Proper Putter Length (Standard Putter)

First off, I'm 5'10". My previous putter was 35". Since my clubs were stolen recently, I replaced it with a 31" putter and it does feel relatively short. But, with a proper putting stance, my eyes line up with the ball correctly and I find it easier to rotate my chest and shoulders while keeping my knees and head still; it's just that it feels a little uncomfortable.

Should I be using a 35" putter still or is the 31" the proper length for someone my height? I know that everyone has a different stance and set-up but I find that I set up to the ball better with a 31" but it feels awkward, most likely due to the fact that I'm used to a 35".

What do you guys think?

There is no "proper length" for a putter.  Whatever is comfortable to you and helps you aim it best and make more putts.  I had a longer one before I got fitted (35" I think) and now mine is quite a bit shorter (33 or 33.5 I think) and I'm 6-3, so ...

I'm 5'8" and use a 31 inch putter. Anything longer than 33" feels like a belly putter to me.

The right answer for most folks is probably "shorter than what you're using now." I've questioned the "standard" length for putters at 35". I think the average putter length on tour is between 33" and 34". The average tour pro is taller than the average golfer. So why is nearly every stock putter at every golf shop 35"? Sure, if you're one of the slim minority who needs a longer putter, you could trim It down more easily than lengthening it or replacing the shaft--but how many would actually do this?

I think, putting is all about feel, there is no proper way to make a putt, and just do whatever feels right for you.

same as for specs. if you feel good with a 31" putter use it.

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the longest putter I own is 29 inches the other 2 are 28 inches  ====  bye the way these putters are the only ones I have ever had.

Were you ever in the movie "Wizard of Oz"? :-) Just kidding. I have a putter where the grip extends over the hosel. So it must be about 12".

Mine is 27 inches and I choke up

Wow you guys are nuts!  I just owned a 32" putter for all of a week.  It came with a jumbo grip.  I normally use a 33 or 34 but picked it up as an experiment since it was cheap, and found that it did not improve my alignment and the swingweight was light enough that it was having trouble keeping it steady during the stroke.  I suppose I could have worked on it and the weighting, etc, but I figured if I'm comfortable at 34" and can learn to improve with that then my back will thank me when I'm older.

I think it all comes down to eye position.  A short putter allows you to look directly over the line and a longer one forces you to look inside the line.  I've found that I'm pretty bad with alignment at address in either case.  I need to get behind the ball and line up the stripe, but it takes extra time and feels lame so I'd rather figure out a way to get aligned at address without having to do that.  So I guess I learned the 32" did not help my alignment, distance control, or stability.  But on the flip side my back felt fine while using it!

My current putter is 33" IIRC, previously I had a 35". I putt much better with the 33". I also choke right down to where the grip meets the steel.

Most pros and clubfitters I've talked to say the ideal putter length is one that allows you to have a full arm hang at address. If the putter is too long, you have slack in your arms, which can lead to wobble in your stroke.

Also, you have to figure in your posture on the putting stroke. I lean forward slightly from the waist so that I have my eyes directly over the ball. (Some claim I should  have my eyes slightly inside the ball, but this has never worked for me).

I'm 5-foot-8, and use a 34" putter. If I leaned over severely from the waist at a 45* angle, I would need a shorter putter.

I fully agree with you on this. I said that if I bent over 45*, I might need a shorter putter. I assure you I don't bend 45*.  I bend over slightly - with knees also bent slightly to avoid back tension - just enough to get my eyes directly over the ball.

I suspect that upright vs. slightly bent may be a result of individual differences in our eyes, and what we "see" when we line up the putts.

I slump way over when I putt and it puts less on my back.  If I practice putting for a while with more of a normal posture my lower back really starts to get sore, but when i slump my back more then there is no longer any pressure in my back.  I don't reach very far down though, just have bent arms....don't know if that would make a difference.

I used to be confused by the phrase "consistent stroke". I always thought it was a term related to tempo issues. I never use it now because I got ticked off when I taught myself that the path I have is "consistent" when its path straight through the ball has neither an outside/in or inside/out curvature, and that this comes from how close or far away I set up with the putter head. This informed me of my preferred lie angle, and once I found that lie angle, the length of the shaft figured itself out as I gripped the club. Its all about the shots I make with a putter, and I have three. The fringe shot and long lag, where some shaft length and more loft are useful, and the always delicate shorter shots into the hole, where the shorter shaft and less loft are what I prefer. I have tried to specialize my putters, but specialists lack all around usefulness. The best putters I own are 34" where I can choke down the grip an inch when close to the hole.