Alternative to Shortening Putter

[MandyGolf]

Hi All! I need your advice re putters. I understand putters need to be only half to 1" longer than foot-to-wrist length, which for me is 29”. Unfortunately, there is no putter that measures 30” (most ladies' putters are 32" or 33”) and if I shorten them, I was told by Callaway/Odyssey reps that 1) the stroke lab shaft cannot be shortened and 2) even if steel shafts can be shortened, shortening them would mess up the weight. What would be the best approach to this, stick to the long putter of 32”? Thank you!

[Sean124]

An easy alternative is to install a long grip like the Superstroke XL, then just grip down to wherever you’re comfortable. 

[_chris]

The Odyssey shafts absolutely can be shortened, they just have a counterweight epoxyed into the end. Heat that up and remove and then re install. 

Edited October 16, 2023 by _chris

[manVSgolf]

Just get old as fast as you can.  Your spinal cord will compress over time.  You’ll lose a few inches.  You and the putter will hit that perfect spot together at some point. 
 

also, you lose as much as an inch of your high every day due to this same compression.  Maybe more twilight rounds?

[mjo23]

On 10/6/2023 at 3:24 PM, MandyGolf said:

Hi All! I need your advice re putters. I understand putters need to be only half to 1" longer than foot-to-wrist length, which for me is 29”. Unfortunately, there is no putter that measures 30” (most ladies' putters are 32" or 33”) and if I shorten them, I was told by Callaway/Odyssey reps that 1) the stroke lab shaft cannot be shortened and 2) even if steel shafts can be shortened, shortening them would mess up the weight. What would be the best approach to this, stick to the long putter of 32”? Thank you!

First off, coming from experience, never listen to Callaway cs reps

1.) You can cut down a stroke-lab putter, I just had it done. I was able to cut mine down by 2" from 35" to 33" and the counterplug still fit just fine. There might be a limit to how much you can cut down and still have the plug fit, since the shaft tapers down a bit, but to say that stroke lab shafts in general cannot be shortened is completely false.

2.) Cutting a steel shaft isn't going to mess up anything. It's just going to reduce the swing-weight. Odyssey putters aren't weighted by length to begin with, so there's literally zero difference in cutting down a 34" Odyssey to 33", and buying a 33" putter of the same model. If the putter model has interchangeable weights, you can purchase heavier weights if you want - or add lead tape. This is partially their way of getting people to buy their overpriced weight-kits for the models that do hold weights

 

Additionally: deciding length solely on wrist-to-floor is not a good idea.

1.) wrist to floor, imo, is irrelevant considering shoulder/chest width is going to impact "true" wrist-to-floor when your hands come together as they would when gripping a putter or any other club.

2.) Length is in many aspects is personal preference, and a result of your own mechanics. Some people prefer to choke down, some people don't. Some people like putting with arms high like Rickie Fowler, who has used a 35" putter (despite using shorter than standard for every other club in his bag) that would visibly force him to use almost a "chicken-wing"-esque technique with elbows high and out. Cantlay, on the other hand, uses a 33" putter and his arms almost hang all the way down. The list can go on and on

 

So again, it's all personal preference. Sure there's gonna be a point where a putter is definitely too long or short

[tatertot]

I think the Cally rep is full of baloney.

 

My idea was getting your arms shortened, which means you'd need a longer putter ... But I think the previous posts are better.

[ShortGolfer]

The Odyssey Junior 2 ball is 29.5 inches.  1/2 inch short.  The head is smaller than my other putters.

 

I cut down a PGX Women's putter from 33 to 31 inches.  Blew off the grip, cut it down with a chop saw, and reused the sticky adhesive when I blew the grip back on with my air compressor.

 

The hardest one was cutting an Odyessy EXO Indianapolis for 35 to 31 inches.  The end of the shaft is the right length, but the shaft has a staircase taper.  The taper is stepped, not smooth.

I replaced the grip with the Odyssey White Hot Pro that Dicks sells for $10.  I used a dozen pieces of 3M blue tape to build up the diameter of the shaft to a nice smooth taper. 

A lot of tape at the bottom and just one layer at the top.  I cut the tape to size using an X-Acto knife, steel rule, and the plastic kitchen cutting board.

The grip will be loose at the bottom unless you build up the diameter with tape.  Suggest minimum diameter of 0.55 inches. I just put it back in the bag and redid it today so it looks nice.

 

I cut a 32 inch Stroke Lab Ten down to 31 1/4 inches, cutting the brass counterweight and replacing it with a new 28g Hireko counterweight.  The old one was epoxied into the shaft.

Without the counterweight the SW was C6.

Edited October 10, 2023 by ShortGolfer

[SUITS]

Taller shoes? I have noticed my tour boost 360 make me slightly taller than my chaos spikeless. Not much but def some 

[Fwitz11]

Seems like cutting down a steel shaft and then just adding weight to get proper SW is the best path to me

[5hort5tuff]

I'm about 5'3 and use a 31.5" putter. I cant really imagine using anything shorter.  I guess it is possible to be shorter than me.  Do you have a really bent posture when putting? 

 

To answer you original question...if you cut down a putter that is...say 385-400g, it wont feel light at all.  

 

What putter/style are you looking at?

Edited October 11, 2023 by 5hort5tuff