Short Putter or Long Putter…Will Your Ego Let You Switch

What is all the commotion about the long putter? We had our first Major Champion with the long putter in Keegan Bradley.  Adam Scott won the WGC event with a long putter.  You hear whispers of people saying the USGA should ban them.  

My thoughts come from a player who has used a long putter for 9 years and the psychological roller coaster that begets to switch or not to switch and will your ego let you do it? This commentary comes from my heart and these thoughts and opinions come from deep within my soul.  A golfers soul who is continuing to search for the best method to play the game, physically and mentally.

I went to a long putter Ala Adam Scott at a mini tour event in Florida after I was struggling with my putting.  It instantly made me more consistent and fresh mentally.  I can tell you from experience though that there isn't a week that goes by that I don't think about going back to a short putter. I actually went back to the short putter for a small stint on the Nationwide Tour in 2008.

As golfers, we are always looking for ways to be better to gain a little more confidence. A big key in putting is letting the putts go, being free. The allure of the short putter for me is it was how I hit putts growing up.  How you putt as a kid is what we all strive for; being creative, seeing the putt, hitting it without a care in the world.

The long putters put a great roll on the ball. It is more sound mechanically as proven by Dave Pelz.  The challenge is to be as free as you can with a more mechanically sound method. The short putter allows a lot of play so you can manipulate the path and face for good and bad.  I challenge you to find your method and if it is a long putter feel as if you're using a short putter and the freedom you had when you learned the game!

To sum up my commentary on all this talk about the long putters, pick a method you trust, be confident and free and remember it's just a game. Let it go be a kid and watch yourself make more putts and shoot lower scores.  

Until next week, find your putting method and enjoy the walk!

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