" and use a 32.5, but have other putters at 34................why I dont know

[SDGolfing]

If your back hurts when your putting it is because your gut is too weak to absorb the slight pressure you are putting on your lumbar area. You would be AMAZED what some yoga classes and core excercises can do for your back. I had been going to the chiro for years and for the past 9 months I stretch daily do yoga twice a week and my core is so strong now i can practice putting for hours on end. You just need it stretched out more often.

Back to your questions the assumption that shorter is better is just silly. You would be quite surprised to see how many players on tour putt with putters 35-36 inches. In fact it is the vast majority. Even Tiger Woods rolls a putter over 35 inches. Keeps your elbows softer and a more repeatable stroke.

6'3 36"

[BENCHMADE]

6'3" and mine is 37 3/4" Best move i ever made.

[jasonxxx]

6`1 and use a 35

[toddba11]

I am 6'6" and currenlty use a 34.5", but have used up to 36"  Recently took a lesson and was told I should use a shorter putter for bettter control so I gamed a 34" Seemore mFPG and found it to be very consistent.  I have 10 putters now that range from 34" to 35".  I am going to get a couple lengthed soon to experiment.   I think that if you feel comfortable standing over the putter and develop confidence any putter will work for you.

[Sublimize23]

What's the length of mine?! Kind of a personal question...

33", I'm 5'7".

[ttaylor0024]

Im 5'10" and I use a 33"