sizing a new putter...

[JonChoi]

In the market for a new putter, haven't come across any type of guide for picking the right shaft length. Is it based on feel? or based on your height ='s xinches...

Not really a selection, but the line I'm interested in, is available in 33", 34" or 35".

Any type of direction would be helpful.

thanks.
jOn.

[el tigre]

It is based on feel. Tall people will probably like the feel of a longer putter better, but everyone's putting stroke is a little different so you can't always go by that. Go to a golf store and try different lengths.

Most clubfitters can also do a retrofit putter fitting for around $20-$30. I bought a 34" putter and had it cut down to 32" later.

[Weirfan]

fitting for a putter is very important but takes someone that knows what they are doing.

what you need to do is decide on a style of putter head that suits your eye and gives you confidence over the ball....as well as look at what style of putter shaft you like ( heel shaft, center shaft, double bend, single bend)...these can relate to the style of head

length of the putter is also some thing that you can fit for yourself without much challenge.....the easiest way is to use a plumb bob or a laser....but you need to find the stance that provides you the best comfort ( arms hanging loosly and eyes over the ball...this is where the plumb bob or laser comes into play).....very critical

most people are playing a putter to long ( conventional 35 inch putters) believe it or not the 35 inch std was chosen so that putters could be cut down later....well it never happened so pretty much everyone is using a putter that was designed too long

getting fit for the loft of the putter is also very important but takes a bit more work ........alot of it depends on whther and how much you forward press at address......generally those who forward press the hands need a greater loft on their putter and have trouble with off the shelf putters with tradional lofts


to many of us fit the stroke to the putter ,,,,which is backwards


In your scenario.....get the putter you like and feel confident with whatever it's length........grip down so that you find the length that puts you in the correct position.....

there is nothing to chopping off an inch or two or three to a putter to get the correct length.....some will say that it changes the swing weight.....but swing weight is NOT a putter fitting parameter of any significance.....anyone who says it is.....well stay clear of them

a shorter putter will feel a bit lighter and if this need to be addressed then there are easy ways to deal with it.....

I play a 32 inch putter but also like a heavy head on a putter so went with a Mentor Sports so I could adjust the weight

[LowPost42]

I'm with Weirsy - the best 'combo' IMO is an adjustable weight head so that you can get the feel you like at any length.

That said, I also play a Mentor Sports model, but at 35" (I like to be very upright when I putt).

[leftintherough]

Yes also agree with W's post.

I had my putter trimmed to 32" by my fitter. Once I got used to the change, my putting has been more consistent.

I love the look and feel of my putter head so I am reluctant to change it anytime soon.

[golfnguru]

fitting

a shorter putter will feel a bit lighter and if this need to be addressed then there are easy ways to deal with it.....



I know this is basic stuff, but is lead tape the best option?

[Weirfan]

I know this is basic stuff, but is lead tape the best option?

There are a number of ways , it depends on the style of putter and the amount of weight being added.

It also depends on whether you need the putter itself to feel heavier or want more weight in the head.

there are backweighting apatatus and butt plugs that you can fill with weight, even can use lead tape under a grip if you had to

lead tape is certainly an easy one, easy and safe to use in naser style putters and other heel toe putters

lead and tungsten powder.....I have even used sand in the bottom of a a shaft in a center shafted putter as a fix.

In putters with cavities hot melting or gluing in weigh is anothe option.

today you will se many adjustable weight putters or those that allow weights of different amounts to be used...Wishon and Mentor Sports are the best two in this regard IMO

Remeber that putter weight has its major impact on distance control and is only a minor factor on directional control.....most people will eventually dial into a putter with time

[TourIQ]

there is nothing to chopping off an inch or two or three to a putter to get the correct length.....some will say that it changes the swing weight.....but swing weight is NOT a putter fitting parameter of any significance.....anyone who says it is.....well stay clear of themGreat insight on your part Peter regarding Putter Fitting ... well done!!! :D

[Louie]

[quote=Weirfan]
there is nothing to chopping off an inch or two or three to a putter to get the correct length.....some will say that it changes the swing weight.....but swing weight is NOT a putter fitting parameter of any significance.....anyone who says it is.....well stay clear of them

So what you are saying Scotty Cameron knows nothing?:confused: I have asked the question on his site when I was a member and the response I got was when you cut a SC putter down add tape to the bottom of the putter (sole) to keep the same characteristics.

Having said that, Phil Mickelson's putter is only 33" and the swingweight is b5 and his shaft is stiffer than normal these are the specs when he was playing Scotty Cameron. Phil is 6',2". Just an example.

[Weirfan]

[quote=Weirfan]
there is nothing to chopping off an inch or two or three to a putter to get the correct length.....some will say that it changes the swing weight.....but swing weight is NOT a putter fitting parameter of any significance.....anyone who says it is.....well stay clear of them

So what you are saying Scotty Cameron knows nothing?:confused: I have asked the question on his site when I was a member and the response I got was when you cut a SC putter down add tape to the bottom of the putter (sole) to keep the same characteristics.

Having said that, Phil Mickelson's putter is only 33" and the swingweight is b5 and his shaft is stiffer than normal these are the specs when he was playing Scotty Cameron. Phil is 6',2". Just an example.

I assume what he meant by "add tape to the sole of the putter to keep the same charateristics" is to keep the same swingweight....swingweight relates to feel so I suppose he meant to keep the head feel the same.

shaft stiffness is not interesting with respect to putters really in terms of dispertion anyways as the nature of the stroke does not place forces on a shaft that would require flex variations...I suppose that it could act as a feel parameter

I personally, do not advocate placing tape on the sole of a putter....the edges can curl and catch and it can fall off....it is a good idea to try and maintain the putters natural balance though so centrally locating the tape is a good idea if possible.....hiding it in the cavity of an anser style is perfect

b5 is a very, very light swing weight so should add credence to the fact that it is not an important factor.....it is all about fit, feel and confidence

[Louie]

[quote=Louie]

I assume what he meant by "add tape to the sole of the putter to keep the same charateristics" is to keep the same swingweight....swingweight relates to feel so I suppose he meant to keep the head feel the same.

shaft stiffness is not interesting with respect to putters really in terms of dispertion anyways as the nature of the stroke does not place forces on a shaft that would require flex variations...I suppose that it could act as a feel parameter

I personally, do not advocate placing tape on the sole of a putter....the edges can curl and catch and it can fall off....it is a good idea to try and maintain the putters natural balance though so centrally locating the tape is a good idea if possible.....hiding it in the cavity of an anser style is perfect

b5 is a very, very light swing weight so should add credence to the fact that it is not an important factor.....it is all about fit, feel and confidence

The placing of the tape is the answer that Scotty or one of his team members emailed back to me. I to found that to be an odd spot for the reasons you have giving. I was just passing the info on and thought you might find it interesting as I did.

I tried it on the sole of the putter earlier this year and it snagged on the green and lifted the grass on the green. So it is no longer on the putter at all.

[danscustomgolfshop]

Maltby also talks of adding the tape to the sole for the purpose of keeping the COG low. My feelings are the same as you guys about tape on the bottom.
However, Peter - you talk of swing weight not being interesting. I personally must have that for feel. A large part of it is static weight, so I do like a heavier shaft, with a low balance point to keep the SW up.
Putters are a very personal thing - especially their feel.
When I cut my old PET down I did not like the feel (too light) and always putted short.
So there is some merit to swing weight of putters.
Louie, Scotty's a wonderful designers of putters and certainly does know what he talks of, but it still comes down to feel.

[TourIQ]

You can also drop a putter 2 full letter designation on swt. [from D to B], just by adding a
counter balance weight like BCG, and it feels great ... again feel is the operative word here.

[xander.uk]

I would have to agree with weirfan on the putter swingweight issue.

The swingweight is really just how it feels to you and isnt really relevant in itself to performance.

He is also correct that putters were made as 35 inch standard because nobody ( supposedly ) needed anything longer than that so you could just cut it down to fit from there.

I always played my putter as standard off the rack ( had my other clubs fitted but not my putter).....boy was i wrong.

As has been said many times the putter is the club we use most............logically it is therefore our MOST IMPORTANT club.

After having mine retro fitted i knocked 4-6 shots off my putting stats immediately. ( admittedly putting is a weakness for me so i had plenty of room for improvement) but just getting my putter fitted mostly cured me 3 putting and improved my lagging considerably.

[Louie]

I would have to agree with weirfan on the putter swingweight issue.

The swingweight is really just how it feels to you and isnt really relevant in itself to performance.

He is also correct that putters were made as 35 inch standard because nobody ( supposedly ) needed anything longer than that so you could just cut it down to fit from there.

I always played my putter as standard off the rack ( had my other clubs fitted but not my putter).....boy was i wrong.

As has been said many times the putter is the club we use most............logically it is therefore our MOST IMPORTANT club.

After having mine retro fitted i knocked 4-6 shots off my putting stats immediately. ( admittedly putting is a weakness for me so i had plenty of room for improvement) but just getting my putter fitted mostly cured me 3 putting and improved my lagging considerably.

When you refer to cutting it down to fit, nowadays they make 33" - 36" with different head weights. Generally it's 10 grams to every inch. No, maybe swingweight has nothing to do with a great fit but I think it can be relavant with feel.

[xander.uk]

Louie

thought i said that the swingweight was about feel :confused:

of course you need a putter that feels right but some people like lightweight putters and others like heavyweight.

The swingweight of the putter is easily adjusted during fitting.

[Louie]

Louie

thought i said that the swingweight was about feel :confused:

of course you need a putter that feels right but some people like lightweight putters and others like heavyweight.

The swingweight of the putter is easily adjusted during fitting.

Ya I know what you said. I was just ellaborating on it. Everything you do to a club is relavant to performance.