287 replies to this topic

[hebron1427]

IMO, anchoring doesn't help a person read or hit a putt. it gives and it takes away. as long as it's available to everyone, then it's not "unfair." unfair means that someone has an advantage that others cannot take advantage of. IMO, the people who are clamoring for the banning are just people who cannot figure out how to use a belly putter and stink at putting wtih a regular length putter.

and i use a 35" putter with a traditional stroke. i'll beat anyone with a belly putter who wants to go.

[ShortSticks]

Belly and Long putters are compromises, like everything else in golf. What you gain in stability, you give up in terms of feel. Short putts are easier, but lag putting is harder. I track my stats, and last year I used a 34" putter, and this year I used a 41" putter. I averaged the same for either one. I made more 5 footers with the belly but did not make many long ones. With my short putter I would make a bomb or two each round, but would also miss a few short ones.

Personally, I do not see a problem. It looks like a knee jerk reaction from a bunch of whiners to me, just like the groove rule.

[MrParr1Noid]

I think the long putter debate is a smoke screen.   I think what they're really after is to try and outlaw the grooves on putters...No...Wait!   If all golfers are allowed to chose which length putter they want, then why don't they all chose long putters?  .. No, Wait!   Ban the Short Putters...Look how good Mickelson puts with a short putter...No, Wait!  He doesn't...

p.s.  I think Yao Ming should stick to baseball, and leave the golf to us...

[pgarob]

Too late to ban them.  It would be like banning 1 piece sticks in the NHL, or banning alluminum bats in college baseball, it makes no sense.  Just look at the strokes gained putting stat.  And sure, some long putters have won this year, but there is so much more to winning than just putting.  Webb didn't anchor his wedge in his belly when he hit that great chip at the US Open, did he?  So much more to golf and winning than a club that such a small percentage of golfers use.  Keep them in the game, and as Coach Ditka says, "STOP IT!!"

Edited by pgarob, 02 November 2012 - 02:16 PM.

[hebron1427]

pgarob, on 02 November 2012 - 02:15 PM, said:

Too late to ban them.  It would be like banning 1 piece sticks in the NHL, or banning alluminum bats in college baseball, it makes no sense.  Just look at the strokes gained putting stat.  And sure, some long putters have won this year, but there is so much more to winning than just putting.  Webb didn't anchor his wedge in his belly when he hit that great chip at the US Open, did he?  So much more to golf and winning than a club that such a small percentage of golfers use.  Keep them in the game, and as Coach Ditka says, "STOP IT!!"

aluminum bats in college baseball should absolutely be banned. that's a safety issue at this point...but, of course, way OT.

[Pepperturbo]

I will qualify my ban vote for professional tours and USGA sanctioned amateur events.  Reason is blatantly clear... when the long putter is anchored in the stomach or chest, it stablihzes the putting stroke.  Using a regular putter, such as mine, the user has to take greater care to maintain the same stroke.  If the hands and or arms are at all shakying even 2' putts can be missed.  Anchoring a long "heavier" putter quiets shaking contributing to a nicer pendulum stroke.  One that users of shorter normal putters such as my 34", have to work hard to maintain.

Also, I believe there will come a day when amateur golfers have to decided, either chase golf equipment similar to what tour players use, or opt to use what the rest of the mid-hi index golfers use.  They shouldn't have to change putters, or for that matter, use clubs with tour grooves.

[Titleistman1010]

Birdie4, on 01 November 2012 - 09:00 PM, said:

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, on 01 November 2012 - 07:47 PM, said:

I believe that anchoring a club against in body in a location other than your hands is in conflict with the intent and spirit of the rules of Golf.

+1

A lot of people are saying its too late to ban it but it's against the rules. It will be banned but personally I don't care how people putt.

[nbg352]

Titleistman1010, on 02 November 2012 - 02:42 PM, said:

Birdie4, on 01 November 2012 - 09:00 PM, said:

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, on 01 November 2012 - 07:47 PM, said:

I believe that anchoring a club against in body in a location other than your hands is in conflict with the intent and spirit of the rules of Golf.

+1

A lot of people are saying its too late to ban it but it's against the rules. It will be banned but personally I don't care how people putt.

At present it is not against the rules.

[stage1350]

I'm in favor of banning Dick Ruggee

[indyvai]

I understand and respect the "spirit of the rules" argument... but as the sport evolves and technologies advance, the rules will always be tested and stretched to the limit.  

If long putters didn't have a surge in popularity in the last few years... there would be no discussion to ban them.  Ask yourself, who actually benefits from the ban?

[Kylekoz17]

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, on 01 November 2012 - 07:47 PM, said:

I believe that anchoring a club against in body in a location other than your hands is in conflict with the intent and spirit of the rules of Golf.

This.  They look terrible as well.  And when people like Adam Scott go from a below average putter to an average or better because of the anchored putter, it throws a red flag.  And if it doesn't give a player an advantage, why are players like Keegan all ready to fight it to the end?  Also, players that haven't switched refuse to switch because they are conventional and think it looks bad.

[glfpunk]

Kylekoz17, on 03 November 2012 - 11:33 AM, said:

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, on 01 November 2012 - 07:47 PM, said:

I believe that anchoring a club against in body in a location other than your hands is in conflict with the intent and spirit of the rules of Golf.

This.  They look terrible as well.  And when people like Adam Scott go from a below average putter to an average or better because of the anchored putter, it throws a red flag.  And if it doesn't give a player an advantage, why are players like Keegan all ready to fight it to the end?  Also, players that haven't switched refuse to switch because they are conventional and think it looks bad.

Why does that throw a red flag? It's just another option.  Does it throw a red flag when a guy has been using a blade putter his whole career and then switches to a gigantic mallet putter like the ghost spyder and suddenly putts better? Does it raise a red flag when a guy has been carrying 2-W his whole career and then replaces his 2-4 with hybrids and scores better? No.  They're just additional options.  Guys will try anything to help their game.  What we have not seen are a significant amount of wins on tours that can be attributed to belly and long putters.  They're just another tool in the bag that work for some and don't work for others.

[teeman2116]

Shaky hands over a nerve-wrecking 4 footer affects a short putter a lot more than an anchored putter IMO.

[Kylekoz17]

glfpunk, on 03 November 2012 - 11:57 AM, said:

Kylekoz17, on 03 November 2012 - 11:33 AM, said:

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, on 01 November 2012 - 07:47 PM, said:

I believe that anchoring a club against in body in a location other than your hands is in conflict with the intent and spirit of the rules of Golf.

This.  They look terrible as well.  And when people like Adam Scott go from a below average putter to an average or better because of the anchored putter, it throws a red flag.  And if it doesn't give a player an advantage, why are players like Keegan all ready to fight it to the end?  Also, players that haven't switched refuse to switch because they are conventional and think it looks bad.

Why does that throw a red flag? It's just another option.  Does it throw a red flag when a guy has been using a blade putter his whole career and then switches to a gigantic mallet putter like the ghost spyder and suddenly putts better? Does it raise a red flag when a guy has been carrying 2-W his whole career and then replaces his 2-4 with hybrids and scores better? No.  They're just additional options.  Guys will try anything to help their game.  What we have not seen are a significant amount of wins on tours that can be attributed to belly and long putters.  They're just another tool in the bag that work for some and don't work for others.

A mallet putter still forces the same swing type and is only stabilized by your hands and your motion.  When it's anchored you aren't worried about balance and swing (as much), just the pace.  I can see your view but in my opinion, anchored putting shouldn't be allowed.

[PuttingDoctor]

Wow! Lot's of spirited debate on this subject.  As to class action I think the manufacturers could likely get into this as well.  The OEM's have already scaled back long and belly putter production due to demand at retail falling through the floor recently.

Demonstrated advantage is the buzz phrase used by USGA prior to jumping on the R&A bandwagon.  The fact of the matter is as stated prior you can gag on a 3 foot putt with any putter and many tour professionals have done just that.

The golf industry and the game itself doesn't need either body to regulate such a critical area of the game that keeps many playing it.  Take away the long and belly and more will simply hang it up.  Grow the game is the catch phrase of the PGA and they should be taking a moment to chime in and vote no to this issue of a ban.

Go Play!

[cody0623]

While I must admit initially I was totally against the idea of me using a belly putter, but recently I've changed my tune as my putter has become the weakest part of my game.  It's too late to back track and attempt to ban something that has already won on the PGA tour.

Edited by cody0623, 04 November 2012 - 08:13 AM.

[golferlaird]

NOPE.  Ruling was not made soon enough to be useful.  Too little, too late..  Been around way too long to change now.

[lew4dtv]

As long as everybody has the opprotunity to putt that way leave it alone.

[golf9596]

You still have to put the ball into that hole, I don't care what you use.......

[HeadonaStick]

dlam, on 01 November 2012 - 10:04 PM, said:

R&A and USGA get ready for class action from guys on the tour that use long putters for their livihood

I'm not sure what grounds there will be for a class action lawsuit.

[HeadonaStick]

zack175, on 01 November 2012 - 10:40 PM, said:

There might not be a rule against anchoring, but there is a rule against using equipment in an unusual way that it was not meant to be used in.
In practice it may or may not matter but under pressure taking your wrists out of the equation is a HUGE advantage.

I know everyone can use them right now, but the people that choose not to probably believe they would be breaking the rules of the game, and the people who use it are taking advantage of a rule loophole that was Looked over for the mercy of people with back problems so they could still play in official events, because it helped them not having to practice putting hunched over for long periods.
The competitive nature of our great game has caused some of us to take advantage of a mercy loophole
BAN THEM
Sorry for being long winded, I feel strongly about this

Anyone who feels they are breaking a non-existent rule deserves to loose, and loose big.

Players who don't putt with them, especially at the professional level, choose not to because they don't putt any better with them.  I don't use one because I don't putt better with them; in fact, I think they make it more difficult to putt.

A long putter is just another choice.  That's all.  They aren't magic.

Finally, if they are banned, they should be banned across all levels.  I think bifurcation of the rules is a mistake.  Period.

[THitman]

No they should not be banned, many golfers can now enjoy golf again making it easier for the average guy to play better, who cares about the what the pros do, golf should be made easier to play for average people, I will not re-new my USGA membership if this ban comes about

[JB lefty]

The longest club in your bag must be the driver or the shortest length club in your bag must be your putter.  A couple of simple rules that will solve all this fuss around belly putters and anchoring them.  I personally think they go against the core of the game and the way it was intended to be played.

[hebron1427]

JB lefty, on 05 November 2012 - 05:04 AM, said:

The longest club in your bag must be the driver or the shortest length club in your bag must be your putter.  A couple of simple rules that will solve all this fuss around belly putters and anchoring them.  I personally think they go against the core of the game and the way it was intended to be played.

that's an awful rule. I play my lob wedge shorter than my putter, and i'm as traditional a putter as they come.

[hoosiervolunteer]

I think the long/belly putters are kind of a fad.  Yes I realize they have been around for 20+ years, but EVERYONE would be using them if they were that much better.  Bottom line.

I would put with a chunk of rock on the bottom of a 5' broomstick if I could get my putts per round way down.  Everybody else would too.   I have zero problem with new ideas helping me score better.

[Jamboy72]

JB lefty, on 05 November 2012 - 05:04 AM, said:

The longest club in your bag must be the driver or the shortest length club in your bag must be your putter.  A couple of simple rules that will solve all this fuss around belly putters and anchoring them.  I personally think they go against the core of the game and the way it was intended to be played.

Seemingly simple, but this would create more issues than it would solve...I'm also interested how anyone alive today knows what the core of the game is...or how the game was intended to be played...I could make the same argument that the game was intended to be played along the ground and anything which helps a player elevate the ball is against the original intentions...

[hebron1427]

topekareal, on 05 November 2012 - 12:21 PM, said:

JB lefty, on 05 November 2012 - 05:04 AM, said:

The longest club in your bag must be the driver or the shortest length club in your bag must be your putter.  A couple of simple rules that will solve all this fuss around belly putters and anchoring them.  I personally think they go against the core of the game and the way it was intended to be played.

Seemingly simple, but this would create more issues than it would solve...I'm also interested how anyone alive today knows what the core of the game is...or how the game was intended to be played...I could make the same argument that the game was intended to be played along the ground and anything which helps a player elevate the ball is against the original intentions...

with mashies and purely blade irons and putters, and actually wooden woods, and hickory shafts, and you have to wear knickers, and you can't play anywhere other than scotland.


that's how golf was intended to be played.

[Chef G]

JJGolo, on 01 November 2012 - 09:42 PM, said:

Judging break and speed is hard whether anchored or not. Anchoring seems to be a minor, if any, benefit. However, the distance the ball is hit is the real difference maker, that's where the focus of banning or controlling should be aimed.

+1

[ultra45]

rvgolfer, on 01 November 2012 - 07:56 PM, said:

It's just too late to ban anchoring.  Were it going to be done, it should have happened long ago.

+1

that and tim clark will have a strong case to fight it

[endy]

JB lefty, on 05 November 2012 - 05:04 AM, said:

The longest club in your bag must be the driver or the shortest length club in your bag must be your putter.  A couple of simple rules that will solve all this fuss around belly putters and anchoring them.  I personally think they go against the core of the game and the way it was intended to be played.

+1