Putter Length

Under the rules on club length, it says that the maximum length of a club is 48" but that putters are excluded. But it goes right on to describe the differences in the method of measuring the length of a wood/iron and a putter.

If there's no limit on putter length, why do they bother explaining in detail how to measure it's length?

Wouldn't you think they should set max length of a putter so that those with long putters do not have an advantge when dropping a ball.

PS: I have a 50" putter!

Putters still have a minimum length (18 inches) so that is probably why they describe how to measure them.

No one (or very, very few at least) on tour uses their long putters to measure with. Although allowed by the rules, it is not looked upon with kind eyes by the other competitors, so everyone avoids taking advantage of the putters length in these situations.

Thanks Peter - I had forgotten about the minimum length.

I am surprised that tour players don't use the putter length rule to their advantage. Most of them do use the rules to full advantage in most other cases.

If the rule excluded using the putter for relief measurements, perhaps that might be more equitable? For some reason putters do seem to have less stringent rules than other clubs. Perhaps because industry and individuals like to experiment more with this club than any other?

I suspect that the rules are the way they are because of the R&A and USGA not keeping their rules up to date visavi developments in the industry. When they woke up to the long putter issue, the market was already full of them (and other putters with untraditional design and sporting novel innovations).

It's a bit like when they set restrictions on how long a golf ball may travel: they had to make the rules so balls already available were not rendered illegal. Since the available balls already could travel quite a distance, the rule has had little effect.

__________________
Regards, Peter
(WITB)

It has to do with etiquette. While you're allowed to use any club, etiquette dictates that you use the club that you intend to make your next stroke with.

Note: In order to determine the nearest point of relief accurately, the player should use the club with which he would have made his next stroke if the condition were not there to simulate the address position, direction of play and swing for such a stroke.

If you are requesting relief from an obstruction, you should use a club that you would normally use for the shot in question. Firstly to show that relief is needed and secondly to confirm that the chosen spot provides the relief required. After that, I believe, you can use another club for the actual shot if it suits you.

When taking a one or two club drop, you can use any club in the bag or even another players' clu so long as that club does not provide you with an advantage. No need to use teh club you will use to play the shot. You will almost always see the pros using their driver but their is nothing to sop them using a long putter if they wish to.

The rules are not specific on this, but the decisions are.

If I am misinformed, please lead me to the actual rule/decision!

I think the pro's have an agreement not to use the putter, based on simple 'fair play'.

Not all players carry an unlimited length club, but all carry a longest club inside 48" ... the driver.

Which rule/decision is this ?

You can use any club to determine "2 club lengths"
For free relief from an obstruction you should use the club you intend to hit.
However if you then decide to use a new club, perhaps a better lie, if you are not clear with that new club you can use it to gain relief (and so on and so on, until you are hitting your driver off the deck)
You then do not have to continue to use that club.
so you can go
8I -> 5I -> Driver
and then hit an 8Iron from the Relief point with a driver.

USGA/R&A Decisions 20/1 & 20/2 talk about this.

Relief or dropping is covered in several rules but only specifies whether the distance is one or two club-lengths. Clublength is not defined - it is presumably any legal club and could be a long putter or whatever you decide upon.

Nothing in the section on etiquette about not taking advantage of a long putter.

Nothing about clublength in definitions

Thanks, it was Dec 20/2, about the 'overlong' borrowed club that I couldn't find.

Most drivers these days are around 48 inch, even the longest putters are only 52 inches, the average long putter is 46 inch, they just seem longer because they are more upright, So you are only talking a four inch diff. not worth the effort or agument which might cause by using it. Even two club length is 8 inches, less then your foot, pretty minor, and probably not going to help much

Well, these guys make them to 56", so that's 8 inches difference on the club - 16 on a 2 club drop.

And what is worth noticing is, that this is not just a matter of distance in one direction, but a matter of AREA where dropping is legal.

Some quick maths says that the drop zone using a 48" driver is appx 7200 sq.in. - but with a 56" chest-putter, it's appx 9800 sq. in.

That's an increase of appx 35% over the driver.

"Pretty minor"? I don't think so.

Where did find that 56 inch putters, the longest I could find was 52 inch. I am 6 ft tall, by the time I lean over slightly, and I mean slightly, a 56 inch putter would anchored to my forehead....lol...guess for them 7 foot tall golfer, they will have an advantage...lol