Do "non conventional" putting styles bother you?

When playing with your friends and/or strangers and they putt in a non-conventional manner, does it bother you at all?  Bother you to the point of making you look away when they putt, laugh to yourself or even moan to your inner-self when they make crazy putts with let's say a long putter--like it's somehow cheating?

or

whatever style someone putts with does it not make one bit of difference to you at all? It's 2011 and who cares!

When I say unconventional I'm thinking:

Long Putter

Belly Putter

Sidesaddle/Face-On Putter  (does anybody here putt this way?)

Hammy style putter

For me, I simply don't care what anybody else putts with, drives, swings like etc... as long as they are pleasant to be around, follow the rules and are somewhat speedy.

But, I have been messing around with different putters over the past few years and have always been curious what goes through others head's. Of course none of my friends seem to care but at the same time, I don't know how many would actually say anything if they did.

I used to play tournaments with a guy who hit a fade on every putt.  I'm only exaggerating slightly, but his outside to in with a slightly open face put a funky roll on the putt as it skittered up there spinning as thought it was doing the Charleston or something.

Absolutely hideous.  I looked away on anything inside 10 feet, or whenever we were putting on a similar line.  I think Billy Mayfair has a similar hideous stroke?

The way others putt does not bother me at all, whatever works for them is fine by me. I tend to watch only those people who are good putters.

My cousin "sits" down like he's in a chair. The putter handle ends up being as high as his croutch.So he then grabs the shaft low, and strokes away. Its hilarious to me but not to him.

if you are bother by somebody elses putting stroke you really need to lighten up. there are 1000 legit or semi legit things to be bothered by from pace of play, to cheating, guys who don't know when or how to be quiet or whatever...but a putting stroke??

No unconventional golfing styles doesn't bother me. I think they are very interesting actually. One of my friends has the opposite grip and i don't mind it. It's just weird how much better he putts classic style but he continues his funky way. I highly dislike the huge grips even though they are comfy.

Well since there are no style points in golf I find unusual putting and swings interesting.  Makes for good conversation on how different folks' techniques solve the individual's scoring issues.

Great responses. Thanks. I always figured most golfers could care less just like I do.  I've never even tried belly or long believe it or not the two I have done is hammy style and sidesaddle/face on.  I had not putted face on for well over a year but the recent article on it by Gary McCord in the last golf magazine made me dust it off and I tell you what, it is such an easy mindless way to put.  You still have to read the greens and break correctly but as far a lining it up and having your ball go straight after impact is just so simple.  I also think the putter and even more so the shaft has a lot to do with it.

My own putting style is unconventional, but people rarely mention it.  I guess most people don't pay too much attention to the technique of others.

That being said, I've seen a lefty who putts really well right-handed.  Probably the most unconventional thing I've seen in recent times!

I think you hit the nail on the head.  I have always said it's probably bad Karma to knock another guys putting.

I've seen lots of right or left handers putt the other way.  In essence it's a "left hand low" style, depending on their orientation.  Remember that Notah Begay putts both right and left depending on the break.  That's unconventional.  Just as is the claw grip, left hand low, 2 finger pistolero like what Geoff Magnum teaches and many other ways to hold it. Whatever works eh!

I'd say, "pretty is, as pretty does". As long as it's not against the rules, every style of putting, stroking the ball, etc. is fine to me...

greetings

michi

I switched to the Chris DiMarco style of claw-grip putting last year.  Best move I've ever made for my game!

Nothing really bothers me on the course. I do feel that belly putters should be illegal, but I don't get hung up on it.

my wife will attest I'm usually vocal when watching a tournament on TV ... when somebody uses a long putter, I always make a comment & root against them.      Just seems like outright cheating to me... everybody should have to use the same basic equipment.

"Non-conventional" putting styles don't bother me one bit, as long as nobody's forcing me to use them.  I may notice them if they're really non-conventional, but it really doesn't matter to me how anybody else plays as long as they're keeping up the pace, respecting the course/game and not cheating.

A friend of mine plays right-handed, but putts cross-grip lefty.  He uses an old, dual-faced brass blade putter....and is deadly with it.  Pretty hard to trash-talk a guy who putts that well - as the saying goes, "there's no picture on the scorecard".

Doesnt bother me at all.

I use my driver sometimes to make uphill long putts. Looks stupid but works.

It might bother me if I took the time to notice it. I don't watch other people swing a club, but might ask a buddy who's lined up OB if he's planning on hitting fade (or a draw - usually they're just misaligned) but other than that, I zone out.

Only when I'm watching a golf tournament on TV and a pro is doing it. As far as people I'm playing with, I couldn't care less.