Back when manufacturers were trying to decide the “standard” length of mass-produced putters, they relied on a bizarre metric: the height of a golf bag.
If you measure the front lip of your typical staff bag, it stands 34 inches from the ground. So, for the putter to sit neatly in the front compartment, they were designed at 35 inches in length. If you walk into a golf shop today, you’ll find 70 percent of the putters there are still 35 inches. There will probably be a handful of 34-inch models, but primarily they’re 35. That’s okay if you’re 6-foot-2; a 35-inch putter should fit you just fine. But if you’re, say, 5-foot-9, you’re going to have problems.
We’ve made great strides in clubfitting. It’s common practice to see a fitter if you’re serious about buying a new set of irons, a new driver or even a set of wedges. So why on earth would you settle for a flatstick off the rack that likely doesn’t fit you and will cost you strokes on the green?
That’s why I’ve developed a technique I call “putter fitting through instruction.”
The main idea is to first learn to set up in the proper position, then have the putter customized to you versus you adapting to an ill-fitted putter off the rack.
Below, I’ll demonstrate how an ill-fitted putter negatively affects your setup in three ways and how a poor setup will surely knock your stroke out of whack.
When you have a putter that fits, you’ll be free to focus more on line, distance control and a smooth stroke. I call that thought-free putting. When your putter doesn’t fit, you’re almost forced to think about mechanics.
You’ll rarely experience a great putting round with a mismatched putter. You’ll end up developing a putting stroke to compensate for your putter instead of using a putter that fits your natural stroke.
I’m going to show you how to get fit properly using my patented Tri-Fit System with Never Compromise and how to put the right putter to work for you.
Putter too long
If your putter is too long for your body type, it’s going to affect your setup in three related ways.
1. You stand the right distance from the ball, and your tilt looks good, but because the shaft is too long, your elbows end up jammed against your body.
2. You set up farther away from the ball with the right torso tilt, but to accommodate the longer shaft, you’re forced to reach for the ball. Your backstroke will be too far inside.
3. You crowd the ball, so your tilt is too upright. This typically results in a natural backstroke that is too far outside.
How putter length affects your clubface
The direction your ball starts on the green is a result of the clubhead path and angle of the face at impact, just like with your full swing. A putter that fits allows you to set up squarely and swing naturally back and through without manipulation or mechanical thought
1. When your putter is misfit and your setup gets out of whack, there are typically two major problems that occur. The first is you’re likely to swing too much with your torso — what I call excess body movement
2. This often happens when you stand too upright and too close to the ball. Your body has to move to get out of the way or your arms cause the putter to move off path. The second swing flaw is getting too handsy
3. This can occur when your elbows crowd your torso and you get stuck. The tendency is to flip your hands, and this causes the putterface to twist. Forget about solid strikes from here.
Never Compromise Putting System
The Never Compromise Putter Fitting System is a one-of-a-kind, self-contained unit that includes everything a professional fitter needs to get the right putter in your hands.
The Tri-Fit Tool [1] is a length-adjustable putter handle mounted on a measurement mirror. [2] When you grip the handle and take a proper setup, you hover your eyes where the ball would be. Based on these measurements, the Fitting Chart [3] determines the ideal length for your putter. There are five Never Compromise head models [4] to choose from and three different grip sizes. The fitter will cut the shaft to your length [5] and install the grip.
But that’s not all. To recalibrate the swing weight of your putter, the fitter will insert various weights [6] into the open ports of the putter head. Now you have a perfectly fit putter that allows you to set up properly and a weight that allows you to feel the putter head swinging through the ball for better distance control.
Todd Sones is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and is the founder of The Impact Golf Academy at Arboretum Club in Buffalo Grove, Ill. To find the right putter for your game, consult a fitter at True Spec Golf.
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