Broom Handle Putters

[WinBase]

Personally ive never liked them & would give the game up before subjecting myself to the embarrassment and sniggers of club mates if I turned up with one, and am glad they are being banned on the tour next year -IMHO not a 'proper' golf club - no doubt there's many out there disagree so why?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

No issue with them and I know a number of players who went close to giving up the game as their putting was killing them so went to either a broom handle or belly putter and found a new lease of life

They aren't be banned and can't see why they are an embarrassment

If the item allows people to carry on playing then have no issue at all with them

They have been around for decades

As soon as a few people win a major with them ( think its 4 ) you hear cries of unfair etc - if they were that much of a help then wouldn't expect to see a lot more using them. Don't think the use of them being anchored should have been banned

 

[Pin-seeker]

I'm not a fan of them,but I don't really care if they ban them or not.
All players currently have the option to use them so I can't see the problem.

 

[WinBase]

Hi Phil

Thanks for the comments, but I don't think i'm mistaken in saying that both the R&A and USGA ARE banning them from 2016. The first time I can remember seeing one was Sam Torrance, possibly in the ryder cup (cant remember what year) but certainly remember some of the expletives I heard people say lol, so although they have been around for years as you say, personally i'm surprised they haven't been banned before, but that's my opinion. Golf is a game of tradition, played more or less the same way forever, and while the quality of equipment always improves, If players are allowed to adopt any style holding the club, then couldn't an argument be made for allowing some modified 'snooker style' for example (as long as certain pre-requisites on arm movement, club size, head shape etc meet current rules), and as for people close to giving up, well I wouldn't like to see that but most sports have guidance of the sizes, shapes and use of equipment, and if you cant meet them then that's just the way it goes, and basically that's what the governing bodies have said moving forward with anchored putters - GL

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The broom handle putter or belly butter will not be banned from 2016

 

[WinBase]

hmmm methinks you are being a tad obtuse for the sake of it, Ok I will rephrase: the anchored stroke is banned, which will in effect be the end of broom/belly putters

 

[Spuddy]

Anchoring is being banned, not the putters themselves.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

hmmm methinks you are being a tad obtuse for the sake of it, Ok I will rephrase: the anchored stroke is banned, which will in effect be the end of broom/belly putters

Not really as will still see people using them but won't anchor them.

 

[WinBase]

Not really as will still see people using them but won't anchor them.

I will look forward to seeing that lol - GL

 

[Fyldewhite]

They are and always have been a departure from the traditional method of hitting a golf ball. It's not the style or length of the putter but the anchoring it to the body that is the issue. To me this putting style falls into the same category as croquet putting which was banned (60?) years ago.

I agree with the ban on anchoring and really don't buy the "can't putt without them" argument. Just get on with it and accept where the limitations of getting older take your game.

 

[WinBase]

If anyone's interested in the why's and wherefore's, here's some links

http://www.randa.org/en/Rules-and-Amateur-Status/Anchoring.aspx

http://www.pgatour.com/news/2013/05/21/anchoring-rule.html

 

[Deleted member 15344]

For decades and decades people used longer putters both anchored and non anchored - believe people in the 50's on tour were using the longer putter and not an eyelid was battered until Simpson and Bradley won the U.S. Open and PGA respectively add in Els and Scott in the Open and Masters and the cries of "cheating" and not in the traditions of the game etc etc appeared in the press did the governing body react.

If those people hadn't won those comps over that 3 year period then nothing would have happened.

I'm sure as players hit the ball further etc they will look at driver and balls to curb them

 

[Hobbit]

I'm sure as players hit the ball further etc they will look at driver and balls to curb them

They already have done Phil. The COR (trampoline effect) of driver faces was addressed several years back, making a number of drivers illegal. Got a feeling the dimple numbers also has a restriction.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

The ban is an absolute farce and virtually impossible to enforce. Read the R&A definition of anchoring and explain to me how it can be policed. The forearm or hand cannot be anchored but the upper arm can. When you take into account layers of clothing, how do you ensure there is a gap between forearm and chest? It comes down to personal interpretation, one person may argue the forearm is not anchored by a PP may argue it is. Who makes the decision?

Either leave things as they are or put a restriction on the maximum length for putters.

http://www.randa.org/en/Rules-and-Amateur-Status/Anchoring/Anchoring-Guidelines.aspx

 

[ScienceBoy]

Nothing wrong with the clubs themselves, its anchoring that is wrong and should never have been allowed.

Perfectly fine to have a long putter as long as its not anchored to the body.

 

[delc]

No issue with them and I know a number of players who went close to giving up the game as their putting was killing them so went to either a broom handle or belly putter and found a new lease of life

They aren't be banned and can't see why they are an embarrassment

If the item allows people to carry on playing then have no issue at all with them

They have been around for decades

As soon as a few people win a major with them ( think its 4 ) you hear cries of unfair etc - if they were that much of a help then wouldn't expect to see a lot more using them. Don't think the use of them being anchored should have been banned

If they are not banned, they should be limited in length to 48", same as drivers. Otherwise they are a cheating stick for measuring out club lengths.

Maybe if the hole was a bit bigger, players wouldn't get putting problems (usually the yips) in the first place, so there would be no need for longer putters or anchoring to keep people in the game!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

If they are not banned, they should be limited in length to 48", same as drivers. Otherwise they are a cheating stick for measuring out club lengths.

Maybe if the hole was a bit bigger, players wouldn't get putting problems (usually the yips) in the first place, so there would be no need for longer putters or anchoring to keep people in the game!

Sweet jesus not again !!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As usual the R&A had a golden opportunity and fudge it. The anchored stroke and the definition is complicated as drive4show explains. It's open to abuse and will come down to interpretation. as for bigger holes.... just let it go. That's not going to happen

 

[c1973]

If they are not banned, they should be limited in length to 48", same as drivers. Otherwise they are a cheating stick for measuring out club lengths.

Maybe if the hole was a bit bigger, players wouldn't get putting problems (usually the yips) in the first place, so there would be no need for longer putters or anchoring to keep people in the game!

An interesting point. Not sure if it would work though, Not that I've given it much thought (never having had the yips). It might do away with the whole anchoring debate.

Care to elaborate on your train of thought on this?

 

[delc]

An interesting point. Not sure if it would work though, Not that I've given it much thought (never having had the yips). It might do away with the whole anchoring debate.

Care to elaborate on your train of thought on this?

The yips (which I've had) normally start with 3 1/2 to 5 feet putts, the sort of distance you might leave a long approach putt from the hole, and which you should really make. In reality a good putter will make only 95% of 3 feet putts and about 60% of 6 feet ones with the standard sized hole, so missing the odd one shouldn't be that unexpected. Problem is that putting gets into your head, and once you have yipped a putt, it tends to keep happening, especially on putts that you should make, and will spread up and down the distance range. I was most likely to yip (and miss) tiddlers, and long approach putts when there was some pressure on getting the distance right. The yips generally affect low handicap players who have played the game seriously for twenty years or more. That is why a fair percentage of Senior golfers use long putters and anchored putting styles. I'm suggesting that a modest increase in the size of the hole might largely prevent the yips. There is no good reason other than an accident of history and tradition for the hole being the size it is!

P.S. I suppose I ought to define the yips. Theyare a sort of involuntary twitch that will cause the putt to go off in the wrong direction and at the wrong pace. Feels like the club going off in your hands!