I loved a small persimmon head driver with screws in the face, such a great sound of ball against wood and I played well with it, these modern 460cc hollow metal monstrosities will never match them, I still have a Titleist persimmon 3 wood....hmmmmm gets me thinking
belly putters again!!
- Thread starter bigfoot1985
- Start date
AuburnWarrior
Tour Winner
I think you're on very dodgy ground when you state that belly/broom handled putters are against the spirit of the game. Firstly, you'd need to define the term 'spirit of the game'.
Secondly, there are many things that I witness whilst playing golf that I would interpret as not being in the 'spirit of the game' but they're personal to me and others wouldn't agree as there's no set definition of the 'spirit of the game'.
All I will say is that they're a legal club so whether they're anchored against the body or not, they simply cannot be, in any way, to the detriment of golf.
One Planer
Global Moderator
It's a good discussion this and a good thread and debate.
My opinion is this.
Golf isn't the only sport that improves as technology advances. Take football, the ball, kit materials, boots even the studs have changed over the history of the game, yet no one complains that boots are now made from some polymer that was grown in a lab rather than off the back of a cow.
Football isn't the only sport either. Put Roger Federer, with his ultra modern, carbon fibre, racket against Bjorn Borg with his racket made of wood. The talent remains similar only the equipment has changed. Yes you would argue Federer would have and advantage, but that not cheating, just progress.
As for belly/broom handle putters, it's the same as most things in life. If it works for you and gives you more confidence then use it.
I don't/won't judge or call foul on people who use them as I use clubs/balls/equipment that has progressed with the level of technology available to manufacturers now. Drivers, Hybrids, CB clubs even balls have changed from their original form, does this count as cheating/gaining an advantage?
No!
Simply because everyone has the choice use modern drivers clubs and balls. People who don't have a belly/broom handle putter cant really call others "cheats" or say "It's not in the spirit of the game" as these people have the option to buy one, personal prefernace aside people still have that choice.
It can only be cheating if the club has been deemed illegal or non conforming by the R&A.
Top and tail of it, If a belly/broom handle gives you the confidence to knock 10 PPR of your score great, that's your choice and I respect that because, at the end of the day, no boody took up the game of golf because they wanted to get worse!
My opinion is this.
Golf isn't the only sport that improves as technology advances. Take football, the ball, kit materials, boots even the studs have changed over the history of the game, yet no one complains that boots are now made from some polymer that was grown in a lab rather than off the back of a cow.
Football isn't the only sport either. Put Roger Federer, with his ultra modern, carbon fibre, racket against Bjorn Borg with his racket made of wood. The talent remains similar only the equipment has changed. Yes you would argue Federer would have and advantage, but that not cheating, just progress.
As for belly/broom handle putters, it's the same as most things in life. If it works for you and gives you more confidence then use it.
I don't/won't judge or call foul on people who use them as I use clubs/balls/equipment that has progressed with the level of technology available to manufacturers now. Drivers, Hybrids, CB clubs even balls have changed from their original form, does this count as cheating/gaining an advantage?
No!
Simply because everyone has the choice use modern drivers clubs and balls. People who don't have a belly/broom handle putter cant really call others "cheats" or say "It's not in the spirit of the game" as these people have the option to buy one, personal prefernace aside people still have that choice.
It can only be cheating if the club has been deemed illegal or non conforming by the R&A.
Top and tail of it, If a belly/broom handle gives you the confidence to knock 10 PPR of your score great, that's your choice and I respect that because, at the end of the day, no boody took up the game of golf because they wanted to get worse!
DaveM
Tour Winner
Just want to say long putters are not anything new. Charlie Owens first used a long putter in a comp, over 25yrs ago. This discussion has been going since then.
