In last week's column I emphasized the importance of matching your putting style with the particular type of putter you are using. As a follow up, this column deals with the specifics of the types of putters available, and the different set ups and grips that can be used. This will hopefully help you select the equipment and method that is best for you.

If you watch golf on television, you will note that today's Tour professionals exhibit a number of different stroke techniques and use a variety of different putters. When the chosen method is in harmony with the equipment, good putts are usually the result.

There are three commonly-used putter lengths: the Long putter, which is rested against the chest near the sternum (50-plus inches); the Belly putter, which is rested against the belly near the navel (40-50 inches); and the most common, the Standard or Short putter (28-37 inches).

The length of the putter is the first decision that you need to make. I suggest you try all three putter lengths and putting styles to find the one in which you are most comfortable with and most proficient at getting the correct roll.

The length of the putter needs to be fitted to your stroke, and the balance (weight ratio between head and handle) of the putter needs to match the length of the putter.

Once your desired length has been determined, the grip is next decision. The Long putter uses a split grip with the top hand anchoring the grip to the chest (From the Tour professional ranks, Tim Clark is a good example).

The Belly putter may use either a spilt grip or a grip with hands together with the putter resting against your belly (see Sergio Garcia's latest method).

The hand position for a Standard length putter can vary in many ways. The most common hand placements are with the trail hand below the lead hand like the standard golf grip. The lower hand for all three methods can have palm facing the target (golf grip style), palm facing the ground (saw style - Mark Calcavecchia), be held with a fist (Chris DiMarco), between the fingers claw style (Vijay Singh - sometimes) and any other way you chose to place it on the grip.

Also, the lead and trail hands can be reversed (cross-handed, a la Juli Inkster) with any style. And the slight finger changes are endless and individual.

Eye placement can be over the target line or inside this line but is best if parallel to the target line. The posture should keep the weight over the arches so the lower body stays very stable during the stroke.

Since there is more variety in putting styles than in any other facet of golf, it's imperative that you experiment with the different options and consult with a trained expert on what is best for you. That expertise can be found in your local PGA Golf Professional, who is ready and willing at a golf facility near you to help you find the best way to get the ball rolling toward the hole. For a list of facilities staffed by PGA Golf Professionals near you, log on to www.PlayGolfAmerica.com and use the zip code search.

For our next column, now that we have selected the putter and the corresponding set up, we will analyze the stroke. Until then, here's to better golf!

Rick Martino is Director of Instruction for The PGA of America. He teaches at the PGA Learning Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and is ranked among the Top 50 instructors by Golf Digest Magazine. The author of the PGA Manual of Golf (Warner Books/$34.95), Martino can be reached at (800) 800-GOLF or by email at pgalearningcenter@pgahq.com.