My Belly Yearns for Fewer Putts

Hogie, very well said. You know I actually agree with you on this one. Belly or long putters have been statistically shown to offer no real improvement in stoke mechanics *according to a 2011 Golf Magazine study. Perhaps, and I am absolutely not quoting the study here, the benefit of such 'unconventional putting' is largely psychological. That is not to say, however, that belly putters are not a good idea if you are struggling with the flat stick.

A Case Study. Daniel J. Allen and Beau Hossler:

A young Dano

Tall, ambitious and a #hugebaby Dan Allen hit that ball like a pro, but he experienced problems on the green. His doctor suggested he try several different styles of conventional putters, but he was left feeling unsatisfied. Determined to find "the putter", @DJAllen0 turned to the internet. Ebay (trademarked) was his portal to fewer putts - A Yes C-groove belly-length putter. The tall champion went on a Highland National birdie-barrage firing several sub 40 9 hole scores. His inspired play earned him one free round of golf with Brady at The Wilds where he lost  a considerable amount of money on side bets. His beloved belly putter, however, never let him down (although it probably let him down). *Dano recently recorded a 71 at Ridge C.C. in Chicago, IL using a conventional length putter.

Beau Hossler

My boy Beau wears the #tourvisor better than anyone else. Sorry Dano but Beau has got you beat. This young talent wields a belly putter a bit unconventionally. Instead of anchoring the putter against his toned core, Hossler simply puts a conventional-putter hold on it- just like Matt Kutchar. When asked why he uses the short-belly putter Hollser responded, "I just don't have the arm strength to lift a longer, heavier belly putter in the air with one arm while I fist pump with the other. A part of being a champion golfer is knowing what you can and cannot do, and I simply cannot lift a longer putter high enough in a celebratory pose. I am working with my high school gym coach to strengthen that arm specifically. Some people worry about developing the body asymmetrically, but not me. I am worried about winning golf tournaments and celebrating them properly. I'll be taking the ACT next  month so filling in all those bubbles with my right hand ought to balance me out."

Two golfing legends. Two ways to of getting the job done with the not-so-short stick. Putting is amoral. There is no right or wrong way of doing it, but that won't stop the USGA and the R&A  from trying to impose rules governing it. Two of the last three majors were won with a belly putter and the third was captured with a pink driver. Golf clearly isn't clinging to traditional methods. The belly is here to stay.