Dear Geoff
i am a collegiate golfer and i have been given multiple tips here and there about putting. the last tip i got was to get a longer putter? i am 6'6" and i have a putter that is 34 inches long and i was wondering if that might stiffen my arms up, keeping them from swinging freely? also what is the desired distance from me and the ball while putting? thanx, kole

Dear Kole,

Phil Mickelson is a tall guy too, at 6'5", and he uses a putter that is 34" long. It really depends on how you bend at address and how long your arms are and how you posture your arms / elbows. As to whether it makes you too stiff, you have to be the judge of that. If you hang your arms naturally, without tension, then your elbows will hang directly beneath your shoulder sockets, making your upper arm look like a little log hanging on a rope off your shoulder socket. Good putters do not set up with their elbows parked up and back against their sides or abdomen.

Regarding how far back from the ball to stand, the answer is simple: suspend your arms and hands naturally and locate the putter where the hands end up -- don't just reach or put the putter out a distance. Ground and sole the putter flat, and this presents the putter handle to you in a particular place in space. With your hands hanging naturally, you need to "walk" your hanging hands out on the gantry of your body to "dock" with the waiting putter handle. Then, once gripped, you test the goodness of your setup by releasing the rear hand off the grip and allowing it to swing free. If it swings ONLY sideways off the handle, then you are the correct distance back from the ball. If your hand swings in towards your thigh, then you have reached the putter out to the ball, and are standing too far back. If the hand swings toward your nose, then you have crowded too close to the ball.


Cheers!

Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
PuttingZone.com
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction.

Visit the new PuttingZone Blog for podcasts of putting tips:
Site PuttingZone Blog
RSS XML Subscription

Geoff,
Phil Mickelson's actual Height is 6'-3" and his putter is 32" long.

Dean

Dear Dean,

According to the Callaway / Odyssey website discussion about Phil's putter, the length is 33.5":

"One-of-a-Kind Putters for a One-of-a-Kind Professional

In addition to extraordinary talent, what makes Phil Mickelson one of the world’s greatest golfers is an equally uncommon attention to detail in every part of his game. In no place was this more evident than in the development of Phil’s Odyssey putters. Phil currently has two Odyssey Putters in rotation. He chooses his putter depending on where he’s playing and how he’s putting.
Both putters were specifically designed for him by long-time Odyssey Designer Ron Hettinger. Phil’s newest putter utilizes the latest Odyssey insert technology, White Hot XG. The multi-layer insert technology was inspired by the latest technological developments in multi-layer golf balls, a blend of two materials with differing levels of firmness. The core of the insert is made of a soft, highly resilient elastomer material that provides rebound quality in order to return energy to the ball and get it rolling. On top of that is a thinner outer striking surface that contains urethane for fine-tuned responsiveness. Phil likes the soft, but solid feel of the insert and the audio feedback it provides, as well as the crisp lines on the head of the club that make it easy to line up putts. In order to reduce glare, the putter undergoes a gun bluing process that dulls and darkens the putter head.
He unveiled his new White Hot XG Putter in early 2006 and, when he used it to win his second straight BellSouth Classic, the cat was officially out of the bag. He won the tournament in runaway fashion, finishing at 28-under-par, 13 shots clear of the field. One week later, Phil used his White Hot XG Putter to capture his second Green Jacket in three years, winning the Masters by two strokes. It was his second straight major victory. The unmatched feel in the new White Hot XG Putters, regardless of the type or construction of the golf ball being played, is superior to that found in any single insert putter.



Milled from a single-piece, solid billet of #303 stainless steel, the design form of Phil’s other Odyssey Putter is based on the original Odyssey White Hot Blade #8. With that bloodline, Phil sat down with Hettinger and they set out to create a truly unique flatstick. Dozens of drawings, 18 CAD alternates and several production prototypes later, The Phil Mickelson putter has been in play since late 2004 and was raised in the air on the 18th green at Poipu Bay as he shot his remarkable 59 at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf last November.

Phil’s putter has less offset than normal and a slimmer, sleeker hosel to result in a look at address that flows more cleanly into the head. Additionally, the shape of its flange is less bulky to give it a smooth, elegant appearance that gives him confidence.

For those wanting the nitty-gritty specs, the putter is a traditional weight of 330 grams, although he sometimes adjusts this ever so slightly from week to week on Tour depending on course conditions. The lie angle is 68 degrees and loft 3.5 degrees. Some are surprised to learn that the putter is only 33 ½ inches in length, short by typical standards and especially for a tall man like Phil. But this length suits Phil’s unique style and stance. With a flare-tipped shaft installed, the shorter length results in a grip end that’s thinner than Phil likes so Ron uses four layers of grip tape to beef up the grip to Phil’s liking.

You’d think that his magical 59 and 27 PGA Tour victories, including The PGA Championship would be enough, but as you might imagine by now, Phil Mickelson is never satisfied that the best is good enough. Accordingly, every couple of weeks or so Phil can be found in Carlsbad at the company test center, working with Ron Hettinger in pursuit of the perfect putter. Stay tuned!"

Thanks for the info! What is your source about 32"?

Cheers!

Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
PuttingZone.com
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction.

Visit the new PuttingZone Blog for podcasts of putting tips:
Site PuttingZone Blog
RSS XML Subscription