What is the correct length for a putter?

You have just three putted your third green of the round and your putter is about to take flight towards the woods.  Has this happened to you before?  Most of us have been in this situation.  Maybe the problem is more than just your putting stroke.  Maybe your putter is the wrong length.

A small thing like length can be critical to putting well.  Most men’s putters are made at a length of 35 inches.  Most women’s putters are made at 34 inches.  These are what are considered standard putter lengths.  After measuring over 500 individual’s for proper putter length I have found only 1 in 90 individual’s correct length was the standard length.  This means the chances are pretty high your putter is the wrong length unless you have been fitted for a putter by a custom clubmaker.

The length of the putter is what sets the individual up correctly at the ball.  If the putter is too long the individual’s eyes are not over the ball.  The individual can not look done the line of the putt.  Their head is to the left of the line and due to this the individual tends to push the putt to the right of the hole. 

If the putter is too short the individual’s eyes are to the right of the putting line.  The tendency when the head is to the right of the line is to pull the putt to the left.

A putter of the correct length places the head in the correct position over the ball with the eyes looking straight down the putting line.  The individual’s putting style and the stance, which makes them feel comfortable, will be a consideration in the length of the putter.  The individual must feel comfortable over the ball, but they also must look down the line of the putt. 

Many individuals have been very successful using some very radically different putting stances.  The thing they all have in common is the individual’s eyes are looking straight down the putting line.  When individuals look directly down the putting line they can read the break much easier than if they are looking at the break from a slight side angle.  Even individuals who use a standup putter need to place themselves in a stance, which places their eyes directly over the ball.

Most individuals find it easier to swing the club in a pendulum swing and have better speed control when they are using a putter of the correct length.

I have found if an individual’s putter was the wrong length, more often than not, it was too long.  Because of this, the tendency for most individuals was to push a putt to the right, and then on the second putt they would overcompensate and pull the putt to the left.

If you want to maximize your putting ability, you should stop in at Pat Ryan Golf with your putter and have us fit you properly.