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Can you use belly putters in the PGA?

Author

Emma Payne

Published Jan 17, 2026

Belly putters and long putters remain completely legal to use, so long as they are conforming to equipment rules. What Rule 10.1b addresses is the stroke, not the club being used to make the stroke. So if you putt with a belly putter or long putter, the anchoring ban does not require you to stop doing that.

Are belly putters allowed in golf?

So long and belly putters are still legal – as long as you don't anchor them.” The argument against anchored putters is based on the assumption that affixing the club to one's body is an illegitimate way of gaining control of the putting stroke. The swinging motion consistent in all facets of golf is diminished.

Does DeChambeau use a belly putter?

Two belly putter refugees — Simpson and Bradley — both use the technique, as does Matt Kuchar, Bryson DeChambeau and Will Zalatoris, among others.

Are long putters allowed on PGA Tour?

The new rule does not ban the long putters, only the way they commonly are used. Golfers no longer will be able to anchor the club against their bodies to create the effect of a hinge. Masters champion Adam Scott used a long putter he pressed against his chest.

What putters are illegal in golf?

What Makes A Putter Illegal?

  • A putter must have at least one striking face. This means that a putter can only have one flat side that can be used to strike the ball. ...
  • The face must be smooth and contain no sharp edges or raised edges.
41 related questions found

Why do putters have to be angled?

The proper lie angle allows you comfortably to get into a good posture over the ball and, when coupled with the ideal length, will help ensure your eyes are directly over the target line or slightly to the inside, as some players prefer.

How long is a belly putter?

Belly putters are typically about 45 inches, or around 10 inches longer than a standard putter. A long putter is usually around 50 inches. Such putters offer up plenty to debate, as Els acknowledged all those years ago.

Are broomstick putters legal?

On the contrary to what some may think, broomstick putters (or long putters) are perfectly legal on the greens. However, what is now illegal on the greens is anchoring; and broomsticks putters are the best alternative.

Can you anchor your putter to your arm?

No. Intentionally holding a forearm against the body is prohibited only when done to create an anchor point. Otherwise, intentionally holding the forearms against the body while making a stroke is not a breach of Rule 14-1b.

Does Langer anchor his putter?

Here is Langer's post-Rule 14-1b putting routine with his long putter: He anchors the putter during his practice strokes before stepping over the ball. Once he steps over the ball, he moves his top hand — the one holding the butt end of his long putter — slightly away from his chest. That's it.

Are belly putters still legal?

Belly putters and long putters remain completely legal to use, so long as they are conforming to equipment rules. What Rule 10.1b addresses is the stroke, not the club being used to make the stroke. So if you putt with a belly putter or long putter, the anchoring ban does not require you to stop doing that.

What putter does Adam Scott use?

While Scott has spent most of his recent years with the same Scotty Cameron prototype putter in the bag, he switched into an L.A.B. Golf “Mezz. 1 Proto” putter ahead of the 2022 Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Is arm-lock putting illegal?

The rules allow the putter to be held against the forearm (unless his forearm is in contact with his body).

What is Armlock putter?

Popularized by Matt Kuchar, the arm-lock putting style allows for the grip to rest against the forearm and create a fixed point for the stroke.

Are two way putters legal?

Technically speaking, a putter that has two striking faces is not allowed in golf. In other words, if a putter has two faces that can be used to make a putt, it is considered illegal. However, if both faces of the putter are identical in dimension, shape, and surface material, then the putter is totally allowed.

What putting stroke is illegal?

The USGA and the R&A took notice and, effective January 1, 1968, introduced Rule 35-1L (now Rule16-1e) that stated “The player shall not make a stroke on the putting green from a stance astride, or with either foot touching, the line of the putt or an extension of that line behind the ball.”

How do you bet like Bryson DeChambeau?

Instead of using a standard putting form, DeChambeau opts for an arm-lock putting technique on the green. Pro Tips spoke with the professional golfer about what led to this different style of putting and the benefits he's experienced. “I struggled really badly for a while,” DeChambeau says.

Is putting Side Saddle legal?

The side saddle putting is 100% legal for any golf tournament in the world. Putting face-on with the GP putter is 100% legal in any golf tournament. The putting stroke (technique) that you see in the videos is again 100% legal.

What putter does Bryson Dechambeau using?

Bryson currently uses a SIK Pro C-Series Armlock putter. It's a rare model to be seen on the PGA Tour and it allows Bryson to putt in his very particular way.

What does anchoring your putter mean?

The club is anchored “directly” when the player intentionally holds the club or a gripping hand in contact with any part of his body, except that the player may hold the club or a gripping hand against a hand or forearm.

Should I get a belly putter?

This is ideal for players that struggle with the path of their stroke, as belly putters help to stabilize a consistent path during the back and forward stroke. “A belly putter really helps if a golfer is wristy at impact, because there is no release at impact with a belly putter,” Franklin said.

Are long shaft putters legal?

“I say to [golfers], 'We're not going to take away your long putter. ' All you need to do is this [hold the club away from your body], where you control the whole club with your hands. So long and belly putters are still legal—as long as you don't anchor them.”

Should my putter be flat on the ground?

Perfect Fit

You know your putter fits you when the sole of the club lies flat on the ground when your eyes are over the ball at setup. You're ready to roll the ball off the sweet spot— just as the putter was designed!