Equipment trends are almost always cyclical — although we can hope square drivers never make a comeback — but one of the biggest trends on the PGA Tour right now is happening with putters, thanks to the return of long-neck models.
Long-neck putters are blade- or mallet-style putters with an extra long offset plumbers neck style hosel that is attached to the head. Unlike putters that have shafts that bend directly out of the putter head in a smooth flowing fashion, true long-neck putters come out straight 90 degrees from the head and offset in one location.
There are various ways to achieve this style of putter neck, but they all offer the same benefit — the ability to use a straight (no bend) shaft directly into the hosel while still offering less toe hang. Thanks to players like Justin Thomas recently winning the PGA Championship, the long-neck style is seeing a resurgence in popularity with players on the PGA Tour after almost disappearing completely for close to a decade.
At the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, we spotted Gary Woodland using a custom long-neck Scotty Cameron, along with Matt Kuchar testing a new version of his current long-neck putter on the practice green with the team from Bettinardi golf. When talking to David Kubiak, the director of tour for Bettinardi, he mentioned that he’s been getting more requests for this style recently, especially after players saw JT’s major win in Oklahoma.
This type of putter style is not new, though. Tiger Woods used a long-neck Scotty Cameron putter at the start of his pro career to earn his first two wins, but switched soon after.
Unfortunately for regular golfers, there aren’t many ways to get your hands on a long-neck putter unless you are looking to get one custom-made from a boutique putter maker or you go through something like the PING PLD putter program or order one through Taylormade’s MYTP putter portal. Check out the latter below.
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