Buying a putter isn’t as simple as going to the store and picking up one. You’ll want to consider many things when choosing a putter, such as figuring out your style of putting, the right head shape, and the right putter length that is most comfortable for you.
Putting separates the good golfers from the great ones. You could hit the perfect drive and reach the greens in one shot. But it’s still possible to end up with a bogey if you don’t have good putter or putting skills.
Odyssey is a trusted golf club manufacturer and produces some of the best equipment you’ll find. Many professional golfers use an Odyssey putter like Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Abraham Ancer, and Patrick Reed. If you’re someone looking to buy the perfect Odyssey putter, you must understand how the putter length is measured and which length is right for you based on your height. We recommend the Odyssey Stroke Lab or the Odyssey OG putter for beginners due to their increased forgiveness and ball alignment feature.
So how does odyssey measure putter length? We’ll go over how to choose the right putter length based on your height. Let’s begin!
Last update on 2024-11-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
How is Putter Height Measured?
It’s always best to have a custom fitter at a golf shop to measure and help you select the putter. However, sometimes you might be buying off the rack and may need to measure the putter height yourself.
Use a measuring tape and place one end where the grip ends and the other end of the tape at the putter’s heel. The number displayed on your measuring tape is the putter height.
Here’s how to get in a putting position to check whether the putter is the right fit.
- Choose a putter that you can hold comfortably while you are in your normal putting stance.
- Bend your waist forward slightly and check to see if your eyes are directly over the ball.
- Bend your arms until the elbows gently touch your ribcage area. Position the putter so that it just touches the ball.
- Grip the putter so that one thumb is above and in front of the other. Also, make sure the forearms and putter shaft are in line.
The proper putter length should allow you to stand in a comfortable and optimal putting stance. This means that your hips and knees are slightly bent, and your eyes are looking directly over the ball. Grip the club and take your normal putting stance to determine whether the putter is the correct size. If your hands are beyond the end, the putter is too short, and the putter is too long if your hands are down on the shaft.
How to Measure the Length Based on the Putter Type
There are two ways you can measure the length based on the putter you have. Different putters are designed with the hosel and shaft positioned differently. Here are a few tips for measuring the length based on the type of putter than you own.
Heel-shaft putters:
- The center of the putter sole must touch the ground. This allows you to measure the length while you’re in a playing position.
- Measure the length of the putter by placing one end of the measuring tape on the grip’s cap and the other end to the ground.
Non-offset center-shafted putters:
- With non-offset center-shafted putters, it’s important to note that the length is referenced by the shaft axis and not the heel. Make sure your measuring tape is exactly parallel to the shaft up to the grip cap’s edge.
How Long Should My Putter Be for My Height?
Most putter lengths will range between 31 to 35 inches, and the putter length right for you will largely depend on your height. Here are some general sizing guidelines that you should follow:
| Height | Putter Length |
| 4’10” and shorter | 31” |
| 4’11” to 5’0” | 31.5” |
| 5’1” to 5’2” | 32” |
| 5’3” to 5’4” | 32.5” |
| 5’5” to 5’8” | 33” |
| 5’9” to 5’10” | 33.5” |
| 5’10” to 5’11” | 34” |
| 6” and taller | 34.5” |
Keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and you may find putter lengths that best suit your preferences.
In addition, if you are using a belly putter or long putter, you will need a different set of sizing guides for your putter. A belly putter has a longer shaft, which touches your midsection. As a result, golfers have more control over their putters. Belly putters are best used for amateur golfers who don’t have good wrist control. Most belly putters have a length that measures between 38 to 57 inches.
| Height | Putter Length |
| 5’8” or shorter | 38.5” to 40” |
| 5’9” to 6’1” | 41” to 44” |
| 6’2” or taller | 54” to 57” |
Long putters are usually longer than standard and belly putters, and they range between 45 inches to 54 inches. Another distinct between long putters and other types of putters is the grip style. It uses a split grip meaning there are two types of grips on the putter. Split grips are ideal for players that have a pendulum swing so that they can anchor the top hand, making the putts much more precise. Here are some sizing guidelines to follow for long putters.
| Height | Putter length |
| 5’6” and shorter | 45” |
| 5’7” to 5’8” | 47” |
| 5’8” to 5’9” | 48” |
| 5’9” to 5’10” | 49” |
| 5’10” to 5’11” | 50” |
| 5’11” to 6’0” | 51” |
| 6’1” to 6’2” | 52” |
| 6’3” or taller | 54” |
How is Shaft Length Measured?
Measuring the shaft length of the putter will help you determine whether it’s the right fit for you or not. If the putter doesn’t have the shaft length labeled at the store, it can be problematic, meaning you should take the time to measure it yourself.
Here are the steps to correctly measure the putter length.
- Hold the putter in either a toe-up posture or hold the putter from the center. However, the axis should be even on the ground.
- Next using a measuring tape to measure the putter’s shaft length. Measure it very close to the shaft and stop the measurement before the tape reaches the grip.
- Since you are measuring only the shaft, you don’t need to measure the full length of the putter. This means excluding the hosel, face, and grip of the putter.
When measuring the putter’s shaft length, it’s important to use the right equipment such as aluminum or any form of metal measuring tool. The length of the tool should be over 48 inches. In addition, the center of the putter must be in direct contact with the ground to get an accurate reading. You can position the measuring tool on the rear of the putter’s heel and assure that it is leveled with the putter. The number that reads from the endpoint of the bottom part of the shaft to the top portion of the shaft is the shaft length.
Factors to Consider When Measuring the Putter Length
There are a few elements you need to consider before measuring the putter length.
Height of the Golfer
Height is the most important factor when purchasing a putter. Taller players will need longer putters, while shorter players need shorter putters. The length of the putter directly impacts the distance control, direction and affects the accuracy of the putt.
Weight
The weight of the clubhead plays a role in how well the putter performs. Match the weight of the putter’s clubhead to the length to help you achieve the right swing. For example, a normal 35-inch putter typically weighs about 0.73 pounds. Shorter putters 32 to 33 inches usually have a higher clubhead weight of 0.82 to 0.84 pounds. Conversely, longer putters usually weigh less than 0.73 pounds.
EyePoint in Stance
While in a putting stance, the eyes of the golfer should fall directly over the ball. This is one way to tell whether or not your putter has the perfect length. If your eyes fall over the ball, it likely signifies that the putter is too short. A short putter tends to cause the golfer to stand further back or require you to bend over too much, which can cause neck or back pain. Being able to stand while bending your hips properly eliminates the stress on your lower back.
Stroke Style
The length of the putter can impact your stroke. Shorter putters help straighten out the arms, which increases the consistency of the impact positioning on the face. Furthermore, it minimizes the tension that comes with bent arms and can help with shoulder rotation. On the contrary, long putters can help golfers control spontaneous vibration after each stroke.
In addition, toe-balanced putters with a blade head design are ideal for players with an arced stroke. Comparatively, face-balanced putters with a mallet head design are best suited for players with a straight putting stroke.
Standing Posture While Putting
You should also consider the posture while putting the ball. This means you’ll have to be aware of the stance you’re taking when hitting the ball. Most golfers tend to incline their body slightly, bend their knees and look directly over the ball.
Once you’ve locked in the right stance that is most comfortable to you, the length of the putter should fall in line and match your stance. However, not every golfer uses the same posture. A more hunched posture requires a shorter putter, while a more upright posture suggests a longer.
What Length Putter Does Tiger Woods Use?
Tiger Woods is among the greatest golfers to ever play. Many people have wondered what his putter length is. Originally, Woods would use a 35 ¼ inch putter. However, as he’s gotten older, Woods has been hit with a myriad of injuries such as his knees, Achilles, neck, and back.
Now he has changed his putter length to 35 ½ inches, which prevents him from bending too far forward and causing additional stress on his back. Tiger Woods uses the Scotty Newport 2 GSS, which weighs about 326 grams, and the Ping PP58 grip, which is 58 grams.
Conclusion
The putter could be the most important club inside your golf bag. That means every aspect of putting must be on-point, such as the proper stance, stroke, and even putter length. If you’re buying a putter off-the-rack, you won’t have it fitted based on your height and preferences. The wrong length in the putter will impact the trajectory and swing arc on your putts. Furthermore, it affects the lie angle while you address the ball. A wrong loft angle means the putter isn’t square on the ground. This results in the ball traveling offline from the intended target.
We recommend getting your putters fitted if you’re able to. A golf expert can dial in the putter length, grip, weight, and clubhead type to improve your game. However, if you’re a beginner, you may want to take the advice listed in this article since it may not be worth paying the cost for your clubs to be custom-fitted. We’ve hope you’ve found our article insightful in choosing your next putter.