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**bill reed** · 04-12-2009, 04:43 AM

Re: Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

hi
i don't use a belly putter but do use a broomhandled putter. (50") bit like Bernard Langer. it had helped my putting. i was never a great putter even when down to a 4 handicap and that was the weak part of my game. i have found that putting with the broomhandled putter has changed me from a poor putter to a very consistant putter and its rare for me to three putt and i am really good at judging the pace of the greens using the long putter.
it has worked for me for the last two years and wish i had found one 20 years ago and as i think i could of got to scrach.
cheers
Bill

**LowPost42** · 04-12-2009, 12:32 PM

Re: Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

I say whatever works. I tried a belly putter, but found that I have too much belly. I'm waiting for the kid who found out that he putts better with his 3 wood and just keeps using it.

**rotator** · 04-12-2009, 02:07 PM

Re: Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

I agree with LowPost42. Whatever works for you.

Obviously the belly putter works for many people. Amongst the pros, and those guys play for their living and they have to get the best results, there are to name a few, J B Holmes, Fred Couples, Stewart Cink, and so many others I can't think of at the moment. Cink is likely in the top 3 putters in the PGA.

Others have tried it for periods, and if nothing else it gave them training of keeping the wrists from breaking down.

I've also tried many belly putters, as I have the ability to take my regular putters and remodel them from time to time to suit my fancy. I take an old shaft with the grip still attached and temporarily strap it on one of my regular putters to extend the length, and adjust it until it feels good. I then assemble it, adding weight at the head, or whatever. If at any time, I want to change back, I can do so.

Ted

**GolfJunkieSr** · 04-12-2009, 02:41 PM

Re: Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

What ever the length of the putter, if it makes the golfer a more proficient at putting then so be it. I have one I do not use, except to fool around with. If I ever develope a back issue, I would not hesitate to put it in my bag. Not having to put much stress on on one's back is where I see the advantage of using a longer putter. The bottom line is if the guy using the standard length putter has 34 putts for 18 holes, and the other guy using a longer style putter has 29 putts, who's the better putter? Both are legal to use, so what ever trips your trigger is good enough for me. Some years ago I bought a chest high long putter. I could not get use to using it. The head was pretty heavy (500 grams) and I had that head taken off the long shaft, and put on a 34" shaft. I used it quite often when I was playing on slow greens, where it worked like a charm for me. GJS

**Kurt in Kalamazoo** · 04-12-2009, 03:05 PM

Re: Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

Belly putters are good if they help the golfer putt better. If you find something that works - go with it. After all, if it ain't broke...don't break it.

I think the "stigma" of using longer shafted putters is getting less and less given that more PGA Tour players are using them to putt better.

Putting is not about style - it's about consistently rolling your ball in the hole in 2 strokes or less - period! I had the putting yips for years - but then I went to a 43-inch putter that comes just below my chest. And by taking my dominant hand (my right hand) completely out of the putting stroke - I have been putting "yip-free" since 2006 and currently play to a 9-handicap!

I'm sure that belly putters are here to stay and I'm all for it! Go with what works for you, because if it ain't broke...don't break it!

Kurt in Kalamazoo

**dagosa** · 04-12-2009, 05:39 PM

Re: Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

Originally posted by baglgolfer View Post

Maybe its me but Belly Putters look ridiculous. To me its an ovbious sign that players with belly putters have a problem with putting and have given up on trying to fix it. Personally I've never used one and I understand they may be very helpful however I just can't get used to them. Its like putting training wheels back on your bike.

This post is not meant to offend anybody, only to get other people's opinion on this. Not sure if others agree. Curious.

Thanks.

The belly putter can be as much of a training aid as a anything.
After using a belly putter for a while...I found my old Ping was not as deficient as I once though. I actually had developed a "feel" for squaring the bladed on impact with it. I never liked it for distance control, but it makes a great walking stick and like others, I pull it out when the back's a little stiff.

BTW...an Odyssey two ball and all those weight adjustment putters are "training wheels" as well...as well as oversize drivers. Do we all use those ? How about cavity backs when first introduced to the pure blade user. Belly putters have as much a place in golf as any other rule bending device that everyone has in their bag.

**AussieGolfBoy** · 04-13-2009, 02:07 AM

Re: Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

i've got the mallet type putter and i find it awesome to use. i went to this style of putter as i found it stayed straighter in my hands and gave me a more consistant swing.

been using this type of putter now for 4 or 5 yeras now and would find it hard to go back.

but like what others have said... use what makes you putt best

**Slavera** · 04-13-2009, 06:18 PM

Re: Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

Long handle - Belly putters - anything that is "anchored in any way" should be banned IMO.

**bill reed** · 04-13-2009, 07:20 PM

Re: Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

Originally posted by Slavera View Post

Long handle - Belly putters - anything that is "anchored in any way" should be banned IMO.

hi
i take it you think there is some kind of advantage gained using a belly putter.
if that was true then all pros would use them as they want any advantage they can get.
the belly putter does help players that have the yips like B Langer and S Torrance, even VG and Monty have used them.
like Dagosa said the belly putter can be an aid to help you get back that part of your swing that missing and then go back to the "normal" putter.
cheers
Bill

**qassim** · 04-14-2009, 10:30 AM

Re: Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

Originally posted by Slavera View Post

Long handle - Belly putters - anything that is "anchored in any way" should be banned IMO.

I would tend to agree with the above statement.

What are the rules about putter design and putting style ? I know that Sam Snead was banned from using a style where he putted face on with the ball between his legs (i.e. croquet style)

**bill reed** · 04-14-2009, 12:49 PM

Re: Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

Originally posted by qassim View Post

I would tend to agree with the above statement.

What are the rules about putter design and putting style ? I know that Sam Snead was banned from using a style where he putted face on with the ball between his legs (i.e. croquet style)

hi
the rules say you can't have your feet both side's of the putting line and that's what Sam Snead did with his Croquet between the legs shot. he changed it so both feet were on one side of the putting line and still putted face on to the hole, what they call side saddle and it worked well for him and was legal.
cheers
bill

**dagosa** · 04-14-2009, 01:28 PM

Re: Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

Originally posted by qassim View Post

I would tend to agree with the above statement.

What are the rules about putter design and putting style ? I know that Sam Snead was banned from using a style where he putted face on with the ball between his legs (i.e. croquet style)

That's what makes golf so great...the promise of improvement beyond our abilities with the advent of better equipment...
Think I could play as well today with the clubs I used 30 years ago ? No way.
Next, my robotic "ringer" will hit for me.

**baglgolfer** · 04-14-2009, 10:02 PM

Re: Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

I think they are for keeping old pros from having to bend over and keeping them around longer, thus saving their back. Maybe this is a sign from God telling them its time to hang it up. Nobody wants to look at a sweat spot from sticking a club in your bellybutton. Its bad enough on a hot day dealing with the boob sweat.

Lovin the game and discussion!

**rotator** · 04-14-2009, 10:17 PM

Re: Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

Originally posted by qassim View Post

I would tend to agree with the above statement.

What are the rules about putter design and putting style ? I know that Sam Snead was banned from using a style where he putted face on with the ball between his legs (i.e. croquet style)

Hi gassim,

Re design, the rules are set out in the R&A and USGA rules of golf, in the equipment section. These rules are available for a read online. It's quite interesting.

One of the more interesting rules is that the clubhead cannot be greater in depth or length than it is in width. You can see that some of the mallets like the Spyder, Craz-E, etc. are right on the borderline.

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Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

Belly Putters - Good or Bad?

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