Have you ever tried a new putter that had you sinking everything in sight?

I’ll bet you have.

More than any other club, a change in putters can have a dramatic and immediate impact on your score.

But to make sure that improvement becomes permanent, you want to match the new putter to your stroke. What’s the point of putting a new club in the bag if those gains disappear after a couple of weeks?

Here are three things you can do to find a flatstick that'll have you sinking more putts fast...

Going long...

If you've been struggling with your putter for any length of time, look into a long putter. They usually run between 48” to 51” in length.

Go to any golf super store, find one that is comfortable and see if your accuracy doesn't improve. The long length coupled with a very heavy putter head makes it easier to repeat a consistent pendulum motion.

Look at the success Tim Clark is having with a long putter. His performance at the '06 Masters clearly illustrates his mastery on the greens.

They're extremely effective on short to mid range putts. So if you're looking to stop the bleeding at these lengths a long putter could be the answer.

More players would choose these if they gave them an honest try, but they're not for everyone...

Belly putters continue to stay popular...

If a long putter is something you can't warm up to, try a belly putter and see if it doesn't help stabilize your stroke.

Anchoring the putter handle against your sternum helps you repeat the same stroke with better stability. Fred Couples and Vijay Singh are good examples of players that use a belly putter to achieve better consistency.

They are also sometimes little better at long range than long putters. If your distance control at long lengths has been a problem, a belly putter can help solve that problem.

Traditionalists still need to pay attention to putter styles...

If you prefer more standard lengths, it's still important to make sure your stroke matches up with the style putter you choose.

Players that use the left hand low approach (right hand low for lefties) find that a mallet style putter works well. Jim Furyk is a great example.

If you have a traditional setup and posture, then a heel-toe weighted or blade model will probably work best. Tiger is an excellent example of someone that has had remarkable success with a heel-toe weighted putter.

For a little more help on long putts? Try a very short length, maybe 33” or 32”. Phil Mickelson uses a short putter and has incredible distance control on long putts.

There you have it.

These techniques may not be new, but it always amazes me how few players take the time to run some putters through their paces.

If you're looking to refine your putting game, and who isn't, make some time for a few sessions on the practice green and see which types match up with your personal style.


For Quick Tip Archives, Click here

Subscribe to The Golf Connexion - The free newsletter that helps golfers like you gain more confidence and shoot lower scores.