Tired of being a three-putt king? We feel your pain! Check out this article for valuable advice on your golf game. Who knows? Maybe next year you will be one of the US Open wildcard amateurs who fight they way up from obscurity to stardom.
Equipment
There are two basic models of putters - short and long, and the newer 'belly' style. The short putters are more traditional, averaging around 35" in length. The long putters average about 47"-50" in length, and are also available with a wide array of heads. Belly putters average about 40-45" in length. The odds are you already have a putter, but here is a quick pros and cons list of the prevalent types.
Long Putters
Pros
- Designed so the end is placed against the chest or sternum, which helps if you have a tendency to move your hands while putting. However, some players grip the putter in an upright, pole-holding fashion.
- Those that use them swear by the almost clock-like pendulum swing motion generated by the placement of the end, and the long shaft.
- The more upright stance required while putting reduces the tendency to lift up with your body as you stroke the ball.
- The putter has been around a long time now, and many P.G.A. and Champions Tour players are using them and have won with them.
Cons
- Long putters are not good for making long putts. Players tend to leave the putts short.
- Learning how to putt with one requires a complete change of putting stroke.
- Often associated with Senior (Champions Tour) P.G.A. players.
- Due to the negativity and controversy surrounding the belly putter, the long putter is also taking a beating from traditionalists.
- People have been known to snap the putter's head off while riding in a golf cart. This happens when branches catch the putter on the shaft while driving under a tree.
Who uses one on the P.G.A. tour?
- Bernhard Langer
- Scott McCarran
Short Putters
Pros
- Designed with two hands in mind, and the classic putting posture.
- Easier to handle.
- More varieties to try and buy.
- Considered to be the traditional, correct method of putting a ball.
- Considered to be the traditional, correct stance for putting.
- Requires more skill, steady nerves, and good 'hands.'
Cons
- The most frequent error while putting is unwanted movement of a hand or wrist, a problem that happens often with short putters.
- Because you are crouched over the ball, rather than being more upright with a long putter, there is a tendency to lift up as you are putting.
- Prices have gone up in recent years due to technology, but most of the technology makes no difference in your putting.
- Most golfers switch up nearly every club in their bag, but have a tendency to hang on to the same putter for years. This could be seen as a con, since the implication is that you are not trying to change or improve your putting game.
Who uses one on the P.G.A. tour?
- Tiger Woods
- Phil Mickelson
- Nearly everyone else.
Belly Putters
Pros
- Designed with two hands in mind, with the head of the putter resting in your 'belly.'
- Once again, the club is locked into place, so the pendulum motion is easier to achieve.
- They are very new, and sometimes it is a good idea to change up your putting technique.
- Some serious golfers have won using these putters, and they swear by them.
- Less chance of getting the dreaded 'yips', due to the fact that the putter is essentially locked into place.
Cons
- There are those in the golf world - like Ernie Els - who think that lodging or bracing your putter is a form of cheating, and they want the clubs banned on tour.
- It will require a new type of stroke.
- If you have a really big or really small belly, you may find the putter awkward to play with.
- Once again, many players who use these longer putters do not seem to putt long putts well. There is a tendency to come up short, possibly due to the very restriction of movement that helps a player avoid the yips.
Who uses one on the P.G.A. tour?
- Paul Azinger
- Vijay Singh
Putting Tips
- Try having a loose grip, rather than a death grip. You do not want to steer or jerk the ball. The less stress there is on your grip the more natural your stroke will be.
- Grab the putter with your left hand first, then shake your right hand and grasp the putter lightly. Reverse the steps for left handed putting.
- Keep your head still, down, and eyes glued on the ball.
- Listen to your putt drop into the hole. If you wait until you hear the ball hit the cup, you will train yourself not to watch the ball.
- Line up your golf ball's lettering with the line on the top of your putter. This will help you keep the putter steady as you draw it back, and help you to improve your line.
- Do not take more than a few practice strokes. The longer you wait to hit your putt, the more likely it is that your nerves will make you miss it.
- Try to make your stroke similar to the motion of a pendulum in a grandfather clock. An easy back and forth stroke, using the same pace going back and forth.
- For long putts or putts just off the green, play to stop your ball one foot past the hole. It is always better to go a little long, since putts that don't make it to the hole never go in.
- Don't hold your breath.
- Practice, practice, and practice some more! You will save more strokes on the green then anywhere else on the course.
