How to Choose Between Long and Short Putters

Most touring pros regard long putters with disdain. It's not clear why golfers who use drivers with heads larger than a grapefruit and made of materials formerly used to sink battleships consider a putter that is 12 to 18 inches longer than a short putter to be a violation of golfing tradition, but they do. However, these putters are legal and just might cure what for some is a painful blight on an otherwise enjoyable game--putting.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Go to a large golf distributor and practice putting with long and short putters.

2. Use the long putter by stabilizing its top with your left hand (for righties) and dropping your right comfortably down the shaft. You may grip the club in a pencil fashion or with your entire hand.

3. Swing the club like a pendulum. Notice that any hand action or "wristiness" is taken out of the putt. It's easier to keep the clubface square.

4. Try a "belly putter." These are putters that are longer than short putters but short enough so that their top may be wedged against the abdomen, allowing a non-wristy pendulum stroke while still using more of a short putter setup.

5. Utilize a belly putter by placing its upper end against your abdomen--roughly in the area of the naval--and gripping the putter at a short putter height with your normal putting grip.

6. Alternate among the three types of putter. Decide what "feels" the best. Putting is 90 percent feel and having confidence in your stroke.

Who Can Help:

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Resources

• Example of a national chain of large golf warehouses