"Magic Broomstick," Shall We Try It This Time?

Noh Yerim Claims First Founders Cup Victory After Putter Switch
Ko Jin-young Orders Long Putter, Says "Will Use If Given the Chance"
Glover, Clark, Fowler, and An Byeonghun Find Revival with the Broomstick
Minimizes Wrist Action, Excels in Straightness, Requires Ample Practice

This year, the "magic broomstick" is once again drawing attention in the golf world. It is the Broomstick Putter. It is also called the "broomstick putter" because it resembles a broom used for sweeping yards.

Noh Ye-rim, who switched to a Broomstick putter, is cheering after winning first place for the first time at the LPGA Tour Founders Cup. Bradenton=AFP·Yonhap News

Korean-American player Noh Ye-rim (USA), sponsored by Daebang Construction, caused a sensation at this tournament. On the 9th (local time), she showcased her clutch putting skills and claimed the top spot at the LPGA Tour Founders Cup held at Braden River Country Club (par 71) in Bradenton, Florida, USA. This was her first victory since debuting on the LPGA Tour in 2020.

Noh Ye-rim made a strategic move to overcome her putting slump by switching to the Broomstick Putter, which paid off handsomely at this tournament. She said, "After changing my putter, my putting improved, and my shot feel also got better as a result. This win has boosted my confidence, and I look forward to achieving even better results."

Noh Ye-rim is putting with a broomstick putter on the 16th hole of the Founders Cup Round 3. Bradenton=AFP·Yonhap News

The runner-up Ko Jin-young, who competed against Noh Ye-rim in the champion group at the Founders Cup, also plans to test the broomstick putter. After trying a long putter during practice rounds, she even placed an order for one. She said, "My father recommended that a long putter suits me well, so I tried it. I think I need more practice before using it in actual competition."

The Broomstick Putter began to appear frequently on the PGA Tour starting in 2023. Wyndham Clark (USA) added a victory using this putter. He ordered the Lap Golf Mez.1 Max putter used by Adam Scott, who won the Masters in 2013 with a broomstick putter, because their physical conditions were similar. Subsequently, he won two titles in 2023?the Wells Fargo Championship and the major US Open?proving the effectiveness of switching putters.

Ricky Fowler, who was in a slump, won the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic, and Keegan Bradley won the 2023 Travelers Championship and last year's BMW Championship using the Broomstick Putter. Among Korean players, Kim Si-woo and An Byeong-hun have also drawn attention by achieving good results with this putter.

Lucas Glover became a completely different player after switching to the 2023 Broomstick putter, winning two consecutive victories. Photo by AFP·Yonhap News

The player who showed the most significant change with this putter is Lucas Glover (USA). A veteran with six career wins including the 2009 US Open, he struggled with putting after his fourth win at the 2021 John Deere Classic. He even considered putting left-handed. However, after switching to the Broomstick Putter in 2023, he successfully revived his career by winning back-to-back titles at the Wyndham Championship and the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

The Broomstick Putter resembles the belly putter (46?49 inches) that was popular in the past. While the typical putter length is 33?35 inches, the Broomstick Putter is longer, measuring 40?45 inches. Its grip end (butt) reaches up to chest height.

The belly putter disappeared about 10 years ago. In 2012, golf legend Tiger Woods publicly opposed it, stating, "Putting requires harmonious control of the upper body and club, and anchoring the putter to the body is not right," sparking controversy. Eventually, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club (R&A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) revised the golf rules in 2016 to ban "anchored putting" (stroking with the putter anchored to the body). Following prior notice in May 2013, the new rule took effect on January 1, 2016.

Ahn Byung-hoon has shown stable skills after putting the Broomstick putter in his caddie bag. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

However, the Broomstick Putter is allowed as long as it is not anchored to the body. It is not a rules violation if the stroke is made without resting it against the chest. The biggest advantage of this putter is that it induces a stable pendulum motion, improving putting accuracy. It allows the use of the upper body for the stroke, minimizing wrist use and maintaining a consistent putting rhythm.

It is especially suitable for golfers who tend to apply sudden force. However, it also has drawbacks. It requires a lot of practice, is effective for short distances but relatively difficult for long putts. Additionally, because it excels in straightness, distance control is not easy, and adaptation is needed on slow greens. For these reasons, amateur golfers often hesitate to switch putters.

Nevertheless, the reason the Broomstick Putter is gaining attention again is clear. The advantages of the long putter, which disappeared after the belly putter was banned, are being reappraised, and players using it are winning tournaments and showing results.