Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2024 - 10

GOLF GEAR
Playing the Long Game
Long putters may not be for every golfer,
but they can help some to improve their putting.
L
ong putters have a relatively short
but fragmented history. First used
in the 1960s, popularized in the 80s
and controversial since then, long putters
have been called gangly, ugly and
unwieldly, and anchoring them to the
body was outlawed by the USGA in 2016.
But according to Larry Bobka, 2nd Swing
master clubfitter and a PGA Tour putting
instructor, long putters can help improve
your putting.
" Absolutely; why not? " Bobka says of
considering a long putter. " The game is
hard enough. If I can figure a way to get
the ball in the hole faster, why not do it?
Who cares what it looks like. "
Bobka has worked with 2009 U.S.
Open winner Lucas Glover on his putting
and years ago suggested he try a long
putter, but Glover was against them or
any alternative putting style. Ultimately,
Glover reached the nadir of his putting
and the peak of his frustration and tried
Adam Scott's long putter-spending two
weeks teaching himself to use one. He
missed the cut at the 3M Open last season
but then won the following two weeks.
" He was the 197th putter on the PGA
Tour, dead last-and 18 months later he was
the 37th ranked putter, " Bobka says. " That's
a credit to his work ethic and a little guidance
pointing him in the right direction. "
According to Bobka, the key behind
long putters is the weight. Long putters
are heavier than conventional putters,
and the golfer doesn't have to
exert as much energy in each stroke. A
heavier putter can help battle the yips
and increase a putter's confidence when
standing over the ball.
" The number one difference between
good putters and bad putters is over10
MINNESOTAGOLFER
Summer 2024
acceleration at impact, " Bobka says. " A
bad putter takes it back short and then
smashes through it and tries to control
the length of that putt with their forward
swing. The best putters take that putter
back and allow the weight of that putter
and the length of that stroke to hit the
putt [at] the right speed. "
A conventional putter (e.g., a Scotty
Cameron Newport) is 34-35 inches long
with a putter head weight of 350 grams.
The next longer putter (used by Rickie
Fowler and Wyndham Clark) is approximately
39 inches with a 400-gram head.
Putters employed with
an
method (such as Matt Kuchar's)
Larry's
List
CALLAWAY AI-ONE
JAILBIRD CRUISER
odyssey.callawaygolf.com; $300
" Tour-proven performance. "
armlock
are
41-42 inches and 400-450 grams. And
the longest " broomstick " models (think
Bernhard Langer) are 44-48 inches long
with a head weight reaching 500 grams.
You balance those heavier weights with
the shafts and grips, which a clubfitter
can help you do.
" Just changing a style of putter isn't
going to make things better if that club's
not fit for you, " Bobka says.
A fitter will suggest different sizes
and styles, track numbers on a Quintic
machine and then match the best loft,
length and lie to your putting abilities-
ultimately searching for the putter that
offers the most confidence.
" Do these long putters instill confidence? "
Bobka asks. " For some people,
yes; for some, no. It's not the magic potion
or fairy dust that's going to sink every
putt. That doesn't exist. What does happen
when people try them is they practice
more. It's a new style and uncomfortable
to start, and they practice enough to
make it comfortable. It's a crazy thought,
I know, but practice actually works. "
* BY JOSEPH OBERLE *
BETTINARDI BB28
SLOTBACK ARMLOCK
PUTTER
bettinardi.com; $450
" The first and best when it
comes to armlock. "
L.A.B. GOLF MEZZ.1
BROOMSTICK PUTTER
labgolf.com; $559
" Does it work?
Just ask Lucas Glover! "
mngolf.org
http://odyssey.callawaygolf.com http://www.bettinardi.com http://www.labgolf.com http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2024

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