If you are browsing putters and stumble upon the paddle grip putter, you may be intrigued by the shape of the grip. Its unique look stands out, but many people believe that the paddle grip putter is illegal due to its shape.
So, to see whether or not it is ok to use the paddle grip putter and if it is actually illegal, I took a look at the USGA and R&A’s equipment rules.
Are paddle grip putters illegal? According to the USGA’s equipment regulations and R&A equipment rules, paddle grip putters are totally legal to use as long as their shape is consistent through the entire grip. In other words, as long as the paddle grip does not have any waists or bulges, it is considered legal.
For reference, the USGA and R&A are considered governing bodies of the professional golf world. Any equipment they deem as legal is considered legal by other golfing groups and associations. In other words, their rules are considered law by every other golfing group.
What Are Paddle Grip Putters?
Paddle grip putters are putters that have a grip that is oval in shape. The oval shape runs consistently through the entire length of the grip. The point of the paddle grip is to aid players in aligning their fingers down the shaft of the putter.
What Do Paddle Grips Look Like?
I wasn’t able to find any good photos of what the shape of a paddle grip putter looks like, so I decided to create a diagram of what it would look like if you were looking down on the grip. Below is what the grip looks like from the top:
Although the diagram is basic, it does show what shape the paddle grip putter is. As stated above, this shape runs consistently through the entirety of the grip.
Which Types Of Paddle Grip Putters Are Illegal?
While browsing a bunch of paddle grip putter styles, I did stumble across one other type of paddle grip putter that is considered illegal. Below is a further breakdown of that paddle grip putter and why it is illegal.
Coke Bottle Putter Grip
The Coke Bottle neck putter grip is considered illegal by the USGA. This putter grip is shaped similarly to a glass coke bottle, narrow by the neck with a bulge near the bottom. This style of paddle grip putter is illegal as grips need to remain consistent in shape throughout the grip.
Due to this rule, the coke bottle putter grip is illegal to use.
Final Thoughts: Are Paddle Grip Putters Illegal?
So, you can rest assured that if your paddle grip putters are the same shape throughout, you have nothing to worry about. Generally speaking, most of the putters designed in today’s day do follow the USGA and R&A’s equipment regulations. So, if they are newer grips, they are likely to be legal to use, but it can’t hurt to check.