RE: ShopTalk: belly putter

[Tom Wishon]

Paul:   This is the main reason that we developed the new Putter Fitting Tool in our catalog.  Previously when I developed a putter fitting tool, it was long ago when there were no belly putters being used.  Therefore, the old tool I did when I was designing everything for Golfsmith only fit for lengths of traditional putters up to 37”.  When I developed our new putter fitting tool, I made sure that the telescoping feature for length fitting would allow lengths up through belly putters and on to long pendulum style putter fitting as well.  So this stands as the best way to determine all aspects of belly putter fitting because the tool will nail down the right length and lie angle as well at the same time, all while the golfer’s eyes are directly over the ball to ensure proper address position too.    Without such a tool, the best way would be to start by noting the grip position for the hands at the same position up from the floor as the grip is installed on a conventional putter that fits you when you are in your address position.  Then for the total length of the putter, without a fitting device such as I mentioned, what would suffice would be to again address the putt with a conventional putter and have a friend take a ruler and measure the difference from the end of the conventional putter, to the point on your abdomen where you would be most comfortable with having the butt end of the belly putter touch your abdomen.  Add that length to the length of the conventional putter and you would be as close as you can get without the use of a fitting device.    As to the use of a belly putter, you lock the butt end into your abdomen and then grip the putter as you would be using a conventional putter.  Then the stroke is the same as with a conventional putter, with the difference being that the butt of the putter is locked to your body so that it cannot move and thus acts as more of a stable anchor for the stroke.  Keep in mind the body cannot move just like with a conventional putter.    Hope this helps, and thanks for your interest, TOM WISHON   -----Original Message----- From: Paul Strand [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 6:49 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: ShopTalk: belly putter   I'm thinking of making a belly putter for myself.  Any component favorites?  Any measurements for the grip positions?  Fitting suggestions?  Instructions for using the belly putter?   TIA   Paul Strand