Broomstick Putter Customization and Case

Problem Statement

This project stemmed from the realization I like broomstick putters. I demoed one in November from my local club and quickly came to realize how good it felt in my hands. As I talked with the head pro I found out he also used a broomstick putter and was hoping to retrieve it from Australia. Because it was custom, with a full length over 50", it would not travel in a standard travel bag. I decided to build him a custom putter case as a Christmas gift.

Then, in December, I bought myself a broomstick putter for Christmas and decided that the only thing I wasn’t thrilled with was the weight of the clubhead. After talking with the head pro for a bit I realized I just needed to add a one or two hundred grams of weight to make it flow well with my swing. The question was, could I design a conforming modification that would allow me to increase the weight of the club enough to make a difference.

Solution Summary

I built two things as part of this project: 1) a travel case for a broomstick putter combining PVC and PLA; and 2) a custom modification to a putter head conforming to USGA standards that added more than 100g of weight to the head.

Timeline

Demo & Artifacts

• Live demo
• Album

Core Content

I like the idea of creating functional items to make things better. When I hear of problems I often think about whether there’s a simple solution just around the corner that I can find or create. I had been wondering if broomstick putters could fit my playstyle for years, but had never seriously contemplated getting one. I tried one at a pro shop while waiting for an appointment and realized I truly enjoyed the feel. I figured I would get one for myself using store credit at my local shop.

When I mentioned it to the head pro at my local golf course he informed me that he was traveling back to Australia and was thinking he would bring back his broomstick putter if he could. The problem was he could not fit it in most cases because it was longer than a standard broomstick putter, which ranges from 44 to 48 inches. I told him I would make him a case so he could bring his putter back. He ended up not using it, but it was a fun project that taught me about interfacing multiple materials in simple and sturdy ways.

A few days later I got my own broomstick putter–a Cleveland HB Soft 2 with a 48" shaft. While practicing with it I realized that it felt too light in my swing because my preferred swing mechanic is a pull–rather than the traditional push with the claw–and the easiest way for me to retain control without fundamentally changing my swing would be to add weight. The build took three separate design phases and a total of 5 prototypes. The end result is a 1 of 1 putter that conforms to USGA rules and provides me with excellent weight control.

Phase 1: A 50" case

Requirements

1. Supports length of a 50" putter.
2. Protects both the shaft and the head of the putter.
3. Can be assembled without tools in under 3 minutes.
4. Can withstand the impacts of international air travel without damaging the putter inside.
5. (Stretch) Can be locked shut to prevent unwanted access. This must conform to FAA regulations.

Build Analysis

I designed and built a working prototype within 24 hours of taking on the task. The first box I made for the putter head was the correct size but did not take into account how the bolts would need to sit to lock into place. Therefore, I had to create an updated version that fit the lid within the case itself, by creating a recess for it to slot into. The updated design looked better and was more practical.

Phase 2: Initial weight additions to the putter

Requirements

1. Adds 50-150g of weight to the putter.
2. Does not alter the lie or the angle of the putter.
3. Is not noticable from more than 10 yards away.
4. Weight remains centered within the putter head so that it is not toe/heel nor face weighted.

Build Analysis

The initial build focused on adding functional weight to the putter with little head to anything else. The result was a well intentioned add on to the shaft that was both sturdy and completely unusable. I had not checked all the restrictions of the USGA conformance prior to designing the customizations. It turns out almost everything I chose to do was against their rules. The experience of designing something functional and then receiving feedback that it can’t be used, was familiar enough that it didn’t faze me.

Phase 3: iterative upgrades

Instead, I applied what I’d learned through the initial build to build a conforming addition to the putter within a day. My approach was to map the back of the putter head and try to design something that would fit seamlessly over and onto it. I wanted to refrain from gluing it in place so that I could make as many modifications as I needed to before finalizing the work. This lead me to buy a case of 2/3/4/5 mm bolts of varying lengths so I could find the right mixture of hardware to make weights spread evenly across the head for balance.

The initial design worked well. It used a half dozen 5mm bolts to add weight to the head. They were threaded through the back of the 3D printed add on for the putter head. This brought the weight up by approximately 50g. When I realized it would not be nearly enough I decided to make a less form-fit design that could house a much larger mass of washers and bolts. Thus, the next iterations focused on creating a central chamber where I housed larger washers to add weight. This allowed me to boost the weight gained from 50g to approximately 150g.

The final piece of the puzzle was figuring out how best to secure everything in place so that it would be considered conforming. I ended up gluing washers into the modification to ensure they would not shift after continual use. I added a piece of foam to the back end as well as an extra precaution. The bolts themselves hold fast and, if taken apart, the modification will not be useful after repeated assembly.

Requirements

1. Conforms to USGA requirements
2. Maintained the center line of the original putter
3. Securely fastens all parts in such a way that removal requires destruction of the modification
4. Increase total weight to 600g or more

Build Analysis

I’ve been using the modified putter for months and it has proven to hold up to consistent play. The internal parts have not moved, as far as I can determine, and the fixtures remain secure without adjustment. I wish I could increase the weight by another 50-100g but I am okay with where it sits today. I also wish I had a slightly more elegant design, and at some point I will likely try to make the putter modification less boxy so as to confrom to the putter’s original design.

Closing

People make fun of me for having a weird, 1-of-1 putter and I love it. Too often do people take themselves too seriously to have fun with what they’re doing. I revel in the fact that my craft is as much a part of how I play the game as my form is.

References

• Dimensions of a putter head (USGA)

(iii) Putters (see Fig. 44) When the clubhead is in its normal address position, the dimensions of the head must be such that:

• the distance from the heel to the toe is greater than the distance from the face to the back;
• the distance from the heel to the toe of the head is less than or equal to 7 inches (177.8 mm);
• the distance from the heel to the toe of the face is greater than or equal to two thirds of the distance from the face to the back of the head;
• the distance from the heel to the toe of the face is greater than or equal to half of the distance from the heel to the toe of the head; and
• the distance from the sole to the top of the head, including any permitted features, is less than or equal to 2.5 inches (63.5 mm). For traditionally shaped heads, these dimensions will be measured on horizontal lines between vertical projections of the outermost points of:
• the heel and the toe of the head;
• the heel and the toe of the face; and
• the face and the back;
• and on vertical lines between the horizontal projections of the outermost points of the sole and the top of the head. For unusually shaped heads, the toe to heel dimension may be made at the face.