Last Updated on July 26, 2023 by Britt Olizarowicz
You have seen all of these blade vs. mallet debates, right? Some people are incredibly fixed on the concept that blades are better, or mallets are better. Others have decided to put two putters in the golf bag.
Could it really be that simple? Is carrying two putters worth it?
As a golf professional, I can certainly understand where this concept came up, and I actually agree with it for some players, but let’s take a more in-depth look into whether or not two putters in the golf bag is a thing.
How many putters can you carry in your bag?
You can carry 14 putters in your bag if you would like, but it won’t help you much on the golf course. Most golfers find that one putter is enough to get the job done, but having two does have its benefits.
The USGA rules of golf are more concerned with the total number of golf clubs in your bag and the legality of those golf clubs under the rules of golf. However, the setup or makeup of your golf club set is of less importance.
What are the benefits of carrying two putters in golf?
I won’t tell you that the benefits of carrying two putters are so overwhelming that you need to go and make this change to your bag right now. However, I can tell you that there are some things like distance control, short vs. long putts, and accuracy vs aggressiveness that are easy to manage when you have two clubs to choose from.
Think of it similar to having a 58 degree and a 60 degree wedge in the bag. In certain situations, one would be better than the others, but it’s not like every golf bag needs both.
Short vs. Long Putts
I think the biggest benefit here is to take advantage of technology designed to help golfers on shorter putts and technology designed to help on longer putts. If you look at any tests, like the MyGolfSpy Best Putters test, the results show some putters dominate from 5 feet and others from 20 feet.
If you want to capitalize on performance on two different areas of the green, you may choose to put two putters in the bag.
Stroke of the Day
I’ve been playing golf for 30 years, and I’ve had a hard enough time narrowing my stroke down to be the same from one round to the next. Incorporating another putter in the bag to experiment with different strokes doesn’t appeal to me.
However, some golfers feel like one day, they have a bit more of an arc than a straighter path.
This would be a day to take a blade putter out and use that one instead of the mallet.
With two putters in the bag, you can see what is working for you that day and go with it. This same concept sometimes has players carrying two drivers in their golf bag.
Confidence and the Mental Game
We know that about 30 to 40% of our shots on the golf course are with the putter. Have you ever thought to ask yourself how many of those putts are influenced by your mental game?
100%
Mental strength and confidence is a huge factor in putting. If having two putters in your bag gives you more confidence and helps you feel like you have an edge on the golf course, carry two putters.
If it brings about any indecisiveness, go with one putter and be confident about the decision you made.
Blade vs. Mallet
With the new equipment releases I have seen on the market in 2023, the performance gaps between the blade and mallet putters are narrowing. With this narrowing, it’s becoming easier to choose a blade or mallet and not feel like you are missing out.
However, there is still a difference in feel, sound, and overall look when you are using a blade vs. a mallet. Two putters make sense if your game can benefit from high MOI and stability seen in a mallet and that pure feel and artistic ability in a perfect blade putter strike.
Are there any negatives to carrying two putters?
Carrying two putters in the bag doesn’t have too many negatives. I would say the biggest thing to watch out for is having a hard time making a decision about which putter to use. I would recommend having very strict criteria for when to pull one putter out vs. the other.
For instance, think about putting a number in place, like 15 feet. Within 15 feet, you use one putter; outside of 15 feet, use the other. Uphill putts one putter, downhill putts the other.
Whatever you decide, you are mostly looking to have something that helps you make a confident decision on the course.
What club to give up?
The other negative to carrying two putters is that you may need to give up another club in your bag. The first thing I would look at is which clubs you never use, and the next would be the smallest distance gap.
For instance, if you carry a 4 hybrid and a 4 iron, one goes 5 yards further than the other, one can go.
If you are still afraid of your lob wedge and haven’t taken it out since last summer when you tried to hit a shot over a bunker (we all know how that one ended up), then maybe take that out and put the two putters in.
However, if you are confident in the 14 clubs you have and playing good golf, I would look to put two putters in the bag. Instead, I would look at getting custom fitted for the putter you do have in your golf bag.
Invest the money in a putter that works for your game, and it will be more beneficial in the long run.
Professionals using two putters
I’ll admit that once professionals start doing something, it’s much easier for amateur golfers to catch on to the concept and run with it. We don’t see too many pro golfers with two putters in their bag for EVERY tournament.
However, it often happens from time to time, depending on what golf course they play, the course conditions, and their mental state. Yes, if a professional gets it in their head that having two putters is a benefit to them and it increases confidence- go with it!
Cole Hammer explains why he chose two putters to play in the Advent Health Championship, and his reasoning makes perfect sense. The tricky thing is, what club do you give up?
Why Cole Hammer keeps two putters in his golf bag (pgatour.com)
Adam Scott also used two putters in a PGA Championship once. Scott kind of always does things his own way, and he experiments with equipment quite a bit. Scott started that round in the final pairing and ended up getting third place in the event.
Was it because of the two putters? I don’t think we will ever have an answer to that.
One thing I can tell you is that the new Adam Scott irons from Miura (AS-1) are a much easier decision to put in the bag than two putters.
Final Thoughts
If you are like most golfers with a bag full of old golf equipment in your garage, bring two putters out on the golf course with you one day. This is a cheap way to figure out if this kind of technology can offer you any benefit.
The majority of golfers will find that two putters in the golf bag is a pro move for the pros that can really benefit from it. If you are not that person, stick with one putter.
