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Putters are the golf clubs that you will use the most number of times. No matter whether you are an expert or amateur you will need the putter every time you play the game.
Selecting the best putter suited to your height and posture is significantly important in order to improve the putting-rate. Many novice golfers often get confused about what should be the ideal length of the putter which they should buy?
The selection of the best putter depends upon the two things, these are— the grip of the putter and the length. We shall discuss the grip at some other time and today, we will be focussing on the latter.
Shopping for a putter is not that simple that you go to a golf equipment shop and pick any putter of standard length from the shelf because the standard length of the putter is based on just one factor and that is the height but in the real case scenario, you should be concerned not only about your height but also about your grip and posture.
Correct Golf Putter Length: Method and Importance
The method of selecting the appropriate length for a putter is simple and easy to understand.
Method: How to Measure the Putter Length
Step 1: Stand on a Flat Surface
The first step is to stand on a flat surface with your body facing the ball. Standing on a flat surface is extremely important because the uneven surface or the slope will misguide your observation.
Step 2: Coming to the Correct Posture
The second step is to set yourself in the correct posture. To do this bend down towards the ball a bit just as you do when you use the putter to hit the ball. Now, bend your knees slightly and hang your arms normally down your shoulders.
Step 3: Holding the putter
The next step is to hold the putter with its grip and touch it to the ground such that its clubface touches the golf ball.
Step 4: Observation
This is the last step. To do this ask someone to observe whether your eyes are just above the golf ball in a straight line on the vertical plane or not?
To hit a perfect shot you need the putter which brings your eyes just above the ball that allows you to roll the ball in a straight line towards the hole. The longer will keep your eyes behind the ball and the shorter putter will take the beyond the ball.
Related Post: USGA Rules on Golf Putter
Importance: Problems Associated with the Wrong Putter Length
Correct Golf Putter length is very important for your game because the wrong selection of putter will lead to an optical illusion causing you to miss the target. There could be one of the following cases in this situation:
Longer Putter
The longer putter will keep your eyes inside the line of the ball and you will be a victim of optical illusion. This optical illusion will create an angle between your eyes, the hole, and the ball, as a result, when you swing your arms, the putter will move in an arc and the ball will move towards the left, missing the hole.
Shorter Putter
Conversely, when your putter is too short this will also create an angle between your eyes, the hole, and the ball. So, when you swing your arms, the putter will move inside-out and the ball will roll to the right of the hole missing it completely.
Standard Length of a Putter
Many companies have come with the chart to select the appropriate length putter based on the height of a person. According to the manufacturers, the average length of a putter is 34-35 inches. However, when we talk about the experts they say that the standard length of putter for an average man is about 33 or 33.5 inches. On the other hand, the standard length for women is 31 to 32.5 inches. You can read the suggestion of Ralph Maltby, who has been designing and evaluating the golf equipment for more than 40 years, on his website.
Putter length Fitting Chart
The table displayed below can act as a putter length calculator for you to select the correct putter length according to your height.
| Your Height in Inches | Standard Length in Inches |
| Putter length for 5’0” | 32” |
| Putter length for 5’0” to 5’2” | 32.5” |
| Putter length for 5’2” to 5’4” | 33” |
| Putter length for 5’4” to 5’6” | 33.5” |
| Putter length for 5’6” to 5’8” | 34” |
| Putter length for 5’8” to 5’10” | 34.5” |
| Putter length for 5’10” to 6’0” | 35” |
| Putter length for 6’0” to 6’2” | 35.5” |
| Putter length for 6’2” to 6’4” | 36” |
Does Putter Length Really Matter? How long your Putter Should Be?
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FAQ’S:
Is a 35 inches putter too long?
Yes, the average length of putter for men is 33-33.5 inches and for women is 31-32.5 inches.
What length putter does Rickie Fowler use?
Rickie Fowler uses 35 inches putter.
What putter does Tiger Woods use in 2020?
Tiger Woods using Scotty Cameron Newport 2 putter in 2020
Can a putter be straight?
Not necessary but when the putter's shaft is not straight then the measurement is made using a “straight-line extension” of the shaft, according to Section 1c of Appendix II of USGA Golf Rules.
Can a putter be 90 degrees?
No, putter couldn’t be 90 degrees.