Long Putters - are they bad for our game's image?

[Lefty731PM]

Any thoughts here on whether long putters should be banned?

I am wondering how attractive this game would be to younger people if, for example, Tim Herron with a belly putter was the best player in the world.

John Daly playing shirtless with a cigarette in his mouth (I'm assuming you saw that on TV today) might not be the image we want either.

As I once heard a player say - aren't we lucky that the best player is someone like Tiger Woods. The other pros should be very grateful.

Some notable ex players think that long putters give an unfair advantage (yes - I know that everyone could use one if they liked) and some say that the solution is to limit their length to 38 inches.

I think it's great that some players aren't driven from the game through the yips and can survive with a long putter, but I'm wondering if the "image" thing is significant in the minds of other Sandtrappers.

I think that, like male caddies lining up the female pros and saying "perfect", it might not be the best thing for the game.

[23Rounder]

I would never use one myself but they are legal so I have no issue with them. I can not think of a Broomstick putter owner that is a great putter so they certainly don't give an advantage over us mere mortals.

[moshdirtjumpr]

I use a long putter. It has given me more control over my short putter. Many people disagree.

[ShotCaLLa]

As I once heard a player say - aren't we lucky that the best player is someone like Tiger Woods. The other pros should be very grateful.

Very true about TW.

Whenever I see someone with a long putter, it tells me that something is wrong, and they are willing to make a Jurassic change to fix it, no matter how ridiculous they look. You have a point with the image it portrays. But, I am not worried about someone who uses a long putter dominating and being a major contributor to golfs image, because I don't think it will happen. There are too many upcoming young guns. Are there any young guys that use a long putter (not belly, the brooms)? I can't think of any off the top of my head.

[hawkeye]

Are there any young guys that use a long putter (not belly, the brooms)? I can't think of any off the top of my head.

I know a guy who uses one - he's 21. Plays off +1. Nephew of a Ryder Cupper acutally.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I find long putters awarkward and difficult to use. I cant really understand why anyone would use one, but I guess they have their purpose. As far as image goes, it doesnt matter. They arent illegal and thats good enough for me.

[x-forged]

i dont have a problem with them. i would never use one for the simple fact that i like traditional putters.

the one thing that might be an unfair advantage is that a long putter will contact the body not only with the hands, but it also has contact at the torso. with a traditional putter, body contact is only with the hands. with that said, long putters may be unfair in that they have more points of contact on the body which could help with consistency. i may be wrong, its just an observation.

[NM Golf]

Not bad for the game's image, not an advantage, not illegal, not going to be illegal, next question PLEASE!

These long putter debates are getting monotonous.

[Sandwedge74]

Bernhard Langer - great ball striker, great putter - uses long putter - dominating (so far) the champions tour - former winner of many pga tour events including the masters.

[Lefty731PM]

Not bad for the game's image, not an advantage, not illegal, not going to be illegal, next question PLEASE!

Tom Watson says it should be outlawed. So does Peter Thompson.

Dave Pelz thinks it offers an advantage. Not quite sure why you would find this discussion monotonous. What makes you say that it won't become illegal at some point? As for image - I don't agree with you. I think it adds weight to the theory that golfers are not athletes. Colt Knost uses one. Hard to disagree with someone who has that opinion if that's who they're thinking of. Feel free to come up with the next question. Why be so dismissive?

[NM Golf]

Not quite sure why you would find this discussion monotonous.

Well here are five reasons:

Long Putter thread 1 Long Putter thread 2 Long Putter thread 3 Long Putter thread 4 Long Putter thread 5 Like I have said in probably all the previous threads, if it was really an advantage then more people would be using it including the best putters on tour. They're not. Long putters are no more of a help than offset drivers. If you ban them then you open a whole can of worms on what kinds of clubs are considered giving an advantage and which ones are not. At which point we all end up with balata and persimmon again. On to image, how does the length of a putter hurt the image of golf? You would have to explain that to me. And even more ludicrous, how does the length of a putter detract from the golfer's image as an athlete. So if you use a short putter you're an athlete but if you use a long putter you're not? Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds? All I can help and think about these threads and when people get all bent out of shape about long putters, is that they must have been beaten by someone using them. In that case have you ever entertained the idea that they probably would have beaten you anyway no matter what putter they used? Its still the player who wins not the equipment.

[Lefty731PM]

On to image, how does the length of a putter hurt the image of golf? You would have to explain that to me. And even more ludicrous, how does the length of a putter detract from the golfer's image as an athlete. So if you use a short putter you're an athlete but if you use a long putter you're not? Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?

That's why I was focusing on "perception" and "image".

When you see obese golfers like Knost and Herron, it adds weight to the notion that golfers are not athletes. And of course - who cares - because there are so many fit players - but a lot of people think that the long putter, especially the broomstick, is not a very aesthetically pleasing look. Naturally, everyone has adifferent ideas and I'm not judging a person's virility or manliness by the length of the putter, I'm thinking more about what the uninformed person who might be taking the game up thinks. Superficially, they think Daly and Knost are fat pigs - and when they see the repulsive personality of Knost, for example, the initial idea is confirmed. Golf is not regarded as a "cool" thing by many young people. Obese golfers and long putters don't help turn a young person onto the game.

[Double Bogey]

I am having a hard time with this post. Banning long putters is a crazy idea in my view of the game. Does it give someone and advantage? I doubt it. It could also be said that I am at an advantage because my clubs are extended over 4 inches. Think about the added length that I get out of my clubs. Should my clubs be banned? Should I be pentalized becuase I am tall? Maybe I am getting off the topic a bit, but I would think that you would be opening pandoras box by banning long putters. I guess you would say that I use a belly putter although I am using it upright. My putter is 40 inches long. :)

[NM Golf]

That's why I was focusing on "perception" and "image".

Have you by chance ever seen an NFL lineman? They're large to say the least, does that detract from the NFL's image? I think not.

In general, PGA golfers are not fat pigs. I do not believe that a couple of heavier players are going to sway a young person one way or another when it comes to their decision on whether to play golf. In other words, I don't think the words "I was thinking of taking up golf but I decided not to because Time Herron is fat." are uttered all that often. Also, do clubs have to be aesthetically pleasing now? So again, "I was going to take up golf until I saw that ugly, ugly putter!" Are you kidding me? Would you have me believe that such words are exchanged throughout the world by would be golfers? Better toss out those square drivers because they are uglier than a long putter anyday and the noise pollution they cause is horrible.

Obese golfers and long putters don't help turn a young person onto the game.

I fail to see the correlation between a decline in play and the long putter. To say fat PGA Professionals turn young people off from the game is a stretch at the very least. To say that long putters do the same is a gargantuan leap. Come on, are you really going to sit there and have me believe that something as benign as a long putter is causing young people to not play golf? That is a silly notion at best.

[iacas]

Have you by chance ever seen an NFL lineman? They're large to say the least, does that detract from the NFL's image? I think not.

Oh come on. Golfers and now NFL linemen? There are different kinds of "athleticism," and the fact that you'd try to bring up NFL linemen tell me you're losing the argument - badly.

The belly putter gives you an advantage... if you can't putt. Putting is part of the game of golf, and the rest of the game of golf is a game in which things aren't anchored to your body. They're held and swung in your hands only. If I could save a stroke a round with a belly putter I STILL wouldn't use one. It looks bad and I wouldn't be caught dead with one. It's not worth a stroke a round to look like a buffoon and to use something that I believe goes against the spirit of the game.

[BASHERBAKER69]

I suppose long putters make people look a bit elderly, decrepit, or retarded- but that does not mean we should ban them .

If you want to play a game to help you get laid, youd better play something athletic.

[jamesbei]

i'm 16 and use a belly putter, cos im hopeless from 10 foot and worse from more, why would it ruin the image of the game, many people want to try my putter and if it works why wouldnt you use one? in the end who wouldnt want to knock 3 shots a round off their score?

What i dont see is that apparently Belly putters are ruining the game, but a complete set of hybrids is "proper golf"!

[NM Golf]

Oh come on. Golfers and now NFL linemen? There are different kinds of "athleticism," and the fact that you'd try to bring up NFL linemen tell me you're losing the argument - badly.

NFL lineman bad example- Maybe.

Losing the arguement- No. What do you think? Are you among those that believe too that the long putter is causing the game to lose young players?

The belly putter gives you an advantage... if you can't putt.

And game improvement clubs give you an advantage if your swing sucks. And "draw faced" drivers give you an advantage if you cannot close the club face properly. Whats your point? Should they then be banned as well? Seems hypocritical to let one slide and ban the other.

If I could save a stroke a round with a belly putter I STILL wouldn't use one. It looks bad and I wouldn't be caught dead with one. It's not worth a stroke a round to look like a buffoon and to use something that I believe goes against the spirit of the game.

You have also been happier with higher scoring rounds where you struck the ball better.

I've been happier with some rounds near 80 than some rounds near even par because I struck the ball better in the higher scoring round or was able to solve a problem that'd been plaguing me, or whatever.

A stroke a round is sometimes what divides 1st and 2nd place. I will use anything within the rules to shoot the lowest score possible. We differ, to say the least, on that exact point. I play in quite a few tournaments every year and have yet to see them give a prize for the most traditional looking player. Seems to me that tournaments are only interested in scores.

To each their own, but I play to win. I always play strictly within the rules and I always respect the game and the ettiquette that goes with it. And, I don't even use a long putter, I have and I realized for the final time last year that they suck and only make me putt worse. But they are legal and IMHO will remain that way. What they look like is of little concern to me. I really don't care what someone else looks like. Plus those long putters pale in comparison to some of the ugly swings I see day in and day out at the course.