Putter shaft too long

[MikeW2]

Hello, what would be obvious symptoms if the putter you were using is too tall for you? Pushes pulls? Could it subconsciously be the cause of a poor stroke path? Thanks

[MattM97]

Usually bad setup is one which leads to other startline issues. An odd one is putter bottoming out on the stroke but it can happen. 

[unclefreizo]

I'm 5'6 so a standard 35in length is too tall pretty much all of the time without choking up.

 

One of the symptoms I noticed was hitting the ball fat. Which meant I was constantly adjusting with my arms and hands to not do that. I didn't realize I was doing this until someone showed it to me with high speed camera.

 

It's way simpler and you can just feel your brain focusing on distance and getting the ball where you want it to go, versus fixating on making contact.

[BHI 99]

All of the above. 
 

If you’re not opposed to SuperStroke grips, the XL ones give you some room to play with since they are parallel. You have to be consistent and try not to to creep up or down, but you also don’t have to cut/remove grips/add extensions either. 

[jda]

When the putter head is way out in front of your body leaned back on the heel and your eyes are not over the ball.  You can bend your elbows to make up for this with a long club, but not everybody can keep them still when they are bent too much.

 

I have a 33" Notchback Cameron that I loan to people when they are struggling with the putter.  Nearly all of them love it and when I tell them that it mostly is because it is 33", they are usually surprised.

Edited April 18 by jda

[ShortGolfer]

Odyssey ladies putters are 32 and 33 inches I you need a short putter.

[Anser3]

Phil Mickelson is 6'3" and uses a putter anywhere from 32.5-34 inches.  He is generally around 33".  I am the same height and settled in on a 33.5" putter. 

 

One sign of a putter being too long is if you grip down (choke down) on it pretty far from end of the grip.  The extra length sticking out beyond your hand can catch on your pant leg or otherwise get in the way.  Go with a length you are comfortable with (lie may need adjusted).

 

A shorter putter can actually be easier to putt with. 

[MikeW2]

The reason I posed the question is this…I have a tendency to bring the putter back outside the line then loop it back inside on the through stroke. I choked down about 1 1/2” and I instantly stopped doing that and had a nice inside arc on my through stroke. 

[Ben B]

On 4/18/2024 at 1:34 PM, MikeW2 said:

The reason I posed the question is this…I have a tendency to bring the putter back outside the line then loop it back inside on the through stroke. I choked down about 1 1/2” and I instantly stopped doing that and had a nice inside arc on my through stroke. 

Sounds like before you started choking down you were too cramped up. As you take it back your brain is saying "I need to make space" so your arms move out away from your body...hence the take away outside. Then your eyes take over (eye hand coordination) and you loop the putter back in to strike the ball in the center of the putter face.