Golf Equipment -
Putter Length
There are hundreds of
variations of putters out there, but there are three basic types when it
comes to putter length: the conventional, belly and long putters.
What putter length is best for you? The easiest answer is that it's
completely a matter of personal preference. If you're thinking of going
away from a conventional putter to a belly or long putter, you simply
need to get on a putting green and see which putter length feels best
and produces the best results.
Each type does have qualities, however, that might narrow the choices.
And we'll take a look at those now:
Conventional Putter
Teaching pros are nearly unanimous: If you can use a conventional
putter, then you should use a conventional putter. And a short one at
that.
To achieve the ideal putting posture, take your stance and lean forward
so that your eyes are directly over the line of the putt.
Let your arms hang loosely down, then bring your palms together. Voila -
your ideal putting posture.
Obviously, you can't take that posture unless your putter length is a
conventional one.
So why do some pros (and more amateurs) go to the belly or long putters?
Conventional putters require nerves of steel and an absolute minimum of
wrist action. Poor putting nerves are often call the "yips"; those with
excess wrist action are said to be "handsy."
If you suffer from the yips or are too handsy in your putting, then
trying a belly or long putter could be for you.
Michael Lamanna, director of instruction at San Antonio's Westin La
Cantera Resort, says of the conventional putter, "It allows for the
perfect blend of feel and mechanical precision. The problem for poor
putters is that it allows some wrist action to occur."
The Belly Putter
The belly putter provides a third point of contact - the abdomen (along
with each hand) - between the putter and the player, which provides
stability and balance to the stroke.
The main advantages of this putter length are that the putter is
anchored against the body, and wrist action is easier to control, while
the player remains in a posture that is close to the ideal.
However, since belly putters are longer and generally have a thicker
grip, feel is reduced. Distance control is dicier as well due to the
longer shaft.
The Long Putter
The long putter turns the putting stroke into a true pendulum swing,
totally eliminating wrist hinge. Golfers take an upright stance, so
those who suffer from weak or aching backs get a bit of a break.
But the long putter is even longer than the belly putter (it ain't
called the "long putter" - or "broomstick putter" - for nothing!), and
that means even less feel and feedback. It also means that controlling
distance becomes a bit more problematic.
But it does have the advantage of taking wrist action out of play. As
Lamanna says, "This is usually the last hope for a bad putter. If this
one does not cure the yips, you have to take up tennis!"
From:
http://golf.about.com/cs/tipslessons/a/putterlength.htm
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