Ever found yourself on the practice green, rolling one putter beautifully on short putts and another one perfectly on lag putts, and thought, Why can't I just use both? This article dives straight into that question, explaining the rules, the strategic reasons you might consider it, and the significant downsides you have to weigh. We'll unpack whether carrying two putters is a secret weapon or just a strategic mistake.
Let's get right to it. Yes, you are absolutely allowed to have two putters in your bag during a sanctioned round of golf. The Rules of Golf, specifically Rule 4.1b, do not care about the type of clubs you carry, only the total number. This is the big catch you need to understand: you are limited to a maximum of 14 clubs for your entire round.
If you decide to carry two putters, they each count toward that 14-club limit. A second putter is not a "bonus club" or a special exception. It simply becomes one of your designated fourteen clubs for the day. Think of it this way:
In this example, you would only have room for one more club to reach your 14-club limit. The rules simply view a putter as another golf club. Whether you carry five wedges, two drivers, or two putters, the only thing the rulebook is concerned with is that the final tally doesn't exceed fourteen.
Knowing you can do it is one thing. Understanding why you'd want to is where the strategy comes in. It’s not a common practice, but for the golfers who do it, it's typically an attempt to solve a very specific problem. Here are the most common reasons a golfer might opt to bag two flatsticks.
This is one of the more logical, high-level strategic reasons. You’ve likely noticed that the greens at your home course can vary wildly. One week they’re slow and shaggy, the next, they’re lightning-fast and cut tight for a club tournament. These different conditions often demand a different type of stroke or feel.
By carrying both, a player could theoretically use the mallet on long lag putts or uphill putts and switch to the more delicate blade for short tap-ins or tricky downhill sliders.
The putting "yips" are a golfer's worst nightmare. It's a mental block that causes an involuntary twitch or jerk in the hands and wrists during the stroke, usually on short putts. It's frustrating, embarrassing, and an absolute score-killer. For a golfer in this situation, carrying a second putter isn't about strategy - it's about survival.
A second putter can provide a powerful psychological reset:
Have you ever stood just off the green on the fringe, with your ball sitting cleanly, and debated between a putter and a wedge? A wedge can pop the ball unexpectedly, and a putter can get snagged in the longer grass. Some golfers solve this dilemma with a dedicated "chipper."
Often, this second "putter" is actually a chipper club or an old putter with more loft (like an old blade from the 80s). This club is perfect for playing a simple bump-and-run shot from the fringe or tightly mown areas around the green. For golfers who struggle with the delicate touch required for chipping - often leading to chunked or bladed shots - using a putting-style stroke from off the green is much simpler and more repeatable. It removes the wrist action, which is where most amateurs get into trouble.
As a coach, this is where I urge golfers to think long and hard before adding a second putter. The idea sounds great in theory, but the 14-club rule is unforgiving. Adding one club means another one has to go, and this trade-off is often not worth it for the average player. Here’s what you stand to lose.
Which club are you removing to make room? There are no easy answers, and each choice creates a new weakness in your game:
Golf is already a mentally taxing game. For most of us, adding more choices doesn't simplify things - it complicates them. Standing over a 20-foot putt, you should be focused on line and speed, not debating which putter to use. Do I use the heavy mallet for this uphill one, or the blade for more feel? This indecision can create tension and doubt, the very enemies of a great putting stroke. The goal is to quiet the mind on the green, not to give it one more thing to worry about.
So, should you pull the trigger and bag a second putter? Here’s my honest coaching perspective.
Focus on getting good with one go-to putter that you trust. Find one that fits your stroke and fills you with confidence, and then practice with it until it feels like an extension of your hands. That's a far more reliable path to lower scores than dividing your attention between two.
In the end, the rules allow for creativity in your bag setup, and carrying two putters is perfectly legal so long as you don't exceed the 14-club limit. While it can be a strategic solution for very specific and often severe problems like the yips, it usually comes at the high cost of sacrificing a valuable club that covers a key yardage in your long game or around the greens.
Deciding which 14 clubs give you the best chance to score is a huge part of course strategy. This is where getting a second opinion can be so valuable, and it’s a big part of why we created Caddie AI. When you’re stuck between clubs or unsure how to play a tricky lie, I can instantly analyze your situation and give you a clear recommendation. It takes the guesswork out of those tough decisions, so you can commit to your shot with more confidence.
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