33" Putter, I just didnt get it?

[Hondabuff]

I will be honest, I never even tried one. I'm 5'11" and have always played a 35" putter and always thought the 33" putter was made for woman or kids. I have had my Newport for a few years a decided to sell it and take the cash to Golf Galaxy to buy a new putter. Started with the new Scotty's and was like "meh" not really any better then what I had. Had in my mind about going back to a Futura but remembered that I sold it for my Newport. Bounced around some of the other OEM's and just wasn't really feeling anything. On the side wall near the womans putters of course was around a dozen white Cameron and Crown putters all at 33" of course. Started with the 6M and was just making putt after putt from every where. I really like how the putter flows with my arms at 33". Checked the racks for other putters at 33" and nothing. I have been back 2 times to try out the Futura 6M to see if was just a Honeymoon thing and so far its been great results everytime. Really think I'm going back out tonight to buy the 6M but not super crazy about the color. Is there any difference between the normal 6M in black vs the Cameron and Crown? I also wonder why 33" putters are so rare if they get you in the correct position? I was tinkering around with a fitting tool they had and I think it was made by Ping or Edel and sure enough my posture and arm length called for 33" or even 32.5". Thoughts?

[dmeeksDC]

Could very well be correct. I find putting with a shorter putter works well. Same height as you and my Edel fitting put me in a 33.5 inch putter at 68 degree lie angle (2 flat) and 1 degree loft because I play the ball up in my stance and like my eyeline to be inside and behind the ball, not even and over it. It works great. Putting is one of my strengths. I am typically on line and it is all about speed for me.

 

I found 33 to be.a tad too short, but 33.5 or 34 is perfect, depending on the putter. I do not putt well if any longer.

[geochitown]

absolutely agree...

see my signature

 

whatever gets you into the correct posture

 

my 33" putter has a 365g head (swing weight is D3 or so)

 

if you want some corroborating information, search Todd Sones and tri-fit method

[DeCuchi]

There's no difference in the regular model and the crown model other than paint. You could buy the regular version at 33" or cut one down and adjust weighting if necessary.

 

The reason 33" putters aren't as common is pretty much due to your previous thoughts. A lot of guys think it's for women or kids. I'm 5'10" and I use 32.5" putters.

[Hondabuff]

Every time I have in in Golf Galaxy I don't think I every picked up the Putter fitting tool to check my length. What I noticed the most was the relief of tension in my shoulder sockets. The 35" I can feel the tension of holding the putter and the 33" feels like I can relax them and the heavier weight of the putter pulls at my shoulders naturally and my arms are straighter. My swing flaws where obvious when I went back to a 35" putter. A little loop on the back swing and the occasional stubbing of the putter on the ground during long putts.

[rcain1us]

I have my Bettinardi at 34.5 but I choke down LHL and could easily use a 32" if I wanted.

[T-MAC]

I'm a little over 6' and have always used a 33-33.5" putter. Like you, I like the position of my relaxed arms hanging downward and I'm able to simply rock them back and forth in a triangle.

As DeCuchi already mentioned, there is no difference in the Cameron putters. The regular line will also come in 33", and you won't have to have that stupid stamping on the face / toe that the Cameron & Crown putters have.

I usually purchase a 34" putter and cut it down because I prefer the 15g weights instead of the 20g's that 33" Cameron's come with.

[dbdors]

You should go get a SAM putter fitting. I'm 5' 11", 35-36" sleeve length in shirts, and 34" inseam in pants, long arms and long legs. I used 35" putters. I would have never thought to try a 33" putter. I went for a fitting at Club Champion, best $100 I've spent in golf. First thing they did was cut my existing putter down to 33". They also adjusted the lie. Afterwards I have bought putters with thos specs. CC also adjusted other putters loft and lie for free.

 

We spend so much on drivers, irons and then scrimp on the putter.

 

Go get fit!

[North Butte]

Get in your ideal putting position with no putter in your hands. Relax and get 100% comfortable. Then grab a putter without changing position (or better yet have someone hand it to you).

 

Any putter that has between 1/2" and 2" sticking out from above your hands is the right length. Any putter that soles level without the toe dragging or sticking up is the correct lie.

 

Contorting your body out of its ideal putting posture and/or your optimum ball and eye position, just to suit a different spec putter, is dumb. But I see people doing it all the time.

[Hondabuff]

I went back two more times to see if I was just having a hot day putting with the 33" putter. I noticed my miss was a pull with the 33" putter the second time I went. Not the same success I was showing the first time I was at Golf Galaxy. I was putting really well with a 34" Futura 6M with about 1" of the grip being exposed and seemed to roll the ball with a bit of consistency again. I left the store with no putter and wasn't really digging the colors of the Cameron & Crown but liked the normal Futura colors. I made it back up to the store yesterday and tried the 33" again and the 34" side by side. I liked the feeling of the 34" putter with a little bit of the grip exposed but still didn't care for the Scotty Matador grip. I kept coming back to the Toulon and one of the other Odyssey putters and realized I just loved the Pistol GT Tour grips on them. Ended up buying a Futura 6M 34" and a red and black Pistol GT Tour grip. Bought both of them online and should be here by Thursday or Friday.

[North Butte]

Sounds to me like your experiences are being confounded by length vs. grip. It's always a dilemma when trying out putters.In the end, you won't really know until you try what you think is the right combination. Hope this combo is "The One" for you!

[terminalvertigo]

I cut all my putters to 32" using LHL. have an inch and a half sticking out the top, so according to above, that is correct.

 

Hope this putter does it for you!

[Hondabuff]

So what I based my decision was this:

 

1) I liked the position of my arms that the 33" putter put me in.

2) I like the pendulum swing the 33" putter made me do

3) I did not like holding the 33" putter by the very end of the grip

4) I pulled putts when I reached down further on a 33" putter

5) I do not like the squishy Scotty Cameron matador grip

6) I liked the Super Stroke Pistol GT Tour Counter core on every putter that had it.

7) 34" Putter length gave me the most consistent ball path with my hands 1" from the end of the handle

8) I liked the weight of the 33" 6M but the 34" seemed to produce a more consistent roll and Tempo. Weird to say the 33" felt better but the 34" was hard to ignore the results. Might of just been the pitch of the tone the ball was making of the 33" Cameron and Crown.

9) The Cameron and Crown was a bit too much bling for my taste. Like having a Scotty in the bag isn't high end enough.

10) Wearing flip flops the first time made a difference in height for the length of putter I was trying. Wear shoes equal to you golf shoes.

[North Butte]

Good point about wearing golf shoes (or at least shoes with a little bit of sole thickness and similar "drop" to your golf shoes).

 

The one thing you won't know until you try the new putter with your preferred grip is whether the length preference for 34" was because you were "choking down" and the grip is shaped differently an inch or so farther down. Although I personally do like having at least a little bit of grip sticking up above my hands no matter what grip I'm using (especially on the occasions I might use the putter from off the green with the ball below my feet somewhat).

 

Drivers are very different than putters but I've always found if I get in a good groove with a driver whilst choking down a couple inches, it does NOT work to chop two inches off the butt. A 46" driver choked down does not play (for me) like a 44" driver gripped at the butt. I suspect a little of that is true for putters, although one inch isn't really a whole lot either way.

[evoviiiyou]

Im the opposite of you...I always try to go 32" and never get along with those putters for my arms straight down SBST putting stroke. I always end up with a SS Slim 3.0 slapped on the end of the final playing length of 30-30.5"...no matter the model type, I just don't get the on course results unless in that size range. To the OP, its really a personal preference that needs to be fitted to style for best results. Sounds like you figured it out and good on you mate. Good luck with your new stick.

[citizenfore]

I'm 6'4" tall and putt with a 33" putter as well (an old Ping Cushin). I used to game 35" putters thinking that's "just what tall guys do". Picked up the Ping at a store one day, set up over it and everything just felt and looked better from a putting perspective. My putting has been much more consistent and I feel much of that has to do with the ability to more freely move my shoulders and arms based on how I hold the putter now. I have putters now from 33" to 37" in length and keep going back to the 33" Ping when I compare them head to head. Thinking of cutting my others down soon.

[gpleonard]

5'7" tall and have used a 33" putter for years.. Just more comfortable to swing and keep on the intended line.. Now if I could just putt more consistently week in and week out.. But that is another story.

[North Butte]

I'm 6'4" tall and putt with a 33" putter as well (an old Ping Cushin). I used to game 35" putters thinking that's "just what tall guys do". Picked up the Ping at a store one day, set up over it and everything just felt and looked better from a putting perspective. My putting has been much more consistent and I feel much of that has to do with the ability to more freely move my shoulders and arms based on how I hold the putter now. I have putters now from 33" to 37" in length and keep going back to the 33" Ping when I compare them head to head. Thinking of cutting my others down soon.

 

I'm only 6' even but have short arms so our proportions probably work out about the same for putter length.

 

The only ones over 33" I can use well are the counterbalanced ones with the extra-long SuperStroke grip, designed to be gripped like a 33" one even though they are 35" long.

[Orlandogolfguru]

im a bit of the opposite, i was fit for 33.5 but just didnt feel comfortable bent over that far. 6 ft tall. so went to 34. at 34.5 i feel good, my back isnt stressed, and with a flatter lie it sets up nice. you can be fit for many lengths based on how you stand, no matter arm length really. my arms are long, and depending on knee bend and/or back bend i can flux between 33 and 35. i would set up, get comfortable where you think you will mostly set up to on the course without thinking, and fit the putter to that length. just my .02 :-)

[corky]

Height has nothing to do with putter length...........

 

It's all about the distance from a golfers grip to the ground when, they have taken their stance........ some people have short arms, some long arms some use different grips(hand positions)

 

Putters should be tried at the very minimum in proper golf shoes on an outdoor putting green......with your ball of choice.

 

Go from there.....

[pschmitt712]

All golf clubs are personal preference, but the putter is on a whole other level. There is an insane amount of nuance involved. I'm about the same height as you, but a 34" is as short as I can go. 33" or shorter makes me very uncomfortable and therefore tense, which leads to terrible putting...

[Z1ggy16]

It's more than just your height you need to consider. How long are your arms? What is your stance like? Do you bend over a lot (like Kuch) or very little (like Ricky).

 

You could be 6 foot 4 but be hunched over more than a 90 year old grandma, and you still may fit into a 33'' putter. But at the end of the day, it's what feels best and what fits you best.

[PureDivots]

Moved to 33" awhile ago and have never felt more comfortable, going to try 34" with choke down before cutting down my newest putter.

[pleadguitar]

I cut my new 8802 to 32.5", making more putts with this then I ever did with a 34" putter. I'm 5'10".

[JY VPI]

The OTR Scotty lengths are 35" with 10g weights and 34" with 15g weights. They created the Cameron & Crown line which is nothing but good marketing to add a 33" with 20g weights option. At all these length + weight settings all of their swing-weights are about equal or the same feel.

 

If you choke down an inch on a standard 34" Scotty, you kind of make it a 33" putter with a lighter head feel than what's intended. Totally okay, but you'll definitely get a lighter feel because the head is actually slightly lighter in the 34" and then the 35".

[LeoLeo99]

didn't Vijay use a kid's putter on tour for a few rounds aft least?

[terminalvertigo]

didn't Vijay use a kid's putter on tour for a few rounds aft least?

 

doesn't look huge :)

 

[mharr]

I used to cut down my putters to 33", mostly because I crouch more than most people. But I found that I seemed to have problems with long lag putting with the shorter length. So I keep the putter at 35" and just position my hands a couple inches lower for putts within 20-25', and stand up straighter and grip the putter higher for longer putts.

[Pigems]

I'm 5'9" and play a 32.5" putter and could probably go shorter even. I love a short putter. My irons are 1/2" short and my woods are all 1" short as well. I like short clubs :)

[Stanks]

I'm 5' 9.5" and use a 33" Scotty Cameron 5W with 104CC Golf Price Tour SNSR contoured grip. It's the perfect setup for me because it's better than how I was doing with my 35" Odyssey POS.

 

Everyone's different. If you have back problems then don't use a shorter putter.