Anchoring Putters

[Deleted member 15344]

With the ban starting next year

Just a simple question

If Bradley and Simpson hadnt won their majors do you think they still would have look to ban the anchoring of the putter

Did they react to those wins and also Els win ?

 

[Thexindi]

With the ban starting next year

Just a simple question

If Bradley and Simpson hadnt won their majors do you think they still would have look to ban the anchoring of the putter

Did they react to those wins and also Els win ?

There was a string of high profiled wins of players using the long putters that really did kick off the idea of the ban, I'm thinking those high profiled wins for sure helped the ban on its way, Or do you think the ban was coming anyway?

 

[Imurg]

I think it was as much to do with a huge number of elite amateurs, especially juniors, using them.
Many of the top juniors had never used anything else.
The powers that be could see a day coming when conventional putters were in the tiny minority.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Possibly but they won and it's in the history books. What effect that has on those still using them remains to be seen. As some are still using the long putter it seems a hard habit to break and you wonder if it's a mental as well as technical issue

 

[Foxholer]

Who cares! They won when they were legal - and there's no stigma to them doing so. The authorities looked at it, decided to ban them and the players are in the process of adjusting! Still legal, so no problem if all this year's majors are won by players using them!

It has certainly stopped the talk about them being wrong/'like cheating' though!

 

[Deleted member 15717]

Who cares! They won when they were legal - and there's no stigma to them doing so. The authorities looked at it, decided to ban them and the players are in the process of adjusting! Still legal, so no problem if all this year's majors are won by players using them!

It has certainly stopped the talk about them being wrong/'like cheating' though!

That wasn't the question being posed. The fact they won with them isn't up for question!

I do believe that the high-profile wins certainly moved the case along, however, as Imurg mentioned...it is probably due to the top college players, amateurs and juniors using them that worried the USGA & R&A. I believe that there were some stats released that showed that the anchored putter didn't really 'aid' the players in holing out, and certainly the top players in putting stats weren't using an anchored stroke.

 

[Foxholer]

That wasn't the question being posed. The fact they won with them isn't up for question!

I do believe that the high-profile wins certainly moved the case along, however, as Imurg mentioned...it is probably due to the top college players, amateurs and juniors using them that worried the USGA & R&A. I believe that there were some stats released that showed that the anchored putter didn't really 'aid' the players in holing out, and certainly the top players in putting stats weren't using an anchored stroke.

The first 2 words (possibly with 'why') added do! They have done so and there will be far fewer around from next year.

But I'm inclined to agree that it was the massively increased use by 'the next generation' that really prompted the authorities to do something about it. The major wins raised the profile/urgency though.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

That wasn't the question being posed. The fact they won with them isn't up for question!

I do believe that the high-profile wins certainly moved the case along, however, as Imurg mentioned...it is probably due to the top college players, amateurs and juniors using them that worried the USGA & R&A. I believe that there were some stats released that showed that the anchored putter didn't really 'aid' the players in holing out, and certainly the top players in putting stats weren't using an anchored stroke.

Thank you for seeing what I was asking and just looking for a talking point

There was lots of rumours of studies of the effect and the amount of juniors using them but I can't find anything written down

Was speaking to a pro and his belief was it wasn't a big issue in Europe and only in the U.S. and that the USGA/PGA forced it through because a couple pros won their flag ship event using them ?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Thank you for seeing what I was asking and just looking for a talking point

There was lots of rumours of studies of the effect and the amount of juniors using them but I can't find anything written down

Was speaking to a pro and his belief was it wasn't a big issue in Europe and only in the U.S. and that the USGA/PGA forced it through because a couple pros won their flag ship event using them ?

Not sure I quite believe it's as simple as the authorities getting upset majors were won with long putters. I can see that perhaps a longer term view towards college players going to them in masses was a catalyst.

 

[Deleted member 15717]

Thank you for seeing what I was asking and just looking for a talking point

There was lots of rumours of studies of the effect and the amount of juniors using them but I can't find anything written down

Was speaking to a pro and his belief was it wasn't a big issue in Europe and only in the U.S. and that the USGA/PGA forced it through because a couple pros won their flag ship event using them?

The PGA were intially dead against it, even though the USGA wanted it...I think the R&A were the spearheads more than anything, and the USGA had to follow suit to ensure that play was equal across the globe.

 

[jamielaing]

I don't see what is actually wrong with the long putters being adopted by the masses as time goes on. Can anyone shed some light on it for me?

 

[Deleted member 15717]

I don't see what is actually wrong with the long putters being adopted by the masses as time goes on. Can anyone shed some light on it for me?

Anchoring the putter against the body was not how the game was originally meant to be played. The putter stroke should be 'free' of swing... Anchoring the putter, in theory, can give a more stable stroke, due to the fact it is anchored against a central point, and it was deemed to not be in the spirit of the game, hence the ban!

Long putters themselves aren't banned. You can still use them...you just can't anchor them

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Presumably, ramming it into your chest or stomach means that no matter how much your hands shake the putter can still be swung with a smooth stroke. Part of golf, whether off the tee, irons or putting, is coping with pressure and nerves. Anchoring the putter removes that aspect to a degree. I believe Matt Kuchar uses a long putter which rests against his wrist and arm but it is not anchored so the stroke is free flowing still and so legal.

As others have said my memory of this is that the R & A wanted the ban but the USPGA were against it. They then started to see younger, college players being taught with the anchoring method and they realised this had stopped being a career lengthening method for pro's and had turned into a taught method due to it's advantages. This brought them round to the R & A's way of thinking. Quite probably more to in that just this but I think the college players issues was the tipping point. Maybe urban myth but that was the story I remember reading about.

 

[Foxholer]

...
There was lots of rumours of studies of the effect and the amount of juniors using them but I can't find anything written down

Was speaking to a pro and his belief was it wasn't a big issue in Europe and only in the U.S. and that the USGA/PGA forced it through because a couple pros won their flag ship event using them ?

That's exactly why I stated 'Who cares; it's done'!

Rumours, rumours! Did you ask that Pro what evidence he had for that opinion? As you would have surely if someone on here had simply stated that that was why (without the 'I believe note'?

Here's the Joint R&A/USGA joint statement.
http://www.randa.org/en/RandA/~/media/RandA/Related Documents/2013/AnchoringExplanation.ashx

And here's the relevant bit about 'Why' it was reviewed....
'The controversy intensified during 2011 and 2012 as use of this method began to spike sharply upward. In
February 2012, The R&A and the USGA announced that they would take a fresh look at whether anchored strokes should be
prohibited under the Rules of Golf'

I heard discussions/opinions about it amongst coaches and players at the Palmer Cup last year (the College equivalent of the Ryder Cup) and opinions were mixed about 'why' or even whether it should have been (more in favour of the ban I believe and it was before the PGA agreed to it), but most agreed that 'it's done, so let's adjust'. From memory, there were not many users (I can't remember any) of it in that tournament.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The PGA were intially dead against it, even though the USGA wanted it...I think the R&A were the spearheads more than anything, and the USGA had to follow suit to ensure that play was equal across the globe.

Cheers

I was thinking earlier how many club amateurs or even junior golfers I have seen use either a belly butter or long putter anchored

We have one using the belly putter anchored - three use a broom handle but can't recall ever seeing them anchor it. Can't remember seeing any juniors using one and club pro who is involved in country says he can't recall see many if any at county coaching or fixtures - so wonder how much of an issue it actually was

 

[Deleted member 15717]

I definitely think it is more of a States thing rather than UK/Europe. I have only ever known 2 people (both pros) use an anchored putter. One has moved on to a conventional putter and putts brilliantly. The other decided to make a broom handle for a chuckle and used it for a couple of rounds. Was mustard over short putts, but long putts wasn't great at all. He binned it off after about 5 rounds!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I definitely think it is more of a States thing rather than UK/Europe. I have only ever known 2 people (both pros) use an anchored putter. One has moved on to a conventional putter and putts brilliantly. The other decided to make a broom handle for a chuckle and used it for a couple of rounds. Was mustard over short putts, but long putts wasn't great at all. He binned it off after about 5 rounds!

Which for me shows its not really going to have much of an effect in UK and indeed Europe - I can't recall many UK pros using belly putter also.

 

[Foxholer]

Cheers

I was thinking earlier how many club amateurs or even junior golfers I have seen use either a belly butter or long putter anchored

We have one using the belly putter anchored - three use a broom handle but can't recall ever seeing them anchor it. Can't remember seeing any juniors using one and club pro who is involved in country says he can't recall see many if any at county coaching or fixtures - so wonder how much of an issue it actually was

I saw a Junior (seemed 11 or 12 at the time and looked as if he was out with his father/Coach) using one when I was in Scotland in 2008. When I pointed out how weird it looked to my PP, his comment was 'there's nowhere to go if that doesn't work!'! My (genuinely) yips afflicted Pro mate manufactured a longer putter, but doesn't anchor it. Sam Torrance reckons his action is fine, again because he doesn't anchor it, but a few others of the Euro Seniors will have to change.

 

[duncan mackie]

Just a simple question

If Bradley and Simpson hadnt won their majors do you think they still would have look to ban the anchoring of the putter

Did they react to those wins and also Els win ?

IMO without the wins you reference they would have acted slightly earlier with a shorter lead time.

post #3 covers the primary reason to implement it; the unfortunate timing of some high profile wins required the lead in time that was implemented.

 

[Tiger man]

I think the ban is ridiculous given its a level playing field and anyone can use one so it is not an advantage at all, if ya don't like it use one yourself. Just some guys are better at using them than others.