A common putting flaw I see in my golf lessons is excessive wrist action. Increased wrists leads to a loss of control of the putterhead before impact and an abundance of missed putts. With greens in better condition these days, the need for precision in putting has grown. In other words, you must overcome this putting flaw to achieve a lower golf handicap. Enter the long putters.

Long putters curb wrist action by anchoring the putter to a fixed pointyour stomach or your sternum. While I prefer a regular putter to a long one. I encourage players who take my golf lessons to use whichever putter works for them. I also encourage them to learn the proper technique using a long putter, which I described in my golf tips.

Three broad categories of putters exist: regular, long, and extra long. Regular (or the standard length) putters measure 33 to 36 inches long. Long putters (or mid-length) putters measure 38 to 45 inches. And extra-long putters measure from 46 to 52 inches or so. Most long putters have split grips. Try several types before choosing one.

Once youve selected a putter, you need to learn how to hit it. Below are some golf tips on hitting long and extra-long putters.

Extra Long Putter

The extra long putter takes wrist action almost completely out of play, replacing it with a fixed center (sternum) around which your putterhead moves. With the extra long putter you need to think pendulum. The sweeping pendulum-like stroke needed with an extra long putter is more consistent than the stroke required for a regular length putter. Plus, the club is easier on the back than a regular length putter. However, the extra long putter does have a weaknesslack of distance control.

To use the long putter, place your top hand at the top of the putters grip and place the grip against your sternum. You can grip the club with the other hand as you normally would. Or, you can try another grip. Some players hold the shaft like a pencil. Others hold the shaft between the curled index finger and middle fingers of the right hand. Either way works as long as the top of the shaft ends at about the height of the logo on your shirt when youre in a slightly upright putting stance and the putters sole is resting on the ground.

You have two ways to applying force with a long putterbending and straightening of the right arm or rocking motion your shoulders. Some players prefer to bend and straighten their right arms (for right-handers). Others prefer to rock their shoulders back and forth. Whichever method you choose, its essential keep the upper body still so it can act as the fulcrum around which the pendulum- like swing moves.

Mid-Length Putter

Mid-length putters are 10 to 12 inches longer than a regular putter and have either an extended grip or a split one. With this type of putter having the right length club is critical. The putter should extend to about three inches beyond your belly button when youre standing in the upright position. Your height and body shape will determine the exact length for you.

Using a mid-length putter is a lot like using a regular putter except, of course, for anchoring the putter to your mid-sectionwhich provides the foundation for your swing. The anchored shaft stabilizes the club around the hinge point, taking the wrist out of play. Youre options for putting the ball are the same as with the long putter. User either your right arm to pull and push the club or your shoulders to provide a smooth, rhythmic swing.

Both the long putter and the extra-long putter are viable alternatives to a regular length putter. Both minimize wrist action when hit properly and both need a stable anchor point to be effective. Both they also require you to learn a new a putting technique to hit them properly. But learning a new putting technique is only the first step in using these putters. You still need to practice with them every chance you get, if you want to lower your golf handicap.