Converting Putter into Belly Putter

[DDBowdoin]

Hey guys, was fooling around in the store today and didn't miss a single putt with a 41inch Odyssey SRT belly putter... but when I looked at the price tag I couldn't drop 260.

was thinking... if I pick up a cheap putter online (around 100) and then reshaft using a double bend long shaft and pick up a grip (together around 30 bucks) can I just convert the putter into a belly?

Are there any differences with the weight in the head between a standard putter and belly?

[aquacooled]

there is going to be a feel issue for you. When you change the shaft to something that long the swing weight will change giving you the feeling that the head is harder to control. Usually the head of a belly putter is 40 to 50 grams heavier then the norm..

goodluck hope this helps..

[fusioncal]

  DDBowdoin said:

Hey guys, was fooling around in the store today and didn't miss a single putt with a 41inch Odyssey SRT belly putter... but when I looked at the price tag I couldn't drop 260.

Oh yeah SRT is nice, it's almost hard to miss putts with it. Was it 2 or 3-ball SRT?

I'd suggest you to look for SRT belly putter online not the regular one to be reshafted. Because there might be differences in weight, feel (like aquacool said), lie angle etc. that are factory stock or originally designed. There should be some websites selling it way less than $260. Good luck!

[DDBowdoin]

I'm just not sure what to do because I am only 5'7 so my version of a belly putter will be pretty small compared to what I've seen in retail stores. I'm looking at a callaway i Trax for 100 bucks at TGW then the shaft and grip are pretty cheap but I've heard of some ways to get some weight into the head.

1.) I heard you can pour a small amount of tungsten/lead power in the shaft and plug with a cork
2) I can drill a bolt into the grip
3.) lead tape the crap out of the sole.

I may not be able to pick up 50 or so grams but I don't think this is really impossible to do

[aquacooled]

its not just the swing weight also the lie angle and the head is usually I bit bigger too..

I mean you can try but I dont know if your going to be happy with the results..

I did the same thing for a customer awhile back, two weeks later he came a bought a new putter..

[DDBowdoin]

I just checked the specs on scotty's site... my current 33" weighs in at 350 g whereas the 43" inch mid length head weighs in at 370grams. Considering my bell putter comes in at around 39 inches I don't think they'll be to great a weight disparity.

I have a close friend who owns a golf repair store and he's pretty good. So I'm not worried about fooling around with lie angles and what not because I'm not doing this in my basement.

[wolverine318]

I've done this twice, once with Yes Tracy and with a Odyssey two ball. The yes was easy, baught a Double Bent 90 degree and put it in. The Odyssey was harder because the hossle was at an angle towards you and towards the target. Actually I never finished the Odyssey I just put the original shaft back on.

Like you my height is not good for standard length belly putter, I am 6'6". From my experience the heads are the same but obviously the shaft weighs more. They are bigger round so even if you later cut it down to 35" it will still be heavier than a traditional 35" shaft. But I am still a novice at this for the most part.

If you like your current putter I wouldnt mess with it I would buy another one or a cheaper one to convert to a belly putter and see if you like it over the long run. That way you dont screw with your Scotty if you ever decide to change back.

[DDBowdoin]

yeah thats what I was thinking of, obviously don't want to mess with my scotty for this "fun" project. I'm looking into a mallet putter but as for brand/quality I've learned that it really doesn't matter, its pretty simple - it all comes down to your stroke.

are there any cheap cheap putters out there maintain a nice feel, I'd just like a milled face. I'm looking at the callaway itrax right now as its on clearance for 100 bucks but am not totally sold on that flatstick. Any suggestions? I found some TearDrop for 19.99 haha, I'm not sure I want to go that low.

[wolverine318]

  DDBowdoin said:

yeah thats what I was thinking of, obviously don't want to mess with my scotty for this "fun" project. I'm looking into a mallet putter but as for brand/quality I've learned that it really doesn't matter, its pretty simple - it all comes down to your stroke.

Snake Eyes makes Milled putter heads. Golfsmith has some. I just dont really like the mallet styles they have in custom putter heads right now. Maybe try the macgregors on ebay if you like that style. They seem to be going pretty cheap. $25-35 range. I dont know how they would be installing a long shaft though.

[DDBowdoin]

after looking around I narrowed it down to the callaway i trax and the mizuno a something (the all black mallet). the mizuno was unbelievably cheap on ebay, brand new 60 bills but I hate going through ebay so I just bit the bullet and dropped a little more on the callaway. we'll see what happens with the project, I'll post some pics and a review when its done.