Long Putters Will Not Be Outlawed; Anchoring Another Story
Alex Miceli gives us an idea what is being discussed inside the meeting rooms at Lytham, Olympic and Augusta over the last few months and it appears any kind of change to the rules that excludes elongated putters will not happen.
However, the same can't be said for anchoring, though a decision is likely in the coming months.
“I think it's incumbent on us to make our position reasonably clear in months rather than years," Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A, said about the anchoring issue while attending the Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club.
Mike Davis says the complication of defining the act is the current topic for discussion.
According to Davis, who became the USGA's seventh executive director in March 2011, equipment is off the table and the focus is solely on the stroke itself.
“If you want to ban something, what do you want to ban? Because you just say the word anchoring, it can mean a lot of different things,” Davis said in outlining the difficulty of any rules change. “And it's not just putting, either. There are clubs that come out that you can literally put – people that have yips with the pitch shots – there are clubs now where you can anchor a club underneath your armpit and pitch that way. The point is, there's a lot more to this than just somebody with a belly putting.”
Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 01:00 PM 47 Comments | in 2012 Open Championship, Belly Putter, R&A, State of the Game
Reader Comments (47)
1) Is there any research/facts to support that anchoring or the long putter improves putts per round? If so, by how much compared to a conventional putter? This would need to be averaged for numerous players/skill levels (avoiding bifurcation), and rounds played.
2) While an illegal golf ball or driver can be determined to hit the ball further, can a similar metric be applied to the long putter (i.e.reduction in putts per round)? For it to be illegal, this improvement would have to be NEARLY universal for anyone who uses one.
3) IF, the long putter or anchor putter is so helpful in regards to the previous question, why doesn't everyone use one?
I have never seen these questions answered in regards to the long putter or anchoring.
I think I am right in saying Dave Pelz has researched the benefits of the longer putters. I think his study was from a purely technical aspect of the quality and consistency of the stroke
If Pelz research is right - that the longer putters are better - then there will be a whole generation who will never use the short putter.
If you don't care about the short putter don't ban the long one.
1. Would Bernhard's grip circa '91 be considered problematic for those who support a ban. Seems he got a pass because he stryggled so much at times.
2. Does anyone know the usage number on other Tours, it doesn't seem to be as prevalent on the LPGA Tour.
3. If the long putter ostensibly helps those with inferior putting skills, could an analogy be made to perimeter weighted irons helping less skilled ballstrikers?
Langers first Masters win grip should be as far as it goes.
Langers first Masters win grip should be as far as it goes."
This makes sense.
It's possible when choking up, say when standing well below the ball to have the end of the grip touching your forearm, or even your trunk...
It won't be simple but the Scott and Els stokes must be outlawed. At least Ernie agrees.
Shortest club in the bag doesn't work - see Ray Floyd - nothing wrong with that stroke.
I had questions similar to D. a while back, then read some remarks that claimed the good putters don't need or usually utilize the long putter or anchoring. But it does make the golfers who are below average putters better, especially on the relatively short putts. And I think that is what Pelz has said, though I don't know if this is in reference to the long putter or specifically anchoring with the long putter.
Not that it should play a role in any rule determination, but one thing I like about the long putter is, if one has back issues, practice with the long putter may be associated with much less pain. I think that is one reason Rocco initially went to the long putter.
It seems people want to ban it "just because" or they "don't like how it looks" or it is "against tradition".
I would say the reason is because the hands must always be the sole controlling force in the gripping of any club- part of the challenge is that the hands are full of fast twitch muscles which adds to the challenge of the game- especially on the greens.
Anchoring fundamentally alters that- it changes the nature of the game.
Just my opinion.
I think it's because most pros believe that their hands , through practice, don't need to anchor or it might create a problem with feel.
However,if you're Els and you are yipping- the anchoring rule is a godsend.
Why do those questions have to be answered at all. Many sports, including golf, have rules because rules are what make sports what they are - and not some other sport.
Why not get rid of baseballs Balk rule?
Why not allow a basketball player to hold the ball with both hands then dribble again?
Why not allow the 8-ball player to jump the ball how he/she wants?
I could go on but my point is that rules are what make the game "golf" regardless if there is proof that the rule hurts or helps.
...you nailed it
NO rule change (maybe) on elongated putters but anchored is on the table, who'd want a broomstick putter when you can't anchor it, game-set-match.
And whose to say golf shouldnt evolve? All other popular sports are constantly adding new rules and tweaks all the time. I think its kind of myopic to think that with all the changes in equipment, the one that probably has the least effect on results gets focused on.
Think about the difference between a modern driver and one of 20 years ago and the difference in the way they would play. But putting equipment is always supposed to stay the same?
At the Pro level: Drivers 400cc or smaller, putters not anchored belly or long, grooves have been addressed/so that's all good.
All this equipment at the club amatuer level,...let them play it if it helps them enjoy the game.
so people who hit 7.5 degree drivers (yes, they are out there, whether they should be hitting them or not) have to use a putter with more than 8 degrees of loft?
No, I think the suggestions above have the answer -- define what is legal and illegal anchoring and go from there. If someone has a bad back and they want to use a 38 inch putter, then so be it. Just don't smoosh it against your belly.
I agree with Arnie - especially since he is not the only one to have made this statement, Jack has also advised that the ball needs a rollback.
Also, I'd the r&a so busy they can't address both issues with putters and the ball? can't they fix both?
Of course you still have to make the right read, right speed, and right line. Pretty obvious, but starting the ball on your intended line with a long putter is easier for most especially under pressure. I think that's the main benefit of a long putter. takes the nerves out of putting and makes one who struggles more consistent in their stroke.
Golf means you don't use a cheater line because you're not allowed to mark your way to the hole. Golf also means that you use whatever fricking club and whatever fricking stroke will get the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes. That's the way it's been since the 1400s, and we don't need these meddling megalomaniacs to tell us what the game is or isn't. Frankly, at this point, most of their decisions are dead flat wrong, and contrary to the spirit of the game. They're almost like Kostanza on Seinfeld - we'd be better served by following the OPPOSITE of what their instincts tell them.