Putting movement and performance outcome using standard, belly and long putters

Abstract

In golf, play on the green has a large impact on final score and a great amount of time is spent on coaching and practice greens to improve putting performance. The study purpose was to measure putting outcome performance when different length putters were used with an anchoring mechanism. Seventy-two skilled golfers each executed a total of 60 putts using standard, belly and long putters from two distances. Putting mechanics were assessed using SAM PuttLab™. From 1.83 m (6 ft) participants holed 80.3% of putts with a standard length putter, dropping to 78.6 and 75.3% for belly and long-handled putters. At 3.66 m (12 ft) participants holed 51.7% of putts with a standard length putter, and 50.8 and 46.9% for belly and long-handled putters. Shot performance showed no significant differences between or within clubs. There were significant (p < 0.05) but small effect size between-club differences for swing time, putter head rotation and putter face impact spot. Results show that while anchoring may reduce putter head rotation it does not prevent rotation. It has been ascertained for a large cohort of different handicap golfers not accustomed to using longer putters that using an anchored putter will not necessarily provide a scoring advantage over using a standard putter without an anchoring system. Practice may better focus on the individual golfer’s specific technical weaknesses identified by the performer or by a coach.