Ever walked past the putting green and seen a golfer using a putter so long it looks like it belongs in a different sport? You're not alone. The long putter, in its various forms, often brings up questions for golfers who are used to standard-length clubs. This article will break down exactly why some golfers - from weekend warriors to major champions - make the switch to a long putter, how the rules have adapted, and whether it could be a game-changer for you.
When people talk about long putters, they are usually referring to one of two distinct categories that are longer than the conventional 33-35 inch models. While they work on a similar principle, their application is quite different.
This is the big one, literally. Measuring anywhere from 48 to 52 inches, the broomstick putter is designed to reach all the way up to a player’s sternum. The golfer stands much taller and more upright than they would in a traditional putting stance. Typically, the player grips the very top of the handle with their left hand (for a right-handed player) and places it against their chest, while the right hand grips lower down the shaft to guide the club. The idea is to create a fixed pivot point with the top hand, turning the stroke into a pure pendulum powered by the rocking of the shoulders.
The belly putter is the "shorter" of the two long versions, usually falling in the 41 to 44-inch range. As the name suggests, it was originally designed for the golfer to "anchor" the butt end of the grip into their stomach area. This, like the broomstick, was meant to create a stable pivot point and prevent wristy, uncontrolled movements. While the method of use has been forced to change (more on that in a moment), the mid-length design remains popular for certain techniques like arm-locking.
At its heart, the move to a long putter for the vast majority of golfers boils down to one thing: a desire for stability. The traditional putting stroke, for all its simplicity, relies heavily on the "feel" and fine motor control of the hands and wrists. This is great when you’re putting well, but it’s also the very thing that can fall apart under pressure.
Have you ever heard of the "yips"? It’s a dreaded condition where a golfer experiences involuntary wrist spasms or jitters, usually on short, high-pressure putts. Your brain knows what to do, but your hands just won't cooperate, leading to a nervy, jabby stroke that sends the ball skittering off-line. It's a frustrating, confidence-destroying problem that has afflicted even anout golf’s greatest legends.
The long putter is seen as the ultimate antidote to the yips. By connecting the putter to a more stable part of the body (or holding it in a way that minimizes hand action), you effectively take the small, twitchy muscles of the wrists and hands out of the stroke. The movement is no longer powered by your hands, it’s powered by your big, reliable muscles - your shoulders and your core. Think of it like trying to sign your name. If you only use your fingers, your signature can get shaky. But if you lock your wrist and sign by moving your entire arm, the motion becomes smoother and more consistent. The long putter applies this exact principle to the putting stroke, turning a finicky, nerve-racking motion into a a large, repeatable pendulum.
For decades, players used broomstick and belly putters by physically “anchoring” the grip end of the club to their sternum, chin, or belly. This created a fixed fulcrum, making the pendulum stroke incredibly stable. Players like Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson won majors with anchored belly putters, and Adam Scott memorably captured the 2013 Masters with an anchored broomstick.
However, the USGA and R&A, golf’s governing bodies, decided that anchoring provided too much of an advantage by eliminating a fundamental part of the putting challenge: controlling the entire club with only your hands and arms. As a result, Rule 10.1b (Anchoring the Club) was introduced in 2016.
It’s important to understand this: long putters themselves are not illegal. You can have a putter of any length in your bag. What became illegal was the act of anchoring it. You can no longer intentionally create a fixed pivot point by holding the club or a gripping hand in contact with any part of your body. This forced players to adapt.
While fixing a case of the jitters is the main headline, the benefits of using a long putter go further and can help golfers who don’t even have the yips.
This is the core strength повторение here. By turning your shoulders into the motor, the long putter creates a more consistent path and tempo. It’s a simpler mechanical thought: "rock the shoulders back, rock the shoulders through." This simplicity often leads to much greater consistency, especially when the nerves kick in.
For many golfers, especially taller players or those with chronic back pain, hunching over a standard putter for hours can be genuinely uncomfortable. A long putter allows for a much more upright, athletic posture. This can relieve strain on the lower back and make practice sessions more comfortable. As a bonus, being more upright can sometimes make it easier to see the target line correctly, as your eyes are positioned differently over the ball.
The smooth, large-arc motion of a long putter is fantastic for distance control, particularly on long lag putts. It's often easier to generate a smooth, accelerating stroke on a 50-foot putt by simply making a longer rocking motion with your shoulders than it is to do so with your hands and wrists on a standard putter. The result is fewer three-putts because you're leaving yourself shorter second putts.
Don't underestimate the psychological boost. For a player who was terrified standing over three-footers, the long putter is like a get-out-of-jail-free card. Taking the unreliable hands out of the stroke removes the source of the anxiety. When you feel like you finally have a reliable method, you stand over putts with confidence instead of fear, which is a massive performance enhancer on an emotional level as well as a technical one.
Of course, no piece of equipment is perfect for everyone. There are a few trade-offs to consider before you go all in on a broomstick.
Thinking about giving a long putter a roll? Ask yourself these questions. If you find yourself nodding along to a few, it might be worth a trip to your local pro shop.
Long putters are much more than a gimmick or a crutch for struggling golfers. They are a legitimate tool designed to simplify one of golf's most mentally taxing tasks by promoting a stable, repeatable stroke powered by the body's larger muscles. While they aren't a a magic wand for everyone, for the right player, they can restore confidence and make putting fun again.
As you experiment with your putting - whether it's with a long putter or your current one - getting clear insights makes all the difference. That's why we built Caddie AI. If you're on the course struggling with a tricky putt's read or can't decide on the right pace, you can get instant advice. Off the course, you can ask for drills to perfect that new pendulum stroke or get simple, clear answers to understand why your putting felt off last round. It is your personal golf expert that we designed to help you build confidence on the greens, no matter what kind of putter is in your hands.
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