Thanks so much for using my books and The Learning Curve/DVD to help your game. I’m really thankful for fans like you who have a strong desire to improve your games, and who believe my teaching methods are helping you get better. It’s why I so enjoy doing what I do…thanks again for your feedback.

With my commitments to teaching golf professionals, emerging talent in the college ranks, as well as amateurs who visit with me at Grayhawk in Scottsdale, time constraints for shooting video make it tough. But, recently I’ve been working with a company called MyContent.com. As part of teaching curriculum we put together, I shot 4 separate videos to cover key elements of the game to which I’ve dedicated my teaching career…all focused on short game techniques: putting, chipping, pitching and bunker play. You can go to http://www.mycontent.com/stanutleygolf/#product=3158 to learn more about how you can obtain these short-game videos. I hope to add depth to each area of the short game on the MyContent.com site, with more video “chapters” covering additional tips as soon as I can get a few days to shoot more video footage. Whenever we do that, we’ll announce it on my web site..

Thanks again for your support and your kind comments. I hope you enjoy my website. You can also find me on Facebook and on Twitter.

Stan

I’ve really enjoyed all of your books and they have helped my game tremendously. Your methods have done wonders for my short game, especially my pitching and chipping. Do you think you will ever do a video on “The Art of the Short Game?” I bought your “Learning the Curve” DVD after reading your first book and it really helped me to visualize the technique. I’ve watched every short video that has surfaced on Youtube but was hoping that you may do a full length DVD. Thanks for the help with my game!!!!

Steve

The main reason that I have a 36″ Scotty Cameron is because when I started using Ping Ansers in 1982, their 35″ putters were within one-eighth inch of what Scotty calls 36″ now. Just one of those questions of where do you start measuring the length of a putter from, and what is really standard for off-the-rack putters these days.

That said, I try and fit the putter so that when a student is in a comfortable address posture, they can grip their putter with slightly bent elbows. This helps them stay softer in the arms than if they have to staighten the elbows all the way out…whch they would have to do with a 34″ or possibly 35″ putter. Sounds like this could help you as well.

Do be careful with weight. When you lengthen a putter, the swing weight goes up. I had weight taken out of my Scotty Cameron when I lengthened it so that the swing weight would stay the same (D2) as I’ve always had. That’s a very comfortable feel for me.

Stan

Thanks, Jim (My mother lived at Sun Lakes in Chandler for several years and I know what you mean about the great weather on your one video from Grayhawk.)

I notice you use a 36″ putter which is longer than most. I am 6′4″ and use a 35″ putter but have often felt a longer putter would help me relax more over the shot. What are your reasons for using a longer putter? Are any modification (lead tape) needed to be done to the putter to ensure the correct swing weight when adding length?

Thanks,

Keith

For many of my students though, a toe-down putter is better than a face-up putter. If you balance the shaft of your putter horizontally on your finger and the face of the putter points to the sky…this is a face-up, or face-balanced putter. Many putter models from Scotty Cameron, Odyssey, TaylorMade, Ping and others are face-balanced.

If you take a Scotty Newport, Ping Anser or an Odyssey White Hot Tour #1 putter, try to horizontally balance the shaft on your finger and you’ll note that the putter toe will point partially down toward the floor. I find these putters are generally easier to use in the putting stroke that I teach.

What is very important is to have confidence in your stroke and you need to feel comfortable as you stand over your ball as you putt. There are many models of putters from good companies that will likely work for you, and perhaps a Scotty Cameron model could be for you. Go to one of the wonderful stores in your area where you can pick up any putter on the rack and hit some balls on the practice green inside the store. Determine if it is face- or heel/toe-balanced, try several of each, and see how you feel as you stroke the ball. I hope this helps.

Thanks, Jim Burnes