Among the various styles of putters is the belly putter. Introduced in 1961, this club has become quite a popular choice for beginners and pros alike. However, there has been some controversy questioning their legality. The USGA is quite strict with their equipment rules, so there could be a chance that a belly putter is among the many types of illegal putters; so lets find out.
Are Belly Putters Legal? According to the USGA, in rule 14-1b, belly putters are legal as long as the putter is not anchored against the player’s body. As long as they conform to the equipment rules, belly putters are legal to use if the golfer does not have the putter shaft resting on their belly while putting.
Have Belly Putters Been Banned?
No, the actual club known as the belly putter has not been banned. However, the stroke style that gave the putter its name is banned. The USGA has somewhat recently released the rules surrounding belly putters. Basically, a player can no longer anchor the putter shaft onto any part of their body as it gives the player unfair control over their stroke. More specifically, the USGA said:
“…prohibits strokes made with the
club or a hand gripping the club held
directly against the player’s body or
with a forearm held against the body
to establish an anchor point that
indirectly anchors the club.”
If the putter conforms to the equipment rules set by the USGA, it is totally legal to use. Simply put, the ban is not a ban on the actual equipment, it is a ban on the putting style.
In the image below, the player has the top of the shaft anchored on his stomach. This is a perfect example of what it looks like to use a belly putter illegally.
What Is A Belly Putter?
A belly putter is different from a traditional putter as it has a much longer shaft. It earned its name a long time ago as players used to stick the longer shaft into their belly to create an anchor point. As more and more players began to use the longer shafted putter, it earned the name ‘belly putter’. Despite the ban put on the putting style, the term belly putter has stuck around.
How Long Are Belly Putters?
Depending on the height of the player, belly putters can range anywhere from 39 inches to 47 inches long. For very short players, it will be close to 39 inches, and for very tall players, it will be closer to 47 inches.
| Putter Type | Minimum Length | Maximum Length |
| Standard Putter | 31 inches | 36 inches |
| Belly Putter | 39 inches | 47 inches |
| Long Putter | 47 inches | 53+ inches |
Are Belly Putters Legal On The PGA Tour?
Belly putters are legal on the PGA Tour. The PGA follows the USGA rulings quite closely, and anything that is permitted by the USGA is allowed on the PGA. Any PGA player is allowed to use a belly putter in a game or tournament as they are totally legal to use.
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How Do You Use A Belly Putter Without Anchoring?
Even though the traditional ‘belly putting’ style has been banned, there are still ways you can use the belly putter without illegally anchoring it to your body.
Method 1
Hold the putter so that it is inline with your belly button, in the middle of your stomach. Choke up on the club so that you are about ⅓ the way down the club. Instead of leaning the shaft into your belly, stand a little bit taller so that your torso is not touching the club. Swing the club and adjust until you are comfortable.
Method 2
This method requires you to stand behind the ball a bit more than a traditional putting style does. Lean the putter shaft into the forearm of your leading arm. The shaft should be parallel to your arm. Place both hands on the shaft at a comfortable height. Swing the putter and adjust the club accordingly.
Belly Putter Legality: Final Thoughts
The more I’ve learned about belly putters and the legality behind the actual swing style, I am beginning to understand why the rule was put into place. To be honest, because the actual club is not banned and there are several different alternative ways to use the club, belly putters are still very useful in the game.
