Former USGA Tech Director: Anchoring Ban May Create More Problems Than It Solves

Former USGA technical director Frank Thomas says the R&A/USGA proposal banning anchoring of the putter "has some inherent problems which add to the predicament rather than resolving it."

Besides noting that there is no statistical evidence to make their case but even worse he lays out a case for the many issues that figure to arise with enforcement. Baggy shirts may make a comeback.

However, a vague and ambiguous rule specifying how to hold and use a club, will linger for many years, challenged and argued daily by all and sundry; “Are you or are you not anchoring your putter?” “Is your fore-arm touching your belly or your thigh?” “Your clothing is so loose that we are unable to see if you are anchoring your putter.”

These challenges will persist until the rule is clear and unambiguous, which is almost impossible for two reasons, first because the differences between “what is” and “what is not” anchoring are extremely small and vague and second because the methods one can use to hold and use a putter, are infinite.