Anyone use a belly putter?

[tmf9]

I was putting with one at a golf store and was putting pretty good with it. I actually thought about getting one but figured a little practice with my own flat stick would probably be better than a belly putter. I was wondering if anyone uses a belly putter and if so then how do they like it.

[Big_M]

I'm pretty sure all those who do are afraid to say so for fear of being ridiculed.

[tmf9]

I'm pretty sure all those who do are afraid to say so for fear of being ridiculed.

lol probably so.

[Dub]

I've only played with one player that used anything other than a conventional putter....his was the longer, broomstick style.

I'm sort of surprised that I don't encounter more folks using them.

[golfbarefoot]

Just my lonely opinion, but I honestly think belly and broomstick putters should be illegal.

I understand the physics of them, but I have yet to see a great putter who uses one consistently...except for Bernard Langer...oh no, wait....

[WUTiger]

Belly putters were designed for older golfers who start to get "jumpy" in their putting strokes. This is called the yips , and involves minor hand tremors on some days. The BPs long shaft makes it easier to get a smooth stroke on the ball.

I tried one for a day. From 60 feet away, I could roll the ball up to two feet away almost every time. Trouble was, from 10 feet away I couldn't get it much closer than one foot.

Never made a putt longer than about four feet with it.

Left-hand low putting grip proved much more effective for smoothing the stroke.

[Slappy9]

I went to Golf Galaxy last night to try the Rife Trinidad again and just for the hell of it I tried a Ping belly putter and WOW...I was dropping putts from distances I never usually come close too. My putting is horable and this seemed to help alot. One problem I never tried any short putts cuz i was dropping so many 20 footers, are they that bad in close.

[Hokie2k5]

My dad has had a terrible putting stroke (I called him Billy Mayfair) forever but was actually a pretty good putter, in a golf store a few years back I had him roll a few putts with a belly putter. His putting stroke improved immediately and he ended up buying it. He got absolutely DEADLY on the greens very quickly so much that basically once he was on the green, he was almost certain he was gonna either make it or have a tap in. He's since gone back to a regular length putter though (I'm not really sure why, I think he just wanted a Scotty Cameron), his putting stroke is 100x better than it was a few years ago and he's still putting as well as he was with the belly putter.

So I guess my point is, belly putters can be very helpful depending on the person. Look at Freddy Couples, just imagine if he had a belly putter for his whole career. He might have 10 majors.

I've messed around with my dad's belly putter a number of times just for fun, I'm really good from about 15-20 feet and in. Outside of that, I had a heck of a time trying to control distance. But if you're having trouble starting the ball online, they really help. I'm just more comfortable with a regular length putter though.

There's a reason a ton of guys on tour use them...

[Slappy9]

I have a loppy putting stoke...Picture Jim Fuyrks Swing in a putting stroke- So ive been trying different styles of putters to try and find my stroke and everytime I switch putters I get alil better. Ive tried large grips but dont like them because I loose feel so I might try a belly. It might just help me to get connected to the putter more and kinda use it as a on the course training aid.