Can You Have Two Putters in Your Golf Bag? — (and More Bag Rules)
- 2023-05-11
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Patrick Corley
- 05/11/2023
According to the USGA and R&A rules, you can have two putters in your bag when playing a professional round of golf provided the total number doesn’t exceed 14. The same thing applies when you’re playing a normal golf round. In a typical club setup, you’ll have one putter, so adding an additional one means you’ll have to eliminate another club. Most golfers prefer to stick with just one putter because putting is already hard enough.
Finding a putter you like, getting properly fitted, and practicing putting regularly might be sufficient. But why do some pros carry two putters?
In this article, the expert team at Tell Me More Golf spent hours researching the pros and cons of having two putters in your bag, the importance of paying attention to the rules of golf, and the number of clubs you should have in your bag.
Table of Contents
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How Many Golf Clubs Can You Carry? (and Other Important Club Rules)
- One of the most important rules, which most golfers are familiar with, is the maximum number of clubs you can carry, which is 14. Additionally, you can’t have your caddie carry additional clubs once you reach the limit. However, you’re free to choose the clubs that make up that number. You have a base option of 6 irons, 1 hybrid, 1 putter, 3 wedges, 1 driver, and 2 woods. However, you can decide to carry 2 putters or 2 drivers, as long as you make up for it with other clubs.
- Another rule is regarding golf club length. The R&A and USGA recently put a limit on the maximum club length to 46 inches, with the exception of putters.
- There is also the rule about the adjustability of clubs. You can adjust the lie, length, loft, and weight of your club before a round commences. Once the competition round has begun, all adjustments are forbidden.
- The rules also cover damaged clubs. If your club is damaged during a round, you cannot go and get another one. You have to keep making strokes with it, except if the damage is caused by an external influence or natural force. However, you’re allowed to repair it to its original state as long as that will not lead to any delay.
The golf equipment rules are a set of guidelines put in place by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) and the United Golf Association (USGA). These rules of golf cover what golf equipment is acceptable and what isn’t in any given tournament. These guidelines affect club makers and designers, players on the PGA tour, officials, etc. Flouting the rules can lead to a penalty and since the rules are constantly changing, you should keep yourself abreast of the latest developments.Â
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Golfers Who Have 2 Putters in their Bags
There are many players who carry two putters in their bag at the PGA Championship:
- Adam Scott
- Scotty Cameron
- Phil Mickelson
- Steve Stull
- Mark Calcavecchia
There are plenty of reasons people may want to have two putters. Some people like to have different putters to match the different speeds of the greens. So, you could carry a mallet for slow greens and a blade for fast greens. For example, the Ping Craz E Putter is great for faster greens while the Ping Craze Karsten is suitable for slower greens.
Others like to switch between them without having to adjust their stroke. For example, if you have two putters, you could adjust both to have the same grip, length, and weighting. Then let one have an insert while the other is without and make one with a sight dot and the other one with a sight line. This way, you can switch back and forth easily.
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What 14 Clubs Should I Carry?
Most amateurs go with the standard 12 clubs in their bag, which include:
Driver, 3-wood, 5-wood, pitching wedge, putter, and seven irons (3 through 9-iron).
If you think that isn’t enough for your golf game, you can add some extra clubs.
Since the golf equipment rules limit the number of golf clubs you can carry to 14, you have to think carefully about the combination of clubs to carry in your bag. This combination depends on your skill level, confidence, and the golf course you’re playing on.Â
Another combination would be 2x woods (3-wood, 5-wood), 1x driver, 3x wedges (52 degrees, sand wedge 56 degrees, 60 degrees), 1x hybrid, 6x irons (5-iron, 6-iron, 7-iron, 8-iron, 9-iron, pitching wedge), and 1x putter, if you want to complete the 14 club limit. As long as you don’t go above the club limit set by the USGA/R&A, you’re good to go.Â
There is a reason a lot of golfers don’t have all 14 clubs in their bags though. A lower number of clubs allows you to have a lighter golf bag, which can be handy if you intend to walk about the course without using a golf cart.
How To Arrange Golf Clubs In The Bag With Ease
- The first thing you want to do is to empty and clean your golf bag. Make sure it is well adjusted as many people don’t seem to get this right so that their bags hang on their bum instead of being above the belt line. Once strapped, go ahead and clean your golf clubs.
- The kind of bag you have will affect how the whole setup is done. Some bags have two pockets. Others have three or four and sometimes five compartments. This guide assumes a 3-pocket bag with three rows.
- The most common, and effective, way to arrange the clubs is from the top of the bag. Start with your longest irons and arrange them from right to left. In this case, your wood and putter should be at the top of the bag. You can add your driver/fairway in this row if there is space.
- Once the first row is filled, move on to the next and arrange your irons in a similar way. Start from 3-iron through 9-iron in ascending order.Â
- The next step is adding the smaller clubs like your wedges at the bottom.
- If your bag has pockets on the front, that’s where to put your balls and tees (and other smaller accessories). Don’t put them on either side of the bag if you can, as it can make the bag feel heavy and a bit out of balance.
- If you have your umbrella and towel with you, don’t put them directly inside the pockets with your clubs. Instead, strap them to the back of the bag or on the side. Now, you have a well arranged bag and are ready to go out and play. Â
Note: The reason you want to have your woods at the top of the bag is to safeguard the shafts. The shafts can easily get damaged when you place the woods at the bottom of the bag. It’ll also sit too low at the bottom, making the bag uncomfortable to carry.
Frequently Asked Questions: Rules
Does the putter count in the 14 clubs?
Yes, the putter is counted in the 14-piece set of clubs that goes into your golf bag. So, you can have 2x woods (3-wood, 5-wood), 1x driver, 3x wedges (52 degree, sand wedge 56 degree, 60 degree), 1x hybrid, 6x irons (5-iron, 6-iron, 7-iron, 8-iron, 9-iron, pitching wedge), and 1x putter.
Should you carry two putters?
Some people carry multiple putters to match different green speeds. You can carry a heavy putter when playing on slower greens and a lighter one for playing on faster greens. As long as you can adjust to using different putters, you wouldn’t have a problem. Quite a number of golfers carry just one putter for the reason that they find it easier playing with one putter on greens with different speeds than changing between putters.Â
Some golfers who have multiple putters may find some of the older ones are not worth much, so they just keep them instead of selling them. Some players also find that once they get used to a particular putter, it’s hard to give up. A new putter takes time getting used to and time to be confident using it in the tournament. That stress may quickly dissolve any resolve to sell.Â
How many clubs are allowed in a golf bag including putter?
The golf rule dictates that you carry no more than 14 clubs during any round. However, there is no minimum number of clubs to carry in your bag. Fortunately, you have so many options to choose from without feeling restricted by the total number of clubs. You can have driving irons, hybrid clubs, fairway woods, wedges, putters, all at varying numbers for a total of 14 clubs in the bag. It doesn’t matter the type of clubs you have in your golf bag as long as you follow this rule.Â
Why do people have two putters?
Adam Scott once said about carrying two putters: “Logically, it sounds good to me to have a putter you like for long putts and one for short putts, if that’s how you want to do it.”
Generally, you can only use one putter at a time. However, you can have more than one in your bag for multiple reasons. Most golfers with two putters in their bag usually have a lighter and heavier one. The heavier putter will provide accurate short putts while a lighter one will be better for long-distance putts. So, it’s not strange to meet some people on the golf course who have one putter for off the green and the other for on the green shots.
Confidence is considered a huge part of putting. So, changing putters or having multiple ones in your bag may look like you don’t have confidence in either one and you aren’t trying to build it. However, the feel of the club is also an important aspect of putting. If a putter has a design that doesn’t match your stroke or it isn’t fitted correctly (weight, length, and lie), it may lead to poor/bad putting. In essence, having multiple putters won’t solve most putting problems as much as building confidence with a putter and getting fitted properly.
Why do people have two putters?
According to our research team, a golf club is comprised of a shaft, grip, and a club head and is used for hitting golf balls. So, woods, irons, hybrids, wedges, and putters are all different variations of golf clubs. That’s why you have all of them in your golf bag, whether you’re a pro or a beginner. Moreover, different shots call for different clubs, and your putter will always have its own use.
Conclusion: Research by Tellmemoregolf.com
Whether you’re playing professional or normal golf, you’re allowed to have more than one putter in your bag.
It’s important to note that having two putters can limit how many lob wedges, sand wedges, or hybrids you can carry. So, make sure the sacrifice is well worth it. As long as you learn what your golf game needs, get fitted to the right clubs, and follow golf equipment, you’ll continue to see improvements.
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