As a shorter golfer, I’m pretty accustomed to having to order golf clubs that are the proper length for my height. However, many amateur players have no idea they are playing with a putter that is not the correct length.

When you use a putter that is not the proper length, you can have issues with alignment, consistency, and overall effectiveness of your putting stroke.

We are going to take a more in-depth look into how to choose the right putter length based on your height.

Why Putter Length Matters

Two main reasons putter length matters are alignment and setup. With the proper putter length, you can get your body into the right position. Once your eyes are over the golf ball, you can get your hands and arms into the proper position.

Having the hands and arms in place will then help golfers who are struggling with alignment. With your eyes over the ball, you can now see down the line and make your golf ball travel towards the target.

For golfers with a straight back and straight-through putting stroke, getting the eyes over the ball can help keep the stroke more consistent.

Breakdown of Correct Putter Length by Height

The easiest way for golfers to determine if they are playing with the right putter length is to consider their height. We will tell you that this is not the only way to decide on the length of a putter. Considerations like arm length and even your putting stance will also come into play.

When purchased off the shelf, putters will come in 33, 34, or 35 inch lengths. You will notice on our chart of the putter lengths by height that the lengths are a bit more broken down, with half inch sizes included.

This is because putters can also be custom fitted to meet the needs of any player. When custom fitting a putter, you must be sure that you are also taking into consideration the weighting of the club and how this change in length will impact the putter length.

Many golfers also ask about holding the putter further down on the grip and whether or not this will work for keeping their putter length a bit shorter. It can work to get your eyes over the ball, but it is not always as convenient and can make the stroke more restricted.

Take a look at this general guide that gives you the correct putter length in inches by the player height.

Other Factors That Might Affect The Putter Length You Choose

As we mentioned, finding the correct putter length is not just about your height; other factors come into play during a putter fitting. In addition, golfers need to consider that outside of technology and technological factors, they must also find a putter they like and play well with.

A few of the things that impact putter length are your arm length, posture, and your putter style.

Arm Length

Golfers with longer arms may need a shorter putter. If your hands fall too far below your waist while you are bent over to make a putt, you may need a club that is a little shorter. A 34 inch putter is the average putter length, but golfers with longer arms may want to consider going to something that is 33 inches.

With a long arm’s length, you will want to ensure that you have the room to make a pendulum-style stroke, and a shorter putter will likely help that happen. Golfers with longer arms need to be careful about a belly putter and ensure their grip is also the proper length to accommodate their arms.

Posture

The posture from one golfer to another changes considerably. One of the great things about putting is choosing a posture and a style that works for you. As long as you are consistent in your game, then there is no need to follow a textbook putting posture.

However, if you have a posture that keeps you a bit further or closer to the ball, your putter length needs to be adjusted. When a putter has a more upright design and the toe is raised, you may miss some putts to the left.

For golfers that feel too close to the ball because of their setup, it becomes hard to make a follow through, and directional control is an issue. These golfers often see putts that end up too far to the right.

The good news is that you can adjust your putter length so you don’t have to adjust your swing. This is the case with all golf equipment. These small tweaks make it much easier to keep your natural ability and then change the gear.

Putter Style

The putter style that you use could impact the length that you need. Some of these larger mallet-size putter heads are a bit larger, and a tall golfer or short golfer may feel as though they need to change their setup a bit to get close enough to the ball without the putter getting in the way.

Smaller profile blade putters don’t present as much of an issue, but this is undoubtedly a factor when you go for a putter fitting. Some of these height adjustments to accommodate the style of the putter will only be a quarter or half an inch, but they are still essential to consider.

Don’t choose a putter style based on your height. Instead, have the putter fitted to work for your game.

Putter Length FAQs

Without going for a putter fitting with a professional, finding the right putter length may take a bit more time and attention to detail. You will likely want to have a tape measure and your current putter.

Always compare what you are currently playing with to the putter you intend to use so that you can see what changes are essential.

What is The Standard Putter Length?

The standard putter length is 34 inches. However, most golf manufacturers offer a 34 and 35 inch models of the putters that they have in their lineup. The 33 inch can be a bit more difficult to find, but they do exist. Changing the length of the putter after you purchase it is possible, but it could need the help of a professional.

Are There Putters with Adjustable Lengths?

Ping made a series of putters that had adjustable lengths. Although this was a nice feature, once you know the length of the putter you need, you don’t need to adjust it all that often. Having an adjustable driver so that you can change the loft on your club is one thing, but putter length adjustability is not always necessary.

Can I Adjust My Own Putter Length?

Many golfers adjust their own golf clubs by cutting them down and regripping them. There are also extensions you can add to the end of a putter to make it a bit longer. These inserts are not hard to install and can be an excellent solution for a tall golfer.

Are Putter Fittings Worth It?

Putter fittings are becoming increasingly popular. These fittings help golfers to understand more about their putting stroke and why it’s vital to get the correct putter length. Putter fittings will show you how often you hit the center of the putter head and what needs to be done to have it happen more often.

Does Putter Length Impact Weight?

The length of the putter can impact the weight of the putter, and it’s one of the most important considerations that golfers must make when they decide to change their putter length. You should always have a lie loft machine and a scale anytime you are changing your golf clubs. Check the putter weight to ensure you don’t struggle with distance control.

Is a Custom Putter Necessary?

For golfers that are taller or shorter than average, a custom putter length may be necessary. Custom putters will ensure that there are no issues with the putter face being square at impact. In addition, a custom putter will also give you the best chance on those short putts that can so quickly change your score in a round of golf.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

Source link

Many amateur golfers are using a putter that is the incorrect length. When you purchase a putter from the shelves of a golf store, it is likely 34 or 35 inches.

However, putter length may need to be customized depending on your height, putting stroke style, and arm length.

Let’s take a look at how you can easily and accurately measure the length of a putter and how to make sure it is the right option for your height.

Does Putter Length Matter?

Putter length will determine the accuracy of your posture as well as the swing arc. Without the proper putter length, you will find that your putts are very inconsistent.

Swing Arc

When you have the correct length putter, the center of the putter sits flat on the ground. When a putter is too long, the heel of the putter rests on the ground with the toe of the putter up in the air. For putters that are too short, you will notice the toe being down on the ground while the heel could be up in the air.

When you have the putter setup, and it’s not flat on the ground, expect it to impact the way you swing the club back. Some golfers will notice the putter comes more inside or outside based on the way the putter sits at setup.

Posture

The posture of a golfer is very important when putting. One of the major checkpoints in a perfect putting stroke is ensuring that your eyes are over the golf ball. When eyes are over the golf ball, it becomes possible to properly analyze the target line.

Consistency

For golfers to make consistent putts, they need a putter that is properly fitted to their putting stroke, height, and style. The thing to remember is that there’s quite a bit of precision in a putting stroke, and without the proper putter, accuracy becomes difficult.

How to Measure a Putter’s Length

Measuring the length of the putter does not have to be a big project. However, it’s certainly easier to get a large 48 inch ruler to complete this process.

Step 1: Gather Materials

To properly measure a putter, you will need a flat surface (the floor is fine), a long 48 inch ruler, and your putter.

Step 2: Position The Putter

To get the correct measurement of your putter, you will need to position it with it resting flat on the ground. Some golfers struggle with putters being the wrong length and the heel or toe positioned up or down; however, when you measure, lay the putter flat.

Step 3: Measure

Take your ruler and put it down on the ground at the heel of the putter. From here, you should be able to hold the shaft of the putter as close to the measuring stick as possible. If your putter has a slight angle to it, keep the measuring device close to that angle.

Step 4: Read The Measurement

The putter length is the number that you see at the top of the ruler where the butt end of the putter matches up on the ruler. For most golfers, this is going to be between 33 and 35 inches. Makes sure to measure the putter to the top of the grip and that the center of your putter head is still on the ground.

Most Common Lengths for Putters

The three most common lengths for putters are 33, 34, and 35 inch putters, Each of these is designed for golfers of different heights and players that also have varying arm lengths.

33 Inch Putter

The 33 inch putter is often found in the golf bag of a lady golfer. Most women’s golf sets are sold with a 33 inch putter that is stock and standard. One of the great things about this shorter putter shaft is that you will feel some added control on shorter putts.

Some golfers like to have a bit more bend in their stance when they are putting. They will often get closer to the ball to improve consistency and create a smooth stroke. Even tall players can use a 33 inch putter if they find it to be the right comfort level and consistency.

34 Inch Putter

The 34 inch putter is the standard length putter. Most golfers on the PGA Tour use a 34 inch putter, and almost all options for sale on the market come in a 34 inch version.

One of the great things about a 34 inch putter is that it works for a wide range of players that would consider themselves to be average height.

35 Inch Putter

The 35 inch putter is for golfers that are tall. Most of the time, players that are using this putter are 6’1″ or taller. Belly putters will, of course be longer than these 35 inch putters, but that also brings up the idea of an entirely different type of putting stroke.

If you have a 35 inch putter that does seem to be too long for you, there is always the possibility of cutting it down. With counter balanced putters, you must be careful as to how the decrease in shaft length will impact the feel of the club in your hands.

For those with a premium putter looking to maintain or improve upon performance, taking your putter to a professional to have it fitted is likely the best solution.

Custom Length Putter

The USGA rules of golf are pretty lenient when it comes to putter length. If you find a 30 inch putter or a 37 inch putter is a better fit for you, you will be allowed. As long as your putter falls between 18 and 48 inches, it will be considered legal.

Quick Guide to Figuring Out Which Putter Length is Right for You

To determine the proper putter length, you can go through a custom putter fitting using launch monitors targeted explicitly towards a putting stroke. However, for most golfers, this is a bit more than is necessary to get a general idea of the length of a putter that will give the most success.

For a quick estimate based on your height, you can use the chart below. This will prove our point that the 34 inch putter works quite well for the average height player. If you see that you fall within a ½ inch of the current length of your putter, chances are you are fine to continue using it.

However, when you are off by an inch or more, that may be time to get a putter fitting and have your putter length adjusted. Also, keep in mind that arm length, as well as your typical setup and stance, can play into this decision.

To find out more information about determining the proper putter length by height, check out our full article on putter length by height here.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

Source link