Will Anchor putter rule change your game?

[jebartle]

Today on Golf Channel they announced that "anchoring" putter (long) to the body will not be allowed effective January 2016....I must admit that this rule announcement timing pales in comparison to the tornado tragedy in Oklahoma

[Bogie Shooter]

Today on Golf Channel they announced that "anchoring" putter (long) to the body will not be allowed effective January 2016....I must admit that this rule announcement timing pales in comparison to the tornado tragedy in Oklahoma

Can't understand why the ban didn't begin on Monday. Why the delay?

[ugotme]

Can't understand why the ban didn't begin on Monday. Why the delay?

They claim that it will give the members enough time to adjust/adapt to the regular putter and putting stoke.

But geez - almost 3 years? Seems a bit much.

[justjim]

Can't understand why the ban didn't begin on Monday. Why the delay?

I agree---why wait more than January 2014. The bigger question is what will the PGA Tour do? The only mistake that the USGA made was waiting so long to act. The USGA should now ban golf balls that travel so far that some of the world's best known golf courses have to be made over every five years. A golf ball that will travel well over 300 yards is IMHO ridiculous and with current equipment and the live golf ball this has "hurt" the history and tradition of the game. Sorry for getting off the subject of this thread but the USGA has more "work" to do.

[NJblue]

I find this ruling to be curious and at odds with the millions that the USGA is spending trying to get more people to play golf. Adding more rules and restrictions is not the way to get more people involved. What's next - requiring knickers because that's what they wore in the early days of golf?

To me, it would be like the ruling body of tennis outlawing two handed tennis shots just because the way the game was played 50 years ago only had one-handed shots.

[Golfingnut]

I have found the anchoring of the putter to be cheating from the first time I saw it happen.

[bandsdavis]

I've been playing golf fairly consistently for about 10 years, roughly the time the "anchored" putters started to be used. In all that time, probably hundreds of rounds at private, semi-private and public courses, both business and personal, I can recall only 6 people I have played with who used an anchor putter. This ruling will not have a substantial affect on most amateur golfers, IMHO, even though the manufacturers would like us to think it will. It would be interesting to know what % of the golfers in TV use them. We see pics of golfers in the Sun and the Villages Mag all the time, and I don't remember seeing many with an anchored putter.

[Cedwards38]

I want to make sure I understand this new ruling. My understanding is that the prohibition is against anchoring the putter on the body, and does not actually prohibit the use of the longer putters, as long as it is not anchored on the body. Am I right?

[gmcneill]

I don't use a longer putter but the rule change will force me to lose weight so my belly won't continue to anchor the regular putter. ;)

[jebartle]

My understanding is that the prohibition is against anchoring the putter on the body, and does not actually prohibit the use of the longer putters, as long as it is not anchored on the body. Am I right?

That is correct....

I was surprised to find out that the long putter was invented in 1961...
Wonder if the Keegan Bradley's, Adam Scotts, and Webb Simpsons will
change putter or change use of the long putter

[spk7951]

I have found the anchoring of the putter to be cheating from the first time I saw it happen.


Curious as to how this is cheating when the use of anchoring is currently permitted? Besides don't all golfers have the option to anchor, at least for now?

[eweissenbach]

Curious as to how this is cheating when the use of anchoring is currently permitted? Besides don't all golfers have the option to anchor, at least for now?

I agree, it is clearly NOT cheating under the past and present rules. The ban will not affect my game, as I have never used an anchored putter. Over the years I have played with hundreds of other golfers including dozens in TV and I have played with exactly one person who used an anchored putter. Btw that golfer only used it for a year or so.

[JP]

I agree with Tiger Woods who said golf is all about controlling your swing and emotions and an anchored club should not be allowed since it takes the swing out of golf.

[OnTrack]

I'm personally a bit ambivalent on the issue.

I can see the arguments on both sides, but then if we're going to really go back to being purists.....there are a lot of other things that need to be changed;


- Adjustable clubs.

- Balls that are engineered to go further, than the skill level warrants.

- Putters anchored against forearms and putting grips that do not keep both hands on the club grip.

- Range finders/GPS's.

- Grooves and club faces engineered to maximize spin.

- Etc., etc.


I've personally never used an anchored putter, but there is still so much other skill needed (reading the slope, speed and having the touch to go the correct distance)...I don't see how anchoring is going to be the end of golf. :shrug:

.

[Polar Bear]

...The USGA should now ban golf balls that travel so far that some of the world's best known golf courses have to be made over every five years...

I totally agree. I've wondered for the longest time why they don't standardize the distance capability of golf balls. The physically stronger players would still hit it further, and courses would stop "shrinking", which requires drastic, expensive changes in many courses and simply ruins others.

[rjn5656]

no, i have until jan 2016

[justjim]

Dave Pelz a known "expert" on putting scientifically proved over 15 years ago that the long anchored putter was the most accurate way to putt. Pelz writes for Golf Magazine and was a NASA engineer who used all kinds of scientific tests to determine which is the best way to putt a golf ball. According to Pelz, the second best way is the cross hand method or what he calls the left hand low (for right hand putters). In the last few years, many golfers begin to believe his findings and started using his scientific methods. I do not consider myself a good putter but have been using the left hand low method of putting for about 10 years. With this method you do not anchor the club to your body but it does help (especially seniors) with the so called yips.

[ugotme]

Absolutely agree on changing the golf balls.

Too many courses are being lengthened for the pros which makes them even more difficult for the average player.

And, let's be honest, most people do not strictly adhere to the rules. Not meaning to cheat but if my ball is against a root of a tree I am not going to risk injury or the possibility of breaking a club. If the pros break a club they just go get another one from the trailer at no cost to them.

This, of course, is done while playing with friends which we all agree on.

[Thnonne]

The rules of golf are for competitive play. The average player in TV plays for enjoyment, to be outside, and to have a good time. Rules made for pros and tournament or league players need not apply. The social player "breaks" the rules of golf often, i.e. resetting their lie, not stroke and distance on OB, not playing out of a divot, grounding their club in a hazard, and if it keeps them from not being frustrated and enjoying themselves, great. So anchor your long putter social player and let the old foggies at the USGA and the Royal & Ancient sip their scotch and smoke their cigars while they make rules. Who cares as long as you are having a good time on the golf course.

[justjim]

Absolutely agree on changing the golf balls.

Too many courses are being lengthened for the pros which makes them even more difficult for the average player.

And, let's be honest, most people do not strictly adhere to the rules. Not meaning to cheat but if my ball is against a root of a tree I am not going to risk injury or the possibility of breaking a club. If the pros break a club they just go get another one from the trailer at no cost to them.

This, of course, is done while playing with friends which we all agree on.

:coolsmiley: Ugotme the key is to AGREE on the rules while playing with friends and have fun. Of course, keeping up the pace of play is absolutely imperative.

[Russ_Boston]

The rules of golf are for competitive play. The average player in TV plays for enjoyment, to be outside, and to have a good time. Rules made for pros and tournament or league players need not apply. The social player "breaks" the rules of golf often, i.e. resetting their lie, not stroke and distance on OB, not playing out of a divot, grounding their club in a hazard, and if it keeps them from not being frustrated and enjoying themselves, great. So anchor your long putter social player and let the old foggies at the USGA and the Royal & Ancient sip their scotch and smoke their cigars while they make rules. Who cares as long as you are having a good time on the golf course.

I have to disagree a little. I don't see many players on the regulation courses who break the rules - at least not knowingly:) I know I play in two leagues who play by strict USGA rules and we call them on ourselves or others as they come up. We also putt everything out and we play in a decently fast (4 hours give or take) pace

I think it does happen more on execs and as long as I have no money or standing riding on it then be my guest.

[ugotme]

I have to disagree a little. I don't see many players on the regulation courses who break the rules - at least not knowingly:) I know I play in two leagues who play by strict USGA rules and we call them on ourselves or others as they come up. We also putt everything out and we play in a decently fast (4 hours give or take) pace

I think it does happen more on execs and as long as I have no money or standing riding on it then be my guest.

I think the key to your comment is "League Play." Then - Yes - I believe all the rules should be followed.

However, when 4 "buds" go out and agree on certain "rules" such as (my example) not hitting by a root of a tree I think this is fine - as long as you all agree.

So, as was stated, go ahead an anchor your long putter if you want if you are in my group! :wave:

[rjn5656]

I will give up my long putter on that date of the new rule. In the meantime, I will continue to use. Who knows if I will still be playing then (LOL)

[justjim]

Clearly the "traditionalist" got their way on this one. USGA should tackle the lively golf ball and clubs but I suppose there are more economic issues now involved with equipment manufactures than USGA wants to deal with. The PGA has not said they agree just yet but IMHO they will follow suit.

[Topspinmo]

I don't agree with the restricting equipment to meet distance standard. Every since the first homemade golf ball and club were made there have been improvements... You still have to have club, ball, and swing... IMO the swing makes the difference. So, were do we back roll standard to 70's, 60's, 50s. why not 1900.. or when the first acorn was hit?

[justjim]

So, would you allow a baseball player improve the distance he could hit a ball by using a bat made out of material that makes the ball go another 50-100 feet and with a little more lively ball maybe even further. Of course not---that is my point. Ballparks as we know them would have to be rebuilt.

[Polar Bear]

...Every since the first homemade golf ball and club were made there have been improvements... You still have to have club, ball, and swing... IMO the swing makes the difference...

Exactly...the swing. So why not a (somewhat) standard ball so the swing is even more the difference?!?

...So, were do we back roll standard to 70's, 60's, 50s...

...or 80's, or 90's, or 00's. Just pick one.

[will1546]

If it wasn't challenged or enforced when the long putter was invented, why ban it now?
I think there will be some law suits coming.

[Mikeod]

If it wasn't challenged or enforced when the long putter was invented, why ban it now?
I think there will be some law suits coming.

The long putter hasn't been banned. You just can't anchor it against your body. Big difference.

[Mikeod]

Regarding the ball, it seems to me that perhaps it is not the main reason for the increased distance players are getting. Those who began golf with wooden drivers remember you had to hit them perfectly for max distance. Off center hits suffered greatly in both distance and direction. With the advent of the metal heads and increased MOI leading to more forgiveness, it was possible to go all out with the swing. And if you hit a bit off center, the loss of distance and direction was reduced.

That's why you will see some comments about reducing the size of heads, at least on the PGA Tour. I don't think that will happen, though, because there is so much marketing devoted to buying the same driver the pros use. If the tour limits the size of drivers to, let's say, 350cc, and manufacturers change over to that size completely, imagine the complaints from amateurs who only see lost distance and forgiveness with the smaller heads. So the manufacturers would then have to decide whether to make two sizes and try to market them even though they are not like the ones the pros use, or risk losing market share by only selling the smaller heads. Sounds like a lose-lose proposition to me.

[zonerboy]

If you really want to increase your accuracy, maybe you should lie down on the green and putt with a pool cue! But then we wouldn't call it golf.
Seriously though, don't see why this ruling should affect anyone's game, unless they are playing in a USGA sanctioned tournament.
What's gonna happen? Is the ambassador gonna come and throw you off the executive course for using a belly putter?
As long as those you play with agree what the standards are, who cares? Most rules are just for OCD people.

[Polar Bear]

Regarding the ball, it seems to me that perhaps it is not the main reason for the increased distance players are getting...

Oh, I agree 100%. I just think establishing some sort of standard for the ball (possibly even changing over time as distances keep increasing) would keep distances somewhat consistent and reduce the need for constant course changes. The longer hitters would still hit it further. It's just that the average distance could be kept somewhat constant.

[zcaveman]

Seriously though, don't see why this ruling should affect anyone's game, unless they are playing in a USGA sanctioned tournament.
What's gonna happen? Is the ambassador gonna come and throw you off the executive course for using a belly putter?
As long as those you play with agree what the standards are, who cares? Most rules are just for OCD people.

I agree. I play with a group on Saturday and we have one person tat is always spouting the USGA rule book. We tell him that we are not in competition and please give it a break.

Z

[ajbrown]

Regarding the ball, it seems to me that perhaps it is not the main reason for the increased distance players are getting. <snipped by Alan.


The world changed when the new trampoline drivers came out and then again when Titleist introduced the ProV1 (if I remember the proper sequence). If you ever read any of Frank Hannigan's stuff, he is pretty direct at who is to blame. Here is a letter he wrote

Frank Hannigan dissects the USGA's pathetic distance failures (http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?topic=26270.0;wap2)

As far the OP question? The anchor rule will not harm my game. I have owned many a putter in my time, including two belly putters. What I found was that when I was going through the dreaded 'yips', the belly putter would help for a short time, but eventually my brain would case me to miss again :ohdear:

If they ever rule out 'swing oil' then I would be in trouble!

[Topspinmo]

Bottom line it's about money and profits. Better ball more the cost, more the cost the more claims you get control and distance (but, you still have to have swing and timing to hit it that far. As far the bat in baseball no different, you still have to have swing, timing and be strong enough to hit it out of the ball park.. As one said above it's all about timing and strength. Besides baseball not good example with lot more cheating that's been going on with drug enhancement. Course we don't like to hear the sound metal bat makes when hit out of the park. On the other hand we love the sound metal driver makes when you hit that perfect shot.

[justjim]

The world changed when the new trampoline drivers came out and then again when Titleist introduced the ProV1 (if I remember the proper sequence). If you ever read any of Frank Hannigan's stuff, he is pretty direct at who is to blame. Here is a letter he wrote

Frank Hannigan dissects the USGA's pathetic distance failures (http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?topic=26270.0;wap2)

As far the OP question? The anchor rule will not harm my game. I have owned many a putter in my time, including two belly putters. What I found was that when I was going through the dreaded 'yips', the belly putter would help for a short time, but eventually my brain would case me to miss again :ohdear:

If they ever rule out 'swing oil' then I would be in trouble!

Thanks for posting the link to Frank Hannigan's letter. It pretty well sums up the USGA'S pathetic failures. :ho: