I have difficulty hitting the ball low and have started using my putter for punch-outs when possible. However, this practice has damaged my putter, so that I have now bought a new one. I'd like to keep the new putter for putts and the old putter for punch-outs. Am I allowed to carry two putters among my 14 clubs? Do I need to change to a round grip on the punch-out putter?

You can carry as many putters as you like. BUT...the putters you use to hit 'full' shots with out of trouble have to have standard grips. They can be oversized, but not flattened in any way , as many putter grips are now. MANY years ago, I had a set of perfectly legal persimmons that had a small flat spot on the top of the grip...these were advertised as 'reminder' grips. Kinda made the palm of your left hand 'fall' into the same spot consistently. I believe they were outlawed in the late 70's, because they were deemed to help align your hands...which they did.

They also make USGA-legal chippers that might work better for you than a putter, as I imagine that you want at least a little bit of height on these punch out shots.

I don't use one for the simple reason that, theoretically, one should be able to shape different chip shots in different ways using a variety of differnt irons and wedges. But of course, we all know that theory and practice are only identical in theory.

I can honestly say that over the end of the summer when my game was at its best, chipping was the one aspect of my game that needed the most work. Incidentally, it's also the one aspect of my game that I worked the most on.

I've never used a putter to "punch out", but I can attest to needing help in the chipping department. That is mostly do to the lack of practice on chipping. I hit the putting green and work on putting at home as well as hit pitches and full shots at the range, but no chipping. So in my case no practice = not a good feel of distance. Thus launching or hitting short way to many shots.

I've made some pretty amazing (to me) shots beneath the trees with my putter. One memorable (and pure lucky)shot was about 100 yards to the center of the green. Got some sarcastic comments from my buddies for that.

Chipping is one of the better parts of my game (relative to my playing strength; I'm about a 20). The situation I have the most trouble with is when I've missed the fairway and have almost no window to get the ball back in play. My ball seems to have a knack for threading its way under the lowest and broadest canopy of branches available.

A solution to the "tree" shots. My friend took an old hybrid, cut it down to the same length as his putter and uses it when he's trying to hit from under low lying branches. Works pretty good

KVSmith59 wrote:

A solution to the "tree" shots. My friend took an old hybrid, cut it down to the same length as his putter and uses it when he's trying to hit from under low lying branches. Works pretty good

Hybrid is the way to go, but there's no need to cut one down and then carry that extra club which must replace a more useful club in the bag. Just choke way down on your 2 or 3 hybrid, place the ball well back in your stance, and be sure to finish with a low follow-thru.

DougE wrote:

Just choke way down on your 2 or 3 hybrid, place the ball well back in your stance, and be sure to finish with a low follow-thru.

I'm not a good enough player to alter my swing that severely from a difficult lie and stance without making a mis-hit likely.

elindholm wrote:

DougE wrote: Just choke way down on your 2 or 3 hybrid, place the ball well back in your stance, and be sure to finish with a low follow-thru. I'm not a good enough player to alter my swing that severely from a difficult lie and stance without making a mis-hit likely.

Sure you are.

You don't need to alter your swing, just shorten it to a half swing back and through. As if you are hitting a 40 yard pitch shot with a wedge, only with the ball further back in your stance which will help to de-loft the face a bit, resulting in a lower trajectory. Practice it on the range. You'll see how easy it is to make it work for you.

Yep, partial swings are the weakest part of my game. I practice them a bunch, but under pressure, something gets fouled up in my rhythm. I can feel it happening, but can't figure out what it is or how to correct it. I suspect I get nervous about impact and try to steer the downswing. I usually make pretty good contact with full swings, and chipping is fine, but anything from about a 1/3 to a 2/3 swing and my mis-hit percentage goes through the roof.

It's a work in progress. I don't plan to carry two putters forever.

I have the same problem when it comes to hitting from under low lying trees. When taking my practice swing, if my club head even grazes a leaf on a tree, it's over. From that point on, even if I choke down and can avoid striking the tree, I become a mental midget and end up chunking the shot. So, under trees, no full or choke down full shots to me. I've had to semi-master the punch shot using a low lofted club, hybrid, or even wood.

I have an old flat faced putter/iron (no grooves) with a circle grip, labeled "10" on the bottom of the club, which I use frequently for the low punch shots, sometimes from as far out as 100 yards. Seems legal to me, as I won't use my Ping putter to do that with, but I use that shot, and pretty well most of the time.

My PGA Teaching Pro taught me this when he walked the course with me one day.

Use a 6 iron.

Bring it back about 90 degress.

Swing thru the ball and stop abruptly at the 8'oclock position.

Vary the power you hit depending on the distance you need to go.

The ball will stay low if you do it right. Has worked for me every time when I do it right.

Zep--

I had one of the little chippers that someone mentioned, until I discovered it was the same angle as a 6 iron. No need to carry two clubs with the same angle.