• We'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas from all at Golf Monthly. Thank you for sharing your 2025 with us!

Belly Putters

FairwayDodger

FairwayDodger

Money List Winner
Joined
Dec 11, 2011
Messages
9,622
Location
Edinburgh
Visit site
I'm not a fan of belly putters and broom handles - I'm old enough to think they're just not "proper" golf. But that's not the purpose of this post.

I tried a belly putter in a golf shop for the first time yesterday. Practising from 6 feet I didn't miss a single one with the belly putter; simple - line up, putt, straight in every time.

Switching back to a conventional putter I was missing about 1 in 3 from that range - bearing in mind this is a golf shop so perfectly flat, big holes...... underfloor magnets guiding the balls in etc... :lol:

So it's easy to understand why people would go to the belly.....

What's the forum view - who's made the switch? Who's considering it?
 
Don't even think about it, it's just admitting defeat.
I could of course offer an alternative at a fraction of the cost and embarassment
 
I tried one when I was fitted for my Scotty. It was a TM Ghost Spider version and I can honestly say they're not for me.

Didn't like the feel of it one bit.
 
bobmac said:
Don't even think about it, it's just admitting defeat.
I could of course offer an alternative at a fraction of the cost and embarassment
Click to expand...

Ha! I feared you'd be along with such a suggestion! ;)

Don't worry - not considering it - but will do some practice thinking about how I swung the putter differently.
 
If it makes the game more enjoyable for more people then let them eat cake.

As for on tour I don't think it really matters as I don't see anyone picking one up and taking the world over, and even if you do see someone improve overnight then I'd have to argue that just putting a different putter in their hands could have had the same effect, to take away the putting blues and give them a new confident outlook on putting.

I have two and use them frequently and honestly don't see any real advantage. Its just a different method of putting. I didn't pick one up because I was at the end of my tether, I picked one up because it was big and different. I have enjoyed using one and will continue to do so at different times.


I don't see the harm in it. Golf is there to be enjoyed by the masses and if this helps some of them for whatever reason then good for them.
 
Last edited:
I tried one a few months ago and put a post up about it.

Like you i could'nt miss with the thing, but that was on a small flattish green not sure how eff it would be from off the green on link courses.

If the putting goes off the boil and get the yips would deff switch, though i don't on the whole agree with them being used.
 
Ya pays ya money and makes your choice. Never used one. But if it works for you why not. The game is here to be enjoyed. Don't really see any difference between them and 460 drivers of GI clubs? If it helps you enjoy the game more. Oh saw a lovely Scotty belly putter the other day!
 
Well for me, I think they are not what the game is all about. Every club in your bag is played using 2 anchor points (Your hands) This type of putter changes things as now you have the added advantage of 3 anchor points. Since changing putters Kooch has come out of the wilderness and is a nailed on top 10 finisher every week. Adam Scott got his game back together since changing, Martin Laird someone we never heard of before starts to make millions. I accept that some people have tried them and can't get on with them, and the best quote came from Jack recently. "If it meant the difference between winning and a top 20 finish, then I'd change every time. Do I think it should be allowed, no as its not cricket as you English say"
 
doc333 said:
Well for me, I think they are not what the game is all about.
Click to expand...

Doc, I tend to agree - watching golf I'm (sadly) using wanting the long putter player to miss. But that's softened a bit with Martin Laird since he's Scottish and from my Dad's old club.... I guess we can all be guilty of a little bit of hypocrisy..... :smirk:

However, I didn't want to start a debate on the rights on wrongs of belly putters - only their efficacy. I was genuinely surprised how easy I found it to hole those 6 footers.
 
FairwayDodger said:
Doc, I tend to agree - watching golf I'm (sadly) using wanting the long putter player to miss. But that's softened a bit with Martin Laird since he's Scottish and from my Dad's old club.... I guess we can all be guilty of a little bit of hypocrisy..... :smirk:

However, I didn't want to start a debate on the rights on wrongs of belly putters - only their efficacy. I was genuinely surprised how easy I found it to hole those 6 footers.
Click to expand...

Jimmi Ness
Els
Laird
Goose
Kuchar
Couples


etc etc.

You want one buy one use one. Its quite simple.
 
Just back from the course, where I was trying to capture the belly putter / V-easy putting stroke and keep my legs and hips quieter than normal.

Definitely an improvement, I think. You wouldn't believe it when I say I shot 74 with 37 putts... yes HALF my shots were putts. But it's more because our greens are shockingly slow at the moment - lots of good looking putts pulling up short but I holed out well from 5 feet in.

On a plus side.... that's pretty good going tee to green for me....!
 
Swinger said:
If it makes the game more enjoyable for more people then let them eat cake.

As for on tour I don't think it really matters as I don't see anyone picking one up and taking the world over, and even if you do see someone improve overnight then I'd have to argue that just putting a different putter in their hands could have had the same effect, to take away the putting blues and give them a new confident outlook on putting.

I have two and use them frequently and honestly don't see any real advantage. Its just a different method of putting. I didn't pick one up because I was at the end of my tether, I picked one up because it was big and different. I have enjoyed using one and will continue to do so at different times.


I don't see the harm in it. Golf is there to be enjoyed by the masses and if this helps some of them for whatever reason then good for them.
Click to expand...
This post echoes my thoughts on the matter completely. I have had the belly putter for a few weeks now, and love it due to the confidence it gives me on the green.
 
I think they should be banned. However they aren't and until the R&A and USGA grow a pair and come out with a decision to do so then if it helps a player improve, especially club players like us then go for it. I've tried them and they aren't for me but if they make it easier for you then why make the game harder and less enjoyable
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

seochris
  • Locked
Zero Torque Putters? Is it hype or a thing?
13 14 15
Replies
288
Views
20K
Billysboots
Billysboots
harpo_72
Square to square putters
2 3
Replies
52
Views
4K
harpo_72
harpo_72
W
First comp
Replies
12
Views
2K
kp17
kp17
T
Drills for swing improvement
Replies
2
Views
795
tins20
T
B
Spain (Murcia) October 2025 Trip Report
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
Burnsey
B
Top