How to Determine the Correct Putter Length for Your Game
← Golf Equipment | Golf Clubs
BLOCKQUOTE_0
Quick Answer
- Getting the right putter length is crucial for a consistent putting stroke.
- A putter that’s too long or too short will mess with your natural setup and swing arc.
- The ideal length allows you to stand comfortably, with your eyes over the ball and a free-flowing stroke.
Who This Putter Length Guide Is For
- Golfers who are tired of inconsistent results on the green. You know you can do better.
- Anyone who feels a bit awkward, cramped, or like they’re fighting their putter during their stroke.
What to Check First for Putter Length
- Your Current Putting Posture: How do you naturally stand over the ball right now? Don’t force it. Just observe.
- The Feel of Your Current Putter: Does it feel too long, like you’re reaching? Or too short, like you’re hunched over? Or just right? Trust your gut here.
- Your Natural Arm Hang: When you’re standing relaxed, with your arms hanging loosely at your sides, where do your hands naturally fall? This is your baseline for an athletic setup.
- Your Eye Position: Are your eyes directly over the ball, or do you feel like you’re craning your neck or have to bend unnaturally to see it? The right length helps fix this.
Step-by-Step Plan: How to Determine Putter Length
1. Adopt Your Natural Putting Stance. Stand over an imaginary ball (or a real one, if you’ve got one handy). Get into the stance that feels most comfortable and balanced to you. What to look for: A relaxed, athletic posture where you feel grounded and stable. Mistake to avoid: Forcing yourself into a rigid or unnatural position just because you think that’s how you’re “supposed” to stand. Your body knows best.
2. Let Your Arms Hang Naturally. With your feet set and your posture established, relax your shoulders completely and let your arms hang straight down towards the ground. Don’t tense up. Just let gravity do its thing. *What to
Michael Reeves is a PGA Professional with over 20 years of experience in competitive golf and instruction. A former Division I collegiate player at the University of Texas, he competed on the mini-tours before transitioning to full-time coaching and golf journalism. He has been a certified PGA teaching professional since 2005 and has worked with players at every level, from absolute beginners to collegiate champions.
His writing has appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and The Left Rough. At GolfHubz, Michael leads the editorial team, overseeing fact-checking and ensuring every answer meets the same standard he demands on the lesson tee: clear, evidence-based, and immediately useful.
When he’s not writing or teaching, Michael plays to a +1.4 handicap at his home club in Austin, Texas. He has attended over 40 major championships as a journalist and fan, and has played more than 200 courses across 15 countries.
You can reach Michael at [email protected] or follow his occasional swing analysis posts on the site.