7 Illegal Golf Clubs That Could Transform Your Game

Some golf clubs changed the game so much… they had to be banned. In this video, I’m breaking down 7 illegal golf clubs so powerful, controversial, and innovative that the USGA and R&A rewrote the rulebook to stop them. These aren’t gimmicks — they’re the technological breakthroughs that pushed golf right to its limits… and sometimes over the edge.

What You’ll Discover:

🏆 The Ping Eye2 wedge loophole – how Phil Mickelson used a technically legal “illegal” wedge on Tour

⛳ The anchoring ban – how long putters went from lifesavers to outlawed overnight

⚡ Callaway ERC II – the “too hot” driver that split the golf world in two
🪛 Wilson Reflex irons – spring-face distance before COR limits even existed
🔄 Two-faced chippers – clever design or double trouble?
📏 48-inch drivers – why Bryson’s experiment got capped
🧩 The Medicus hinge – the best training aid you’ll never legally play

These clubs didn’t just bend the rules — they broke them, forcing golf’s governing bodies to decide how much innovation is too much.

👉 Whether you’re a gear junkie, history buff, or weekend warrior looking for an edge, this video reveals the wild side of golf technology — and which “banned” clubs might still secretly help your game today.

If you love golf history, forbidden tech, and rule-bending innovation, hit subscribe and turn on notifications. I’m constantly uncovering the stories behind the clubs the pros wish they could still use.

The USGAA and RNA keep official conforming lists, and some clubs pushed so far they were ruled non-conforming. Did you know that Phil Mickelson briefly gained a pre990 Pingi 2 wedge during early 2010 PGA Tour events under a loophole weeks before the Masters, sparking a rules outcry that ended when Ping waved its legal protections? Or that one driver was so hot off the face that it created a transatlantic rules divide between American and European golf? In this video, I’ll break down the seven most game-changing banned golf clubs in history. The technological marvels that pushed the boundaries so far that the rules had to be rewritten. These aren’t just interesting equipment footnotes. They’re the controversial clubs that sparked lawsuits, divided the golf world, and in some cases can still be legally played by average golfers today. And the most surprising part, some of these banned clubs might actually help your game more than the latest $600 driver. Number one, Ping I2 wedges, the grandfather clause. In the late 1980s, the USGAA changed how groove conformance was measured. Ping sued in a 1990 settlement allowed pre-Appril 1st 1990i to remain conforming. When the 2010 groove specification applied via condition of competition at elite events reduced spin from rough, those pre190i2s were still technically legal. So, a few pros, including Phil, put them in play until Ping voluntarily waved its rights, letting the tourists treat them like any other non-conforming wedge. This grandfather clause created one of golf’s most unusual equipment controversies. Players like Scott McCarron publicly criticized Mickelson’s use of the wedges, calling it cheating. Despite the fact that the clubs were technically legal under the settlement, the controversy only ended when Ping chairman John Soloulheim agreed to wave the company’s rights, allowing the PGA Tour to ban the pre990 wedges. What made these wedges so special? The 2010 Groove specification, applied via a condition of competition at elite events, reduced spin from rough, while the older i2 grooves grabbed the ball more effectively from challenging lies. For amateurs struggling with approach shots from tough lies, these vintage wedges offer a legitimate performance advantage that modern conforming wedges can’t match. If you find a pre-1990 Ping eye two wedge at a garage sale or online, grab it. They’re perfectly legal for handicap rounds and will give you noticeably better control from the rough. Best identification is serial/date verification with ping. Don’t rely on cavity plus stamps or lie angle dots. Number two, long putters, the anchor band. For decades, long putters were golf’s remedy for the yips. Whether anchored against the chest, broomstick style, or against the belly, belly putter style, these extended flat sticks helped countless golfers overcome the putting demons that threatened their enjoyment of the game. The controversy reached its peak between 2011 and 2013 when Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, and Adam Scott won major championships using anchored putters. The golf establishment led by traditionalists like Tiger Woods argued that anchoring eliminated the skill of controlling the putting stroke. In 2016, the USGAA and RNA implemented rule 14-1B, later reumbered as 10.1B in the 2019 rules revision, which prohibited anchoring any club against your body during a stroke. Importantly, they banned the technique, not the equipment itself. Long putters remain legal as long as they’re not anchored. The ban devastated some careers. Players like Carl Patterson and Tim Clark, who had used long putters their entire careers, struggled to adapt. Others like Adam Scott eventually adjusted to non-anchor techniques with varying degrees of success. For recreational golfers, the anchoring band technically applies, but who’s enforcing it during your Sunday forsome? If you struggle with the yips, a belly or long putter might save your sanity, even if you have to technically float it away from your body during official competitions. Number three, Wilson reflex irons. The springface iron. In the early 80s, Wilson’s reflex irons used a thin membrane behind the face to add a spring-like effect, long before koir limits were standard. The USGAA later ruled the design non-conforming, making reflex one of the clearest early cases of a too hot iron face. The reflex irons featured a thin stainless steel membrane behind the face that flexed at impact, essentially creating a trampoline effect similar to what would later become common in drivers. This design increased ball speed and distance, particularly on offc center hits. What made these irons revolutionary was that they appeared decades before distance irons became the industry standard. Today’s game improvement irons use various technologies to create similar effects, but they’ve been carefully engineered to stay within the rules established after clubs like the reflex push the boundaries. If you ever come across a set of Wilson Reflex irons, you’re looking at an important piece of golf equipment history. clubs that foreshadowed the distance revolution that would transform the game in the decades that followed. Number four, two-faced chippers, double trouble. A club other than a putter can’t have more than one striking face. Several double-sided chippers have hit the market over the years, and they’re non-conforming under the equipment rules restriction that a club other than a putter may not have more than one striking face. These clubs were designed to simplify the short game, allowing players to use the same club for both left and right-handed chips around the green. With a legal loft, usually around 37°, similar to a seven or eight iron, but two usable faces, they offered a solution for awkward lies where a standard chip would be difficult. Despite this restriction, they remain popular among recreational golfers who struggle with chipping and prioritize enjoyment over strict rule adherence. For high handicapped players who dread short game situations, these double-faced chippers can be gamechangers, eliminating the need for specialized technique on awkward lies. Just don’t try to use one in your club championship. If you’re finding these band club stories fascinating, hit that subscribe button right now and turn on notifications. I’m constantly uncovering the equipment secrets and technological innovations that the golf industry doesn’t want you to know about. Drop a comment below telling me which band club you’d most like to try, and I’ll share some tips on where you might still find one today. Now, let’s continue with more game-changing clubs that push the rules too far. Number five, Callaway ERC2, the high co lightning rod. Callaway’s ERC2 exceeded the USGAA’s 0.830 COR limit and was ruled non-conforming in the US. While initially okay under the RNA, igniting the biggest distance tech rule spat of its era, it showed exactly where the two hotline was for drivers. Named after Callaway’s founder, Elie Reeves Callaway, the ERC2 created a transatlantic rules divide when it was released in 2000. The USGAA immediately declared it non-conforming for exceeding the coefficient of restitution CO limit of 0.830 830. While the R and A initially permitted its use in competitions outside the US, this split decision created confusion among golfers and highlighted the need for equipment rule harmonization between golf’s governing bodies. The controversy intensified when Arnold Palmer, one of golf’s greatest ambassadors and a Callaway endorser, publicly supported the club, arguing that different equipment standards should exist for professionals and amateurs. for recreational golfers seeking maximum distance. The ERC2 represented a tempting option that delivered measurable gains over conforming drivers of the era. Because it exceeded the USGAA’s COR limit, it was not on the USGA conforming list, but it became a symbol of the distance debate that continues to dominate golf equipment discussions today. Number six, 48 in drivers, the length limit. As of 2022, elite competitions adopted MLRG10, capping driver length at 46 in grip included. Your weekend group can still use 48 inch long drivers, but at the top level, they’re effectively illegal when that local rule is in effect. The length limitation came in response to concerns about everinccreasing driving distances in professional golf. Players like Bryson Desambo had experimented with drivers approaching 48 inches in length, seeking to maximize their leverage and swing arc for additional distance. What makes this restriction unique is that it’s implemented as a model local rule rather than a change to the equipment rules themselves. This approach allows elite competitions to limit driver length while permitting recreational golfers to continue using longer drivers if they wish. For average golfers, particularly those with slower swing speeds, a longer driver shaft can potentially increase distance, though often at the cost of accuracy. If you’re struggling to keep up with your playing partners off the tea, a 47 or 48 in driver might give you the extra yards you’re looking for with no rules preventing you from using it in casual play. Number seven, Medicus hinged clubs. Great trainer, illegal gamer. The Medicus hinge exposes swing flaws brilliantly, but because the head/shaft assembly doesn’t meet equipment rules, it’s non-conforming for actual rounds. The Medicus training club with its distinctive hinge that collapses when the swing path or tempo is incorrect, has helped countless golfers improve their swings. The immediate feedback it provides, the club breaks down when you make a mistake, creates a powerful learning tool that accelerates improvement. However, this same hinge mechanism violates the equipment rules requiring clubs to be plain in shape and have a rigid shaft. While nobody would intentionally try to play around with a medicus, the hinge would make actual ball striking nearly impossible, its technical nonconformity highlights how the rules distinguish between training aids and actual playing equipment. For golfers serious about improvement, the Medicus remains one of the most effective training devices ever created. Just remember to switch back to your regular clubs before posting a score. The band clubs we’ve explored represent golf’s technological frontier. Equipment that pushed the boundaries so far that the rule book had to be rewritten. From the Ping two wedges that sparked lawsuits to the Callaway ERC2 that divided the golf world across the Atlantic, these clubs remind us that innovation and regulation have always existed in tension in the golf equipment world. What makes these band clubs so fascinating isn’t just their performance advantages. It’s what they reveal about golf’s ongoing struggle to balance tradition with technology. Every band club represents a moment when manufacturers moved too far, too fast for the game’s conservative governing bodies. For recreational golfers, many of these band clubs offer legitimate performance benefits that might actually help your game more than the latest conforming equipment. Unless you’re playing in competitions or maintaining an official handicap, there’s nothing stopping you from putting a non-conforming club in your bag. The next time you’re browsing a garage sale or scrolling through eBay listings, keep an eye out for these technological outlaws. They might just be the secret weapon your game has been missing. If you found these band club stories fascinating, smash that subscribe button and turn on notifications. I’m constantly uncovering the equipment secrets and technological innovations that can actually help your game. Drop a comment below telling me which band club you’d most like to try, and I’ll see you on the course.