got me a belly putter (first time for me)

[GolfClubbas]

i just got this a couple days ago:  it worked pretty good and on friday i almost made a 30 foot putt!

paid $30 for it. anybody else have one or any tips for using a belly putter?

 

[caniac6]

Just don't let it touch your belly.

[TourSpoon]

Having come off the belly a couple of years ago, I would say to practice those lags! Distance control outside of 20 feet can be tricky. 

[GolfClubbas]

44 minutes ago, TourSpoon said:

Distance control outside of 20 feet can be tricky. 

yeah if i missed a close putt i always hit it too hard 

[David in FL]

5 hours ago, caniac6 said:

Just don't let it touch your belly.

^^^ This ^^^

There's a reason you got it cheap....

[Hacker James]

I still have one, but more often than not, will fall back onto my old Tom Weiskopf. I used to think that the longer putter would help with back pain, but it doesn't.  

[Patch]

I had one that I used for a while. Never  could use it well enough to make it my gamer. Couldn't understand why I never putted well with it, since I had a adequate amount of belly for it. 

After a while, I removed the heavier putter head, and put it on a 32" shaft. I putted much better with this set up. It worked really well on slower greens. 

Edited November 6, 2016 by Patch

[Hacker James]

12 minutes ago, Patch said:

I had one that I used for a while. Never  could use it well enough to make it my gamer. Couldn't understand why I never putted well with it, since I had a adequate amount of belly for it. 

After a while, I removed the heavier putter head, and put it on a 32" shaft. I putted much better with this set up. It worked really well on slower greens. 

is that the same thing as what is called "the Tank"putter? I thought about trying that with the Metal X I have.

[No Mulligans]

I haven't tried one as I wouldn't use it.  I like to keep a handicap and wouldn't be able to if I used an anchored putter.  I wouldn't even feel good about our weekly foursome who buys lunch bet if I was in violation of the rules.

[Patch]

2 hours ago, Hacker James said:

is that the same thing as what is called "the Tank"putter? I thought about trying that with the Metal X I have.

Could be. This particular putter head weighed in quite heavily. It has 500g stamped on it. 

[Lagavulin62]

Interesting discussion. I think the USGA would have been better off just banning putters over a certain length. Now you got a situation where anything close to anchoring could leave questions.  You can anchor with a standard putter using arms locked into chest etc. 

[Hacker James]

1 hour ago, Lagavulin62 said:

Interesting discussion. I think the USGA would have been better off just banning putters over a certain length. Now you got a situation where anything close to anchoring could leave questions.  You can anchor with a standard putter using arms locked into chest etc. 

the arguments have been going for some time now. Lots of examples of do's and don'ts complete with pictures.  Bernard Langer may have a problem (haven't really read up on it). Noticed a couple during The Shriner's.

[RussUK]

On 11/5/2016 at 8:05 PM, caniac6 said:

Just don't let it touch your belly.

Unless of course the OP isnt playing in comps or keeping an official handicap. But yeah touching the belly is whay we Brits would consider "jolly bad form" 

[Groucho Valentine]

Anchored putting is not easy. It was definitely an acquired skill. I messed around with it and i found belly putting to me more difficult that traditional putting, TBH. It seemed like the key to it is eye line and trusting the pivot point you made for yourself to swing the club properly. But if you like the putter feels alot its not to hard to get it cut down and regripped if you're worried about it being within the rules. 

I too believed they would have been better off just banning putters over a certain length, like somebody here mentiond. It looked funny as hell when belly putters started winning big tournaments, which why i guess the USGA banned it. I also think a PGA player said "the putter shouldn't be any longer than the shortest club in your bag" That always seemed sensible to me. 

Edited November 7, 2016 by Groucho Valentine

[Lagavulin62]

Exactly. Because if they had just set a putter length maximum there would not be these gray areas. But maybe the USGA wanted to create controversy? 

[RussUK]

4 minutes ago, Groucho Valentine said:

Anchored putting is not easy. It was definitely an acquired skill. I messed around with it and i found belly putting to me more difficult that traditional putting, TBH. It seemed like the key to it is eye line and trusting the pivot point you made for yourself to swing the club properly. But if you like the putter feels alot its not to hard to get it cut down and regripped if you're worried about it being within the rules. 

I too believed they would have been better off just banning putters over a certain length, like somebody here mentiond. It looked funny as hell when belly putters started winning big tournaments, which why i guess the USGA banned it. I also think a PGA player said "the putter shouldn't be any longer than the shortest club in your bag" That always seemed sensible to me. 

I got a Yes! Stephanie Belly the other year for £45 (£100 off retail) brand new. Its a lovely putter but wasnt comfy with it.

Local Golf shop was selly the broom handle ones cut to 38". Felt really heavy.

I switched to a 33" GEL Diamond putter and use a split grip and its much better for me.

[woodzie264]

I use a long putter via a modified side-saddle/face on stroke. I switched to it about 6-7 months ago and LOVE it. Mid-range putts are now in my visual field and this has greatly helped my distance control. Wouldn't go back unless rules require it!

[iacas]

On 11/7/2016 at 0:49 PM, Lagavulin62 said:

Exactly. Because if they had just set a putter length maximum there would not be these gray areas. But maybe the USGA wanted to create controversy? 

Why would the USGA (and R&A, remember - they do these rules in lock step with one another) "want to create controversy"?

And, what, a short person could anchor but a tall person could not get a putter that fit them?

They didn't ban equipment, they banned a form of using it, just like how you're not allowed to "push, scrape, or spoon" the ball.