Longer than conventional putters, belly putters – also called mid-length putters — allow the golfer to anchor the club to the stomach (hence the term). Because this provides a fixed fulcrum from which the putter is swung, some observers believe the method offers an advantage over the traditional putting style.

While belly/mid-length putters were once used primarily by older golfers, they’ve gained acceptance among younger players. In fact, a number of successful PGA Tour pros have switched to belly putters.

For comparison, the average length of a standard putter is about 35 inches. Belly/mid-length putters are around 42 inches. Leading manufacturers of belly putters include Thomas Golf (www.thomasgolf.com).