| On Thursday and Friday, Sergio Garcia conquered | | | | attaches to your body to insure a pendulum |
| the greens at The Open Championship with a belly | | | | stroke while eliminating wrist movement. With |
| putter. What length of putter is right for you? | | | | varying lengths some players literally place this in |
| How do you find the correct putter length for | | | | their belly while other will anchor the putter to |
| you? | | | | their chest with one hand. Many players who use |
| Conventional Putter | | | | this style do so because they have been |
| A conventional putter would be measured from | | | | challenged by "the yips" or as Sergio said after his |
| 32 inches to 36 inches. To insure the putter fits | | | | round today "I just wanted to try something |
| properly, take your stance while the sole | | | | different." |
| (bottom) the putter is flat on the ground. Your | | | | Fitting the length of a belly or a long putter is |
| arms should feel as they are hanging straight | | | | much more personal than the conventional putter. |
| down and your eyes should be positioned over | | | | Your eye-line will be .inside. the ball due to the |
| the ball. You may check this by dropping another | | | | length of the shaft. The sole of the putter needs |
| golf ball from in-between your eyes while taking | | | | to lie flat on the green. You will need to try many |
| your putting stance. This ball from between your | | | | different lengths as all of us are built differently. |
| eyes should hit the golf ball on the green. | | | | Unfortunately, trial by error is the best way to |
| Next, allow your arms to freely hang and take | | | | find the proper length for the belly or long putter. |
| your grip. Once comfortable, this should reveal | | | | Your local PGA Professional can help you with this. |
| your proper putter length. | | | | The main advantages of the longer putter length |
| "The rule of thumb is: If you can use a | | | | are 1. the putter is anchored against the body |
| conventional putter, then use a conventional | | | | 2.wrist action is minimized. The main |
| putter" says Bill Craig, Head Professional at The | | | | disadvantages that are discussed are 1. feel is |
| Woodlands Resort and Conference Center in | | | | reduced 2. distance control is more difficult. |
| Houston, TX. | | | | Which putter length is right for you? Take the |
| The Belly Putter/ The Long Putter | | | | time and use these putting tips to find the correct |
| The Belly Putter or Long Putter would be a putter | | | | putter length for you. |
| 37 inches or longer. The belly or Long Putter | | | | |