Average length of normal putters on tour

[Geohans]

They like short?

Today a pro fitter told me the guys on tour playing normal putters are typically playing 32.5-33in shafts. Is that true? Is the average that short?

I play 1/2in over in irons, and a 33in putter. I know there's another thread on that subject, but I am curious as to whether the average is that short on tour.

[502 to Right]

Not true. Most are 34 to 35 inches.

[Redman]

I guess if the average length is 34 to 35 then that might make the actual shaft itself around 32 to 33. That is what you said after all right - the shaft length, not the total putter length?

[Geohans]

Honestly don't know shaft vs total length. . . but if you have a 33in Cameron, then that's what I mean.

[PuttingDoctor]

I don't want to seem to throw gas on the fire here folks but if we start this discussion why don't we do it scientifically... what's the average height of the PGA Tour player? Sleeve length? Inseam length? From here we might, just might be able to see trends.

[joshvoigt]

im 5'10'' wear a 15.5 and 33 shirt if this helps I like a 34'' putter.

[judgsmails]

[quote name='GolfPro65' post='2130057' date='Dec 17 2009, 06:36 PM']35" is the putter norm yet, 1 out of 20 golfers should actually use a 35" putter. I would think its between 33 and 34" Better players seem to like their arms to hang a little more then your average player.[/quote]

What is the source or factual basis for this statistic?

[hwwong]

I just ordered on at 32.5" - I've been using 34" forever and just finally realized how much better I set up to the ball with a shorter putter.

I do have to admit that a lot of times it looks like guys on tour are using putters that are really short, but maybe thats because a lot of them are 6' and over?

[mac94]

I think the average putter is about 34.5". Utley recommends most use 35-36". I'm not sure I understand this trend toward ultra short putters. I don't see it among the best putters in the world.

[varsityhacker]

I play the shortest putter I can without my back hurting after 18 holes which for me is 33'.

[PuttingDoctor]

[quote name='mac94' post='2130306' date='Dec 17 2009, 10:38 AM']I think the average putter is about 34.5". Utley recommends most use 35-36". I'm not sure I understand this trend toward ultra short putters. I don't see it among the best putters in the world.[/quote]

Testing on the SAM PuttLab confirms that an overlength putter will cause more arc in the stroke.... so it follows that Mr. Utley would recommend a 35-36" putter. I'm not certain his recommendation is across the board as this static length wouldn't make sense for someone who was only 5' tall.

Follow me on this one if you would. From your sitting position turn your head left as far as you can. Now come back to center and move to the right as far as you can. If you did this without dropping your eyes off the horizon you can rotate your head and now your eyes from a proper putting stance.

Now take your index finger of your dominant hand and point at a light switch say across the room. Take dead aim. I'm guessing that you looked right down your finger from your dominant eye. (you didn't aim the finger-gun gangsta' style did you?)

Go ahead and stand now in an athletic position with your balance in your quads, knees slightly flexed and allow your hands to hang while bowing from your hips. Bring your hands together. You are now in a position to rotate your head/eyes up the target line in the same plane as you did sitting.

If your eyes are over the ball as you rotate them down the target line you'll be as close to looking down the line as you've ever been. Have someone place the putter in your hands for you. This is the time to look into a mirror on the floor and to allow the putter head to be directly below your eyes, or if you prefer no more than a ball width inside.

Likely you will be in a position on the shaft that would be lower than normal...that is unless someone who cared did a proper putter fitting for you.

Generally the guys and gals playing professional golf have had benefit of a putter fitting along the way. The trend toward shorter putter lengths is not a fad but is based upon sound fitting technique.

[The Beagle]

Not sure how accurate or how up-to-date this is:

[url="http://www.scottycameron.com/ontour/players.aspx"]http://www.scottycameron.com/ontour/players.aspx[/url]

Most of those guys are listed at 34" to 35".

[pirettigolf]

All the tour players I've made putters for are 34-35" long.

[zipfan13]

When you go to a tour event you realize how big most of the PGA guys are, I'd say the avg player height, at least at the Bridgestone is about 6'1-6'2

[Tim Delgado]

Just posted about this in another thread.

I heard today that Phil uses a VERY short putter for a guy his size. Something close to 30".

Tim

[mac94]

[quote name='Tim Delgado' post='2133337' date='Dec 19 2009, 03:25 AM']Just posted about this in another thread.

I heard today that Phil uses a VERY short putter for a guy his size. Something close to 30".

Tim[/quote]

Yeah, but have you seen Phil putt lately?

[Clemsonfan]

[quote name='PuttingDoctor' post='2132582' date='Dec 18 2009, 05:25 PM'][quote name='mac94' post='2130306' date='Dec 17 2009, 10:38 AM']I think the average putter is about 34.5". Utley recommends most use 35-36". I'm not sure I understand this trend toward ultra short putters. I don't see it among the best putters in the world.[/quote]

Testing on the SAM PuttLab confirms that an overlength putter will cause more arc in the stroke.... so it follows that Mr. Utley would recommend a 35-36" putter. I'm not certain his recommendation is across the board as this static length wouldn't make sense for someone who was only 5' tall.

Follow me on this one if you would. From your sitting position turn your head left as far as you can. Now come back to center and move to the right as far as you can. If you did this without dropping your eyes off the horizon you can rotate your head and now your eyes from a proper putting stance.

Now take your index finger of your dominant hand and point at a light switch say across the room. Take dead aim. I'm guessing that you looked right down your finger from your dominant eye. (you didn't aim the finger-gun gangsta' style did you?)

Go ahead and stand now in an athletic position with your balance in your quads, knees slightly flexed and allow your hands to hang while bowing from your hips. Bring your hands together. You are now in a position to rotate your head/eyes up the target line in the same plane as you did sitting.

If your eyes are over the ball as you rotate them down the target line you'll be as close to looking down the line as you've ever been. Have someone place the putter in your hands for you. This is the time to look into a mirror on the floor and to allow the putter head to be directly below your eyes, or if you prefer no more than a ball width inside.

Likely you will be in a position on the shaft that would be lower than normal...that is unless someone who cared did a proper putter fitting for you.

Generally the guys and gals playing professional golf have had benefit of a putter fitting along the way. The trend toward shorter putter lengths is not a fad but is based upon sound fitting technique.
[/quote]

When I am fit the way you suggest, my putter length is just under 32". I am 5'10" and have a 34" sleeve and my wrist to floor length is 35" when I am standing in tennis shoes.

Is that a common length with those statistics? I used shorter putters until I added more arm bend, around 33.5", and now I am up to just over 34" and a flatter lie - around 68*.

I placed my putter that I use now, with arm bend, and it falls right in that spot where your description placed me.

Does that sound correct, or possible to you?

Thanks.

[phelps22]

[quote name='mac94' post='2133534' date='Dec 19 2009, 09:38 AM'][quote name='Tim Delgado' post='2133337' date='Dec 19 2009, 03:25 AM']Just posted about this in another thread.

I heard today that Phil uses a VERY short putter for a guy his size. Something close to 30".

Tim[/quote]

Yeah, but have you seen Phil putt lately?
[/quote]



Phil is actually putting very well as of late thanks to the help from Dave Stockton. As far as his putter length goes, I pretty sure he was at 33.5" and has gone a little longer recently.

[preacher]

Phil looks to be putting terrific right now! I was recently in a putter fitting at a lab and realized I was using to long of a putter. I am 5'11" and now using a 33" instead of 34". My putting has improved significantly.

--jason

[apprenti23]

There's no right or wrong here... Strictly feel and how you address the ball. I'm 6'3" and prefer what people would call a "shorter putter" In that most I'll game are 33.75" or less. One of the best putters I've ever seen used a 30.5" putter.

A very wise man once said that putters are made at 35" long so that they fit into today's golf bags properly.

[mac94]

What does "today's bag" have to do with anything?

[Bobbers]

Without wanting to sound ancient...putters were made and shipped at 35 inches in length with the understanding that they'd be fit, cut, and gripped at the point of sale. True, the average height 30+ years ago might have been a wee bit shorter (just guessing but it makes some sense), but if you look at it that way, the logic would be dictating that 35 would be the LONGEST typical length...

Just my .02 and an historical bit to confound the issue...

[highergr0und]

I think he literally means the golf bag... 35" will hit the bottom of the bag and not leave it hanging by the head.

I think length is just a personal choice... I like a choking up on a 35" putter a lot more than taking a normal grip on a 33.

[JonT]

I've been going back and forth on this myself...finding that a stock 34" putter has improved my putting as opposed to a 32.5" that I was fitted for. Could be other factors, but...

Point of reference; I am 5'5" with a 29" WTF.

[apprenti23]

[quote name='highergr0und' post='2134125' date='Dec 19 2009, 04:06 PM'][b]I think he literally means the golf bag... 35" will hit the bottom of the bag and not leave it hanging by the head.[/b]

I think length is just a personal choice... I like a choking up on a 35" putter a lot more than taking a normal grip on a 33.[/quote]

bingo!

[PuttingDoctor]

[quote name='Clemsonfan' post='2133552' date='Dec 19 2009, 09:53 AM'][quote name='PuttingDoctor' post='2132582' date='Dec 18 2009, 05:25 PM'][quote name='mac94' post='2130306' date='Dec 17 2009, 10:38 AM']I think the average putter is about 34.5". Utley recommends most use 35-36". I'm not sure I understand this trend toward ultra short putters. I don't see it among the best putters in the world.[/quote]

Testing on the SAM PuttLab confirms that an overlength putter will cause more arc in the stroke.... so it follows that Mr. Utley would recommend a 35-36" putter. I'm not certain his recommendation is across the board as this static length wouldn't make sense for someone who was only 5' tall.

Follow me on this one if you would. From your sitting position turn your head left as far as you can. Now come back to center and move to the right as far as you can. If you did this without dropping your eyes off the horizon you can rotate your head and now your eyes from a proper putting stance.

Now take your index finger of your dominant hand and point at a light switch say across the room. Take dead aim. I'm guessing that you looked right down your finger from your dominant eye. (you didn't aim the finger-gun gangsta' style did you?)

Go ahead and stand now in an athletic position with your balance in your quads, knees slightly flexed and allow your hands to hang while bowing from your hips. Bring your hands together. You are now in a position to rotate your head/eyes up the target line in the same plane as you did sitting.

If your eyes are over the ball as you rotate them down the target line you'll be as close to looking down the line as you've ever been. Have someone place the putter in your hands for you. This is the time to look into a mirror on the floor and to allow the putter head to be directly below your eyes, or if you prefer no more than a ball width inside.

Likely you will be in a position on the shaft that would be lower than normal...that is unless someone who cared did a proper putter fitting for you.

Generally the guys and gals playing professional golf have had benefit of a putter fitting along the way. The trend toward shorter putter lengths is not a fad but is based upon sound fitting technique.
[/quote]

When I am fit the way you suggest, my putter length is just under 32". I am 5'10" and have a 34" sleeve and my wrist to floor length is 35" when I am standing in tennis shoes.

Is that a common length with those statistics? I used shorter putters until I added more arm bend, around 33.5", and now I am up to just over 34" and a flatter lie - around 68*.

I placed my putter that I use now, with arm bend, and it falls right in that spot where your description placed me.

Does that sound correct, or possible to you?

Thanks.
[/quote]

CFan, your arm length vs. your height would indicate that your arms are just a little bit longer than normal. The length of your putter prior to including arm bend sounds close.... but the one thing you don't mention and that we can't see here is your posture.

Remember the amount of knee flex and spine angle also enter into the equation.

The question I ask a lot of amateurs is why they change the setup for the 14th club in their bag vs. the other 13? Is the accuracy of the full swing not as important with the putter?

I like supple arms vs. rigid but I am an advocate of extended vs. bent arms. Some will disagree. I'll stand by results.

[frozen_rope]

Average length putter for Tour players is 35".



[quote name='Geohans' post='2129872' date='Dec 16 2009, 11:47 PM']Today a pro fitter told me the guys on tour playing normal putters are typically playing 32.5-33in shafts. Is that true? Is the average that short?

I play 1/2in over in irons, and a 33in putter. I know there's another thread on that subject, but I am curious as to whether the average is that short on tour.[/quote]

[mayes]

while not proven. I believe that a lot people determine putter length by the putting style they use whether or not they realize it.

Given similar builds
Most arc putters gravitate towards longer putters.
Most straight back-straight through tend to gravitate towards shorter putters.

The mechanics of these strokes lend themselves to equipment tendencies.
Arc putters want a longer putter in order to increase the radius of the arc which lowers the probability of being off line.

Straight back-straight through benefits from a shorter putter to help control the routing of the club on a straight path.

I am actually surprised that the "super nerds" haven't studied this more widely.

[Geohans]

Seems impossible that average is 35. That would mean there would be roughly an equal number longer than 35 and shorter than 35. Seems unlikely. You mean that for every person playing a 33, there is someone playing a 37?????

For me, weight is an issue as well. I love 33/360. Never had a chance to handle a 34/360.

[Clemsonfan]

[quote name='PuttingDoctor' post='2134402' date='Dec 19 2009, 08:37 PM']CFan, your arm length vs. your height would indicate that your arms are just a little bit longer than normal. The length of your putter prior to including arm bend sounds close.... but the one thing you don't mention and that we can't see here is your posture.

Remember the amount of knee flex and spine angle also enter into the equation.

The question I ask a lot of amateurs is why they change the setup for the 14th club in their bag vs. the other 13? Is the accuracy of the full swing not as important with the putter?

I like supple arms vs. rigid but I am an advocate of extended vs. bent arms. Some will disagree. I'll stand by results.[/quote]

Putting Doctor,

My arm bend is modest, maybe 145*-150* angle, and my knee flex is just a few inches. My knees are closer to my toes than ankle at address.

I have been using bent arms after following Mike Shannon's teachings for the past year, but I am clearly not at the 135* he recommends. My arms, in my opinion, are supple, although I have a tendency to grip too tightly.

Your reference to the full swing is interesting. My putter and wedge setup are pretty close although I am a little more crouched with the putter.

What results do you see with bent vs. extended? I putted with straight arms that hung directly beneath my shoulders for years until I stagnated. I changed to a bent arms as a means to improve. This year my iron play improved, and I hit one more GIR per round than 2008, and had one fewer putt. The combination helped me drop my handicap by a couple of shots.

Thanks for your insight. It is greatly appreciated.