(Very) Short Putters... Anyone use them? Feedback

[Springbok]

So after blowing a good round on Sunday because of 5 3-putts, I am willing to try something new. I am contemplating going back to a 48" PING G2-i.

 

However, I was thinking about the other extreme as well, i.e. trying a 30 or even 29" putter. Anyone have any feedback on this, or suggestions?

 

Thanks.

[govtcheez]

Ho tall are you? I'm 5'11" and I've tried some short putters (in the 31-32" range). You will find that your back will start hurting after 3-4 minutes of practice. I think 33.5 inches is perfect for me as it allows me to let my arms hang down cofortably, while not having to bend over too much so that my back hurts after a short period. Also, I found it extremely hard to control long distance putts with the short putter, often leaving them VERY short.

 

You may also want to keep in mind that Phil Mickelson uses a 33.5" putter and he's 6'3" (75"). So that's about 2.4" per 1" of putter. This may be a good "guideline" for you if you're going for a short putter.

 

 

...also, I'm on the same boat as you. My ball striking has been solid lately but my putting has been horrendous for about the past year. I would often three-putt 3-8 times per round. I finally said enough and went out to seek some help. I thought about lessons, but I instead bought the Dave Pelz Putting Bible and have been reading it. I don't agree with everything in the book, but it seems to have helped. I played a few times since I've started reading the book and I've only three putted a few times since.

[boon44]

I'm 6'2" and always used a 35" putter. I recently picked up a 33" and my accuracy, tempo, and comfort level went way up. Time will tell, but so far Im lovin' it.

[raehtz10]

I am 5'7" and use about a 32 inch putter. I would say that doesn't really count as "very" short, but I find I make a more consistent stroke than with the 34" I was using.

[bloodredsun]

I went the other way from a 32.5 to a 35 (I'm 6'1").

 

My accuracy is no different but my distance judgment is far better with the longer putter and it's much more comfortable.

[augiep38]

I am 5'7" and use a 32" putter. I like the feel of it. I put some lead tape on the sole to bring the swingweight back up.

[DavidR]

I settled on a 34" putter. I do find myself choaking down on it to a 33" most of the time. Works well for me.

[dan_670_12]

Im 5'10 and last year after a round of awfull putting decided to cut my old rossa down to a 29 just for fun. I liked it for a while. Im at a 33 inch right now and love it.

[Geo]

I experimented VERY briefly with a long and belly putter. Distance control for me was absolutely terrible. Granted, I probably didn't spend enough time with it and wasn't fully committed while I was at it. However with heavier heads, you'll have to dedicate more time to controlling distances--but I only took freshman physics.

 

Anyway, I second the recommendation on the Pelz Putting Bible. You have to sift through a lot of self-promotion, and may not agree with MANY of Pelz' methods but there is much to be learned--including a lot about reading greens and distance control. Boomerang is a GREAT training aid for working on distance, and is hugely responsible for reigning in my 3-putts.

 

FWIW, I use a 33" putter...and my daughter uses a 20 incher. (cool)

 

[hayam]

Very short putters are suggested by Geoff of Puttingzone.com.

 

Why such suggestion? Because he wanted people to use a symetrical shoulder stroke AND straight in straight through. However, with such short putter, you need to practice diligently the speed control. I tried it and it does not work for me. Bending down too much is bad for my back and my speed control suffer greatly due to too short length. But to some , it works great ... Not everyone is the same.

 

My reason for a poor speed control is mainly that the stroke does not feel natural and will result in YIPS. Then confidence will sink in. There are 3 things that solved this problem for me. Learning ARC putting, reading this book by Dave Stockton. Putt to win, and building a 77* incline plane putting board to groove the shoulder stroke. Another aspect of putting is that eventually . 330 grams . 35 inch putter works the best for me, putter too heavy destroy the flow thus speed control. Therefore, don't mess around with off the rack putters. They are built that way for good reasons.

 

If you do well with a long putter, use it. As you need to relearn all the speed and feel when you change a method only to find that it does not work for you eventually. At the end of the day, use whatever feels most natural to you that gives results. Look at ViJay. Changing to standard putter cost him millions.

[SHERO]

Harrington uses a 30 inch putter

[hurley9192]

I'll echo most sentiments...I'm 5'8" and use a 32.5 putter. I had it set up so my arms hung loosely and my eyes were over the ball. Helps keep on line with your vision and stroke.

 

To offset the weight on the cutdown, I bought a heavier Cameron head from a long putter and cut it down instead of taking a 35 incher and cutting it 3 inches.

[PurePursuit]

Personally I enjoy gripping down on a 35'' putter, not sure why but I feel in control with the shaft running through my hands that way. Bureo you have a beautiful daughter and I wish you both the best of luck with your putting (hopefully she will not have the same frustrations most of us do with the flatstick!)

[imsocrabby]

i use a shorty. but i am a shorty.

 

5'2".

 

i use anywhere between 29" and 32". not sure of the exact length on the #7 right now....guessing about 31. I usually grip down where it feels good...then hack it off there and add a grip. sometimes i play around with added wraps or lead tape. i am currently gaming a multi-compound putter grip with 3 wraps.

[dac]

i'm 5' 8" and been using 32" and 33" putters only. of course, my putting is a whole different story... :good:

[craz-e]

I am 5 10", I got my putters cut down to 31.5" and still choke down on them, accuracy and roll vastly improved, can only recommend aving a short putter. They seem to work well for me

[63Brummie]

You make a very good point.

I was speaking to Mr Kenyon at the Harold Swash (inventor of the C-Groove Putter) School of excellence in the UK a while ago.

He mentioned that most golfers use a putter that is too long and would benefit from a shorter club allowing the arms to hang in a relaxed manner from the shoulders.

David Howell is 6'2" and uses a 33" club so there must be something in it; he's a wonderful putter and will one day win something very big.

63Brummie. :good:

[bgolfing]

puttingzone.com has some ways to measure a putter correctly. Usually end up with a much shorter putter

[Rambler]

my newport is 33' i believe = love

[MchSt805]

You may also want to keep in mind that Phil Mickelson uses a 33.5" putter and he's 6'3" (75"). So that's about 2.4" per 1" of putter. This may be a good "guideline" for you if you're going for a short putter.

 

I don't necessarily think that there is a guideline for inches to inches per say, but if so Phil's 75" of height is actually 2.24" per 1" of putter. That's makes a huge difference. 2.4" would give him a 31.25" putter!

 

It's really all in personal preference of what feels right for you. Once you get length matched up correctly, just get the right lie angle bent and you're set to go. I'm 6'0" and prefer either 34" or 33.5"

[Konakid67]

5-10 and cut a few of my putters down from 34.5 to 33. I like the way it sets up.

Kevin

[JBent9610]

I'm going to try the shorter putter thing as well. I used the formulas on puttingzone and it came out to a 29" putter (I'm 5'8"). I'll probably build it to 30" or 31" in case 29" feels too short. If it feels ok, gripping down 1-2" won't be a problem. I currently use a 34" putter and I am nowhere near being over the ball when I putt.

 

I'm hoping that and switching to a center shafter putter will help some of my putting problems.

[Asleep]

...FWIW, I use a 33" putter...and my daughter uses a 20 incher. ;)

 

Now there's a cutie pie! :rolleyes:

[philfan316]

It all depends on if you hunch over and how much you let your arms hang down. I am 5'7'' and I range from 31 7/8 to 32 1/2. It is what ever feels good.

[finalist]

I used to play with a short putter. It felt great at first -like I had total control, but once I went back to a taller 34.5" inches I realized how much easier it is to get good distant lag putting down. I think it has to do with standing up more and giving myself a better stereoscopic perspective. Imagine how hard it would be to judge distance to the hole from a worm's eye view from 20 feet out.

 

and it's so much easier on my back.