I worked out the formula (to the best of my ability) found in the article "The Long and Short of Putter Length and Lie" and found my lie angle should be 73.1 degrees and the length of my putter should be 32.3 inches.

What color code would the 73.1 degree lie translate to if looking at Ping putters?

I did the Ping putter fitting on their website and they told me either red or orange (1 degree and 2 degrees flat respectively).

Thanks for any help.

Benjamin

1 question I forgot in my initial post is: Would the correct, or recommended, putter length be any different (and how so) since I put right handed with left hand low?

Benjamin

Dear Benjamin,

No. The grip is made to be 10 inches long, and that is long enough for both hands in the left-hand-low style of grip. The issue is really how close to the ground to get the bottom of the handle material, so your grip is not on the metal shaft. Once you find out the center of your palms above the ground, add about 4 inches to make sure there is a little handle above the butt of your palm. This leaves 6 inches from the center of the palms to the bottom end of the handle.

If you like, contact me directly about your measurements, and I'll try to help.

Cheers!

Geoff Mangum
Putting Theorist and Instructor
Geoff Mangum's PuttingZone
http://puttingzone.com
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction.

Over 985,000 visits and growing strong ...

518 Woodlawn Ave
Greensboro NC 27401
336.790.8176 home
336.340.9079 cell

Dear Benjamin,

The Ping color code uses a number of different assumptions, and don't necessarily result in a color matching a lie angle. The other assumptions are stance, hand position and stroke style, but Ping is not very clear on the website how these factors translate to color code.

The Ping Color code has black for standard, and in the flatter direction runs red, orange, brown, gold, and in the more upright direction runs blue, green, white, gray, burgundy.



See Ping Putter fitting -- static fitting for Specify Putters.

Looking only at their putter fitting gauge, the 73 degrees you calculate would be 2 degrees upright more than standard of 71 degrees. According to the gauge, 73 degrees would then be "green."



A flatter lie would be an angle less than 71 degrees, and this would be red or yellow on the gauge.

If the Ping folks are telling you your color is "flatter" than standard, and their standard is the usual 71 degrees, then that is not the same as you measure at 73.1, but must be due to one of the assumptions Ping makes about your stance, hands or stroke type.

Personally, I doubt if their assumptions are based on good stroke technique. I would like to know more about their assumptions.

Cheers!

Geoff Mangum
Putting Theorist and Instructor
Geoff Mangum's PuttingZone
http://puttingzone.com
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction.

Over 985,000 visits and growing strong ...

518 Woodlawn Ave
Greensboro NC 27401
336.790.8176 home
336.340.9079 cell

Thanks for your response and the speed with which you were able to answer my questions.

One more quick question: Would the fact that I putt right handed with left hand low change my recommended putter length or lie angle?

Thanks again for your help.

Benjamin

Dear Benjamin,

No. Just measure from the center of the lowest hand to the ground.

Cheers!

Geoff Mangum
Putting Theorist and Instructor
Geoff Mangum's PuttingZone
http://puttingzone.com
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction.

Over 985,000 visits and growing strong ...

518 Woodlawn Ave
Greensboro NC 27401
336.790.8176 home
336.340.9079 cell

Enjoyed this post about the Ping color codes. True story..about 20-25 years ago, I was browsing in a proshop in Carmel Valley after a round. Having lost confidence with my fairway woods, I was interested in a 1-iron...heck, Jack Nicklaus used one and I thought it may be an answer to my fairway wood dilemma. Although I was playing Lynx irons at the time, I found a Ping 1-iron there and took it to their driving range...it had an orange dot by the way, but I wasn't sure what that meant, but loved the iron! Evidently, it had the perfect lie angle for me...bought it and replaced my 3-wood with it. It was perfect for a 220 yard shot and I hit it quite well and quite straight for a number of years! Then, my son and I were on the course one day and he borrowed it on a par-5, hit a great second shot with it and then conveniently put it in his bag! I only see it now when he and I get together for some golf. Many thanks to Benjamin for posting the subject on the color codes...brought back some old memories!

Geoff, not sure why my post above was by "Anonymous!"
However, it was my post...is there any way to edit one's posts after it has been posted?
Thanks,

Larry Stanley
www.theputtingedge.com

Dear Larry,

To edit your post, sign in to Network 54 before you post. Then it lets you edit then or later by recognizing you as the author.

Cheers!

Geoff Mangum
Putting Theorist and Instructor
Geoff Mangum's PuttingZone
http://puttingzone.com
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction.

Over 995,000 visits and growing strong ...

518 Woodlawn Ave
Greensboro NC 27401
336.790.8176 home
336.340.9079 cell