While going through my grandpa’s old set of golf clubs, I came across a dusty wooden putter. I realized that I don’t see any amateurs or professionals using these types of clubs nowadays and wondered if they were even legal to use at all. Does this mean that they are considered an illegal putter?
Are Wood Putters Legal? According to the USGA, wooden putters are totally legal. Putters can be made from any material, as long as they conform to the dimensions allowed by the USGA.
Legality of Wooden Putters
While the USGA has absolutely no restrictions on wooden clubs, they aren’t generally used by amateurs or professionals. Wooden putters are allowed in golf as long as they follow these general rules. Refer to the image below for a visual representation of the proper putter dimensions.
- The length from the heel to the toe is larger than the length from the face to the back (A > C)
- The length from the heel to the toe of the head is less than or equal to 7 inches (A ≤ 7”)
- The length from the heel to the toe of the face is greater than or equal to ⅔ the length from the face to the back of the head (B ≥ ⅔ C)
- The length from the heel to the toe of the face is greater than or equal to half of the length from the heel to the toe of the head (B ≥ ½ A)
- The length from the sole to the top of the club head is less than or equal to 2 ½ inches (D ≤ 2.5”)
Why Are Wooden Putters No Longer Used?
In general, any type of wooden club head requires more maintenance as they are much less durable than club heads made from other alloy metals. Consequently, wooden clubs have a much shorter lifespan.
Despite this, the main reason that wooden putters are less popular is that they do not perform as well as putters made from metal. Wooden putters achieve less distance and accuracy making them much more ineffective on the greens, not to mention much more difficult to use for the average player.
Pros & Cons of Wooden Putters
If you are on the fence about purchasing one of these putters, consider these pros and cons.
Pros
Old School: There is something very classy about carrying a putter made from wood. Using a club like this pays homage to many golfers of the past that used to use these. You achieve the same feeling as you would if you were wearing a vintage watch, or driving an old sports car.
Unique: You will probably be one of the only golfers on the course that has one in your bag. The appeal of being one of the few golfers on the course that has a putter like this is quite strong. It is an awesome club to show friends and others while golfing.
Customizable: There are a lot of manufacturers nowadays that custom make these types of putters, so you are able to customize your club with whatever type of wood you like. Unlike metal clubs, you can choose the type, shade, and color of the wood that your club is made from. This allows for a much more personalized purchase.
Cons
More Maintenance: Maintaining a wooden putter is far more time-consuming than other types of metal putters. Many recommend drying the putter off after each shot to prevent damage to the wood. On top of this wooden putters require frequent application of wax to preserve the outer layer of protection it has. Allowing wooden putters to remain wet for any amount of time can severely damage them, so they require a close eye whenever they are being used.
Cost: For a putter that lasts for a fraction of the time and requires more maintenance, you’d expect to pay a cheaper price, however that is not the case. After looking at some of the prices for new wooden putters, the prices range anywhere from $130 to $500+, which is the price range for a majority of metal putters. Essentially, with a wooden putter, you are getting less bang for your buck.
What Kind of Wooden Putters Are There?
As mentioned before, an upside to getting a putter made from wood is its customizability. There are a variety of wood types that you can craft your putter from. From my research, these are the most popular types of wood that you can make your putter out of:
- Wenge
- Bocote
- Yellowheart
- Padauk
- Oak
- Zebrawood
- Walnut Crotch
- Purpleheart
- Honduras-Rosewood
Final Thoughts On Wooden Putters
While they are legal to use, wooden putters don’t really offer any advantages when playing. So unless you don’t mind taking an extra stroke here and there to compensate for its lacking power and accuracy, then you are better off looking elsewhere. While having one in your bag can act as a great conversation starter or show piece, its probably not worth the money.
