Broomstick "The Magical Broom Putter That Calls for Victory"

Glover, Clark, Fowler, Ahn Byung-hoon Revival New Weapon
Minimized Wrist Use, Excellent Pendulum Motion Straightness
Requires Extensive Practice, Weaknesses in Long Distance and Slow Greens

'Broomstick putter.'

It is the trending weapon these days. It is also called a 'broomstick putter' because it resembles a broom used for sweeping yards. This year on the PGA Tour, the broomstick putter has been frequently seen. Players like Rickie Fowler (Rocket Mortgage Classic), Wyndham Clark (Wells Fargo Championship, US Open), and Keegan Bradley (Travelers Championship, all from the United States) have reached the top after switching to broomstick putters. Among Korean players, Kim Siwoo and An Byeonghun are also enjoying success wielding this weapon.

Especially impressive is the comeback story of veteran Lucas Glover (USA). He became a different player after switching to the broomstick putter. This year, he struggled with putting yips and even considered putting left-handed. Glover took a gamble after seeing players suffering from win droughts improve their results after switching to broomstick putters.

Lucas Glover became a completely different player after switching to the Broomstick putter, winning two consecutive victories.

Glover ordered the LAB Golf Mezz.1 Max Putter, used by Adam Scott, the first Australian to win the Masters in 2013, who also uses a 'broomstick putter.' This was because their physical conditions were similar. Glover is 188 cm tall, and Scott is 183 cm. The LAB Golf Mezz.1 Max Putter is characterized by maintaining low head torque. Thanks to 16 individual sole weights arranged along the wings, twisting at impact is reduced. Glover achieved back-to-back wins two weeks ago at the Wyndham Championship, the final regular tournament, and last week at the first FedEx Cup Playoff (PO) event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

The broomstick putter resembles the belly putter (46?49 inches) that was popular in the past. The typical length of a putter is 33?35 inches. The broomstick putter measures 40?45 inches, with the butt end of the grip reaching up to the chest. The belly putter disappeared about ten years ago. The controversy began in 2012 when 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) expressed opposition to the use of belly putters. He argued, "Putting is about harmoniously controlling the upper body and club, not about anchoring it to the body." Since then, heated debates have ensued.

Eventually, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club (R&A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) revised the golf rules in 2016. They banned so-called 'anchored putting,' where the end of the putter grip is fixed to the belly or chest during the stroke. Since this was a sensitive issue for players, a prior notice was given in May 2013, and the new rule took effect on January 1, 2016.

Ahn Byung-hoon, who struggled in the first half of this year, frequently ranked among the top players in the second half after using the Broomstick putter and advanced to the FedEx Cup playoffs.

After the rule change, some golfers began switching from belly putters to broomstick putters. As long as the putter is not anchored to the body, there is no problem. If the stroke is made without touching the chest, it is allowed. The strength of the broomstick putter lies in facilitating the pendulum motion, which is fundamental to putting. It encourages striking the ball with the shoulders. The top of the grip is held with the left hand, and the right hand grips the middle of the shaft in a pinch grip to perform the stroke. This pendulum motion results in excellent straightness.

The broomstick putter minimizes wrist use and is mostly used while standing. This increases accuracy and helps maintain a consistent putting rhythm. It is suitable for golfers who tend to apply sudden force during putting. At last week's FedEx St. Jude Championship, Glover demonstrated outstanding putting ability over four days. Although his average drive distance was 300.90 yards (37th), and greens in regulation rate was 63.89% (tied 37th), his round putting count was 26 (tied 5th), which was exceptional. Putts between 5 and 10 meters were sucked into the hole. Two weeks ago at the Wyndham Championship, four of the top seven players, including Glover, used broomstick putters.

Of course, the broomstick putter has its drawbacks. First, it requires a lot of practice. This is why tour players use it more often than amateur golfers. It excels at short-distance putting but is challenging for long distances. Because of its excellent straightness, distance control can be difficult. The broomstick putter may also struggle on slow greens.