The Problem: Golfers tend to adjust their stance and stroke to fit hand-me-down or gifted putters, instead of getting their putter custom-fitted to their body size, stance and stroke.

The Analogy — It would be like you going into a shoe store the next time you are shopping, and based on looks only, picking a pair of shoes you like. When the clerk asks you what size, you say “Whatever size you have the most of.” Then wearing those shoes, regardless of how they fit, for the rest of the year.

Or, spending the next year wearing the old worn-out “favorite” shoes of your best friend — even though they are two sizes too small for your feet? Can you even imagine doing such a thing? Yet, this is exactly what so many golfers do. They spend years trying to learn to putt with putters that are made to fit someone else!

The Solution — Understand putter fitting and get a putter fit to you, before you spend time trying to improve your putting. First, get the three putters of different lengths you like the best, and a friend to help you take some measurements.

Conventional Length Putters — Look at Figure A. When you stand with your eyes over the aim line, and let your hands hang vertically from your shoulders, the correct lie angle and length putter will fit perfectly into your hands. Shown here are two putters that do not
fit my lie angle — one is too upright, the other is too flat.

Now hold your conventional length putter in this same address position, and have your friend lie on the floor and look at the position of the sole of your putter. Is the heel off the ground or the toe? If the heel is off the ground, you need to bend the putter to be more upright. If the toe is off the ground, you need a flatter putter lie. From this same address position, the length of the putter shaft should place the butt end of the grip so it extends just one-half inch above your top hand. Body and Long Putters — It is just as important to determine the correct length and lie with either of these styles as it is with conventional length putters (see Figures B and C).

For body putters (Figure B), some golfers prefer a shaft length that anchors into their belly, but more seem to like an anchor point just below their sternum. A 10-15 minute putting session on your practice green will quickly tell you which one swings best for you (and make sure the grip is on the right place on the shaft, so your hands are “on the leather.”) To find a long putter you like, try anchoring longer shaft models at points up between your chest and your chin (Figure C). Then, once you’ve determined both the long and body putter lengths, have your friend check for proper lie angles for both of these putters as well.

Now measure Putting Performance — Once you’ve found a good fitting putter in each of three lengths, spend time putting with each of them. Putt until you know which putter helps you hole the most short putts and lag the long ones closest. Then this, my friend, is the putter for you.