Should I get my putter shortened?

I'm a 5'7 male and I'm playing with a putter that I'm sure is too long for me. Following the rules of setting up for a shot I find I have to grip the putter about 2 inches onto the shaft. At times this is ok but sometimes it causes me to swing oddly as the weight/balance of the putter doesn't feel right.

Should I get it shortened?

Putting is the most personal part of golf, as far as I'm concerned.

If you think that cutting down your putter would help you, then by all means cut it down.

I practiced with a 35" putter, but stand very upright. The butt of the putter fits in the palm of my hand (you cannot see the top of the putter when I'm holding it). I tried going to a 36" putter, but the grip felt wierd (obviously).

Now I'm back to a 35" putter.

I've tried a bent over stance with a 33" putter, and it was no good for me.

__________________
True Length Technology Fitter - www.truelengthtechnology.com
It's live! - www.ShipShapeClubs.com
PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

Now I've been playing a few weeks I want to sort this putter out. I definitely need to hold 2 inches onto the shaft for the style that I feel comfotable playing but the top of the grip catches my shirt quite often and messes up the putt.

Can I just take off the grip, cut a couple of inches off and put a new grip on? Or would it be a better idea to sell/trade-in my putter and by a new one that's small?

If you really like your putter, I would stick with it and get it shortened. Any golf shop would do that for you for about $ 8.00.

Yes.

You could do that, too, but I'm sure it'd be more expensive

It's not that hard to pop your own grip off, hack off some length, and put the grip back on, especially if you have a small air compressor.

BE WARNED: If you start changing your own grips, it won't be long before you're changing your own shafts, and building clubs for your buddies.

The average golfer has around 36 + putts per round. So the putter is the most used club in the bag, why not go get your putter fitted to you.

I would say get it shortened if you are gripping it right down to the shaft. Perhaps its because of gripping on the shaft that causes the feeling of the weight/balance being off.

I had a friend who used to grip down (not to the shaft mind you) but was a very good putter and actually prefer having the extra length. For me however, I like my putter to be the exact length where the tip doesnt extends pass.

You can actually still use the same grip if the condition is still reasonably new as taking it off wont damage it if done properly.

Okay, I think I'll have a go myself then. Any tips for how to get the grip on and off, like tools to use?

The best thing to do (please, please trust me on this) is to spend a bit of cash up front, and buy a small air compressor. No, not the 12 volt continuous motor one for your car. One with a tank and regulator. They sell for less than $100 CAD. Then either take a small piece of PVC pipe or one of those 'club protector' tubes, and cut it to about 10". Don't forget a can of WD-40, or some other short-action lubricant (as WD-40 is actually a cleaner, not really a lube).

Here's the compressor method:

Make sure club is secure (a vise is nice - and a bit of rubber hose slit lengthwise should protect the shaft).

Slide the protector tube over the grip. With your WD40 (or other spray lube), stick the nozzle in the grip vent hole, and spray a little in there. You may need to use an awl or other longish pointy object (a coat hanger works) to break the grip tape underneath the grip.

Now, get your compressor charged up, and using a tapered nozzle attachment (success has been had with a ball inflation needle as well), stick it securely in the vent hole.

Apply short bursts of air while simultaneously twisting the protector tube. If the grip starts to stick, pull the nozzle out, add some more lube, stick the nozzle back in, and apply a bit of continuous air while twisting the grip. Sooner or later, the grip will just slide off on a cushion of air.

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The other method involves a coat hanger (or other long, small, strong object), a syringe, and a ton of lubricant. Using the syringe, you shoot lubricant (some use grip solvent here, or mineral spirits - also useful in the above method) up between the grip and the shaft. You'll shoot a LOT of lubricant up. Then, with the club solidly held in the vise, you start twisting the grip, and trying to ram the coat hanger up the grip to help 1) spread the lube around and 2) break the grip free of the tape.

If you're not going to use the compressor method, you're almost further ahead to buy a utility knife (box cutter) and some hook blades. Cut the grip off, and install a new one.

I can post the conventional grip installation method if you like (using solvent, grip tape, and quick hands, if you like). But again, the compressor method is faster, easier, and less messy.

__________________
True Length Technology Fitter - www.truelengthtechnology.com
It's live! - www.ShipShapeClubs.com
PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

Heh, I think I'll just take it to the shop and have it done

But for a small investment (the compressor), you can regrip your irons, driver, wedges... and think of the money you'll save!

For those that want to DIY with changing grips, make sure that the grip is put on correctly, e.g. the flat part of the putter grip is not bent or off line. This makes a LOT of difference to your putting stroke. I had a grip that was put on incorrectly where perhaps it was only slightly off by 1-2mm and that was enought to make me hit inconsistent putt.