Alastair Forsyth labels the club a "monstrosity" and admits it should be banned but, after his best putting display for some time, his new belly putter has now found a permanent home in the Scot's bag.
The Paisley golfer recorded his best result in exactly a year in finishing seventh in the Madeira Islands Open.
Forsyth tucked the belly putter into his tummy and needed just 25 putts to snatch two eagles and three birdies in a final-round 66 on the mountainous Santo da Serra course where he reigned supreme four years ago.
However, Forsyth went to the Portuguese holiday island very reluctant to put the TaylorMade Ghostputter in his bag, but he arrived home yesterday delighted with his efforts.
"The belly putter is a monstrosity and should not be allowed and it should be banned, and I still think that way," he said.
"But I felt no other alternative than to give it a go so I'm now a convert and the belly putter's now in the bag to stay.
"Of course, I knew where I was going last week, having won there in 2008 but, overall, I played well all four days, and I'm getting closer.
"But all I have been trying to do all year is to get into the next tournament."
That event was the Wales Open later this month and with Forsyth hoping to finish top-five in Madeira to achieve that goal.
"I've only just missed out on top-five so instead of going to Wales I may now play a Challenge Tour event," he added.
"I was hoping that if I got into the Wales Open I could have these next two weeks off and continue working on my putting.
"I just need to trust myself with the belly putter a bit more. I've got about a dozen putters back home, but last week was a first for me.
"I holed a lot of putts inside six feet last week and that's something that has been letting me down.
"I've never putted so badly in my life until the last couple of years, but this belly putter has given me a new lease of life."