Find the Right Putter- Length and  Lie
by Corey_Lundberg on 04-27-2010 

Practicing to improve your putting fundamentals and stroke is only part of the battle; you have to make sure you have the right equipment as well. Most people are starting to realize the importance of getting fitted for their irons and woods, but our most important club in the bag continues to be neglected. How well you score will depend on how well you putt, so follow the tips below to make sure your putter is right length and lie for you:

 

LENGTH

 
 

 

 

  Perfect Fit:
When a putter is the correct length, you can see it right away in the set up. The elbows have a slight bend and your arms and hands hang comfortably under the shoulders. Having a putter the right length also helps achieve proper eye position with our eyes over or just inside the ball. Now you can execute the ideal pendulum stroke with little involvement from the lower body or wrists.

  To Short:

Check the elbows, if your arms look locked and there is no bend in the elbows, your putter is too short. Your upper body will have to be too active in the stroke.

Too Long:
With a putter a few inches too long, the hands have to be too active in the stroke. You will see excessive bend in the elbows and will find it difficult to maintain the ‘Y’ throughout your stroke. Overactive wrists will make it difficult to control both distance and direction.

 

LIE

 

 Toe Up: If your lie angle is too upright, the toe of the putter will come off the ground at address. When the toe is up, you increase the chances of heel drag in the stroke causing pulls and it becomes more difficult to align putts and to consistently strike the putt on the center of the face.

 

 

  Toe Down: If your lie angle is too flat, the heel of the putter will come off the ground at address. When the heel is up, you increase the chances of toe drag in the stroke causing pushes and it becomes more difficult to align putts and to consistently strike the putt on the center of the face.

 

 

  Sole Flat: When the sole stays flush to the ground at address, it becomes easier to align and hit the center of the face with every putt.

Go and check to see if the length and lie of your putter matches up. Luckily, length and lie are easily adjusted, so you don’t have to go buy a new putter if you see an issue.

 

 BREAKTHROUGH PUTTING SECRETS

     “Who Else Wants To Eliminate Their 3-Putts, Stop Lip-Outs Dead In Their Tracks, And Putt On Any Green With Such Incredible Precision, Your Friends Will Accuse You Of Secretly Taking Lessons From A “Big Shot” Teaching Guru?”