604 replies to this topic

[tbowles411]

http://www.golfchann...LONGPUTTER_USGA

• By Rex Hoggard
  
• Oct 16, 2012 9:14 AM ET

The long putter, and specifically anchoring, remains a hot topic in golf circles as the game’s rules-makers inch closer to an announcement on the implement’s future.

Earlier this summer, U.S. Golf Association executive director Mike Davis told GTC that an announcement would come this fall regarding the ongoing use of long putters and he confirmed on Monday that a statement was imminent before the end of the year.

“We do plan to make some kind of announcement, as promised, later this year,” Davis texted. “We have yet to figure out a day, but I would guess sometime late next month or early December.”

In July, Davis told GTC that any potential change would likely wait until the end of the current rules cycle (January 2016), although the USGA and R&A have made rule changes in the middle of a cycle in the past.

“The only times we’ve changed during a cycle was when there was something within the rules that absolutely didn’t work. Either we didn’t have an answer for something or the way the rules were written it created a problem that was flat wrong,” Davis said.

“If we make a change, again, if we make a change, it will be Jan. 1 of ’16 and it would be a rules change. We wouldn’t ban the long putter, we wouldn’t ban the mid-length belly putter. We’re looking at the type of stroke that is made.”

Edited by tbowles411, 16 October 2012 - 02:50 PM.

[ram01002]

IMO, These statements suggest that anchoring will be banned effective 1/1/2016.

[Matty T]

^^^Exactly what i was thinking

[rymail00]

+1

[tbowles411]

Over the past few weeks, I was getting that feeling.  It would be hard to put the toothpaste back in the tube.

[Body_Visions]

That makes no sense to me.  Imagine the press when a player wins, especially a major, with equipment/method that is already announced to be illegal.

[FLOGMR]

Body_Visions, on 16 October 2012 - 03:05 PM, said:

That makes no sense to me.  Imagine the press when a player wins, especially a major, with equipment/method that is already announced to be illegal.

Saying "We’re looking at the type of stroke that is made.”  doesn't make anything illegal or non-conforming.........only an actual rules change can do that and it can only affect play after the rule is implemented by the R&A and USGA.

[MadGolfer76]

"Four more years...four more years!!"

lol

[aussiehack]

The long putter has been around far too long now for it to be banned.  These people making these decisions are looking at the wrong end of the hole.  The driver and the ball has changed the game more since 1985 when the long putter roughly came to the game.  People are hitting the ball better and longer since the introduction of larger driver heads and graphite shafts and the technological advances in the golf ball.

Leave the long putter alone.  It keeps people that cant putt in the game and that can only be a good thing!

[lumberman2462]

Yeah, this is getting crazy.  I don't use the long putter, belly putter or any kind of putter other than the old standard length......but it doesn't bother me.  They outlawed Snead standing side-saddle and that was dumb too.  You still have to stroke the ball whether the butt of the club is stuck in your gut or on your chin and it still has to roll across the green and go in the hole.

They rule against this and they're going to have to break out an engraver and putt asterisks on every trophy denoting * Championship Won With Putting Stoke Later Ruled Illegal.  

[J13]

Anchoring will be illegal atleast that's what I'm getting.

[KYMAR]

FLOGMR, on 16 October 2012 - 05:21 PM, said:

Body_Visions, on 16 October 2012 - 03:05 PM, said:

That makes no sense to me.  Imagine the press when a player wins, especially a major, with equipment/method that is already announced to be illegal.

Saying "We’re looking at the type of stroke that is made.”  doesn't make anything illegal or non-conforming.........only an actual rules change can do that and it can only affect play after the rule is implemented by the R&A and USGA.

He is saying that if they rule in the next few months that anchoring will become illegal on 1/1/2016 then what happens when someone wins a major using an anchored stroke between the ruling and 2016? And i agree with that position. It makes no sense. If you are going to ban anchoring, then make it illegal immediately. Waiting 3 years is ridiculous.

[MtlJeff]

pretty crazy to think that if Keegan and Webb don't win majors this almost certainly doesn't happen. They caused their own demise. USGA was fine with it as long as people weren't winning. Think about that for a second....

[Vindog]

KYMAR, on 16 October 2012 - 05:39 PM, said:

He is saying that if they rule in the next few months that anchoring will become illegal on 1/1/2016 then what happens when someone wins a major using an anchored stroke between the ruling and 2016? And i agree with that position. It makes no sense. If you are going to ban anchoring, then make it illegal immediately. Waiting 3 years is ridiculous.

Lame duck majors lol

[KYMAR]

Vindog, on 16 October 2012 - 09:03 PM, said:

KYMAR, on 16 October 2012 - 05:39 PM, said:

He is saying that if they rule in the next few months that anchoring will become illegal on 1/1/2016 then what happens when someone wins a major using an anchored stroke between the ruling and 2016? And i agree with that position. It makes no sense. If you are going to ban anchoring, then make it illegal immediately. Waiting 3 years is ridiculous.

Lame duck majors lol

______ _______,  2014 Masters Champion*

[Vindog]

Watch them make and announcement, then everybody on tour(s) use them for the next 3 years.  

Striking while the iron is hot, and all.

Edited by Vindog, 16 October 2012 - 09:14 PM.

[monkeynaut]

tbowles411, on 16 October 2012 - 03:01 PM, said:

Over the past few weeks, I was getting that feeling.  It would be hard to put the toothpaste back in the tube.

It's actually pretty easy to put toothpaste back into the modern tube.
You'll need a bar spoon and a thick straw.  The straw from a sports bottle is ideal.
Just pack the straw with the spilled toothpaste and blow it back into the tube.
If you are a smoker with weak lungs, a small bicycle pump can supply the necessary air pressure. It's also more sanitary.

It should go without saying that you should avoid using toothpaste that has accumulated on unclean surfaces or areas of pet traffic.

[Lefty_Lion]

So, will the "thumb trick" still work?

[Titleist-Golfer]

aussiehack, on 16 October 2012 - 05:26 PM, said:

The long putter has been around far too long now for it to be banned.  These people making these decisions are looking at the wrong end of the hole.  The driver and the ball has changed the game more since 1985 when the long putter roughly came to the game.  People are hitting the ball better and longer since the introduction of larger driver heads and graphite shafts and the technological advances in the golf ball.

Leave the long putter alone.  It keeps people that cant putt in the game and that can only be a good thing!

So you want people who cannot putt without a broom stick to win majors?

[atlanta golfer]

The bigger question is, IF the anchord stroke is banned, will it apply to all players or just on the pro tours?  Note the groove rule ... allowed for most amateurs for quite a few more years yet.

[rafal]

Why would anyone use these putters if not playing for money?

[Jim Clark]

The long and belly putters will disapear if they can't be anchored. Anchoring is what makes them effective. Colin Montgomery has said for a long time they should be banned but also said he would keep using the belly putter as long as it was legal.

[pingman1]

can't wait for the phone calls during a tournament claiming a player anchored the putter!

[Vindog]

rafal, on 17 October 2012 - 06:34 AM, said:

Why would anyone use these putters if not playing for money?

You can't be this obtuse.

[TexasAg]

Vindog, on 16 October 2012 - 09:14 PM, said:

Watch them make and announcement, then everybody on tour(s) use them for the next 3 years.  

Or the PGA Tour just tells the USGA to go pound sand.

[highergr0und]

The funny thing is that the two wins with a belly last year were because people collapsed down the stretch.....  Bradley is the only one we've truly seen make putts under super pressure.  Heck, one of those wins was because a guy with a broomstick had about the biggest meltdown ever.....

Considering that a ruling against the stroke style could ruin careers, there will be some thought behind it.

[Jamboy72]

Wait...so they're telling us that they are going to tell us something that they already told us they would eventually be telling us - Do I have this right?

[Vindog]

topekareal, on 17 October 2012 - 09:00 AM, said:

Wait...so they're telling us that they are going to tell us something that they already told us they would eventually be telling us - Do I have this right?

Yes...yes you do.

Although there is some new information in that now we're told that if it happens it will be a rule change, and not an equipment conformity change.  What does this mean?  It means that an early ruling under 14-3 becomes less of a probability.  If not making an equipment change, then that only leaves unusual use of equipment, which imo, would have been ruled upon earlier if it was such unusual use.

Edited by Vindog, 17 October 2012 - 09:31 AM.

[cardoustie]

complete insanity

I think am's (outside of USGA events) will be able to use them until 2025 ... like the wedges

I also think the PGA tour will waive the rule .. too many up and comers use them

From a few guys I deal with in the know, the ruling will be about the anchoring and making a stroke where a putter grip cannot "fulcrum" off one fixed position ie the grip has to move

That is unfair.  So rule out sternum and navel anchoring but make forearm and upper arm anchoring legal ???  Why ?

Let's ban wedges at 60* or higher ... let's ban rescues .. .let's ban graphite in irons .. let's ban anything that helps more people stay in the game.

Rescues is a great example.  Some players love them and some hate them ... just like putters

Golf is too hard for most everyone nowadays (wrxer's excluded) and now they want to make it more complicated.

[highergr0und]

I still haven't seen the data that shows there is a clear cut advantage derived from the use of long putters.