Is tomorrow the beginning of the end for long putters/anchoring?

so to sum it up currently the putter is Legal , the stroke is Legal .. wheres the beef ??.. oh so now that major has been won the purists dont like it ? ah shucks.... isnt it lucky for us golfers of today some people had the foresight to let the game expand & improve or we would be still using persimmon [sp] & the old butter knives ..

firstly I don't have an issue with it either way but I can't let this pass :)

the rules have been changed to remove a number of putting approaches that we considered contrary to the underlying game (whatever that is) already - any change implemented is likely to revolve around this.

examples would be the banning of snooker style putting (very effective but banned early on) and the banning of croquet style putting more recently (everythings relative!).

if there is a rule change, which results in the need for some to change, it won't be because of a major having been won 'that way' it will be because of the direction things are moving with regard to putting styles/mechanics, not where they are today.
 
firstly I don't have an issue with it either way but I can't let this pass :)

the rules have been changed to remove a number of putting approaches that we considered contrary to the underlying game (whatever that is) already - any change implemented is likely to revolve around this.

examples would be the banning of snooker style putting (very effective but banned early on) and the banning of croquet style putting more recently (everythings relative!).

if there is a rule change, which results in the need for some to change, it won't be because of a major having been won 'that way' it will be because of the direction things are moving with regard to putting styles/mechanics, not where they are today.

Excellent answer Duncan & very well put .. Thank You

Out of curiosity .. When did it start becoming a talking point tho ? is it a coincidence it has come to light since the major wins ?
 
Excellent answer Duncan & very well put .. Thank You

Out of curiosity .. When did it start becoming a talking point tho ? is it a coincidence it has come to light since the major wins ?

I believe it's really come about now as a response today's coaching practices rather than user practices, although at times it's hard to discern the truth!

Let's hear what is said.
 
you cant anchor but you can have a putter with a head the size of india, alignment lines etc.

lets just have blade putters and may the best man win :p

Last time I looked India was more than 7" across (yes, there actually is a limit on that one in the rules!)
 
I have never tried a belly putter, if they give an advantage then everyone would be using them, surely its just that they give some players more confidence, what's wrong with that.
 
My opinion is that it won't happen for a good number of years. You can't have a generation or two of top amateurs and professionals coming through having been brought up using the belly/broom only to ban it!
 
If they give notice tomorrow, then the pros and us will have plenty of time to get ready for 2016 when the rule kicks in. If its no anchoring, I can't see broom handle users having much of an issue, as they don't need to be anchored. It's the belly putter users who will have the problem.
 
It will be interesting to see the wording of the statement tomorrow and how many pros, especially the likes of Scott, Bradley, Els etc come out and complain. I don't have an issue with long putters but it is the anchoring that is the problem and the issue they will attack
 
Re: Anchoring Decision due today

ban in place by 2016 I hear - so no excuses from anyone about affecting theiur livelihood today or for the next few years. Those that do use that technique will just have to change. No difference this change than when they banned standing astride the line of the putt and putted croquet style. Interesting the USGA statement that - such putting '...could have changed the nature of golf'. Indeed.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...SgsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_scEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5204,2909650
 
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I want to know what happened to the gentlemens agreement NOT to use overlength putters in place of drivers as an on course measure for taking relief etc... Can be quite an advantage in some circumstances...
 
I kind of don't care really.

I suspect they may ban them from the pro game but make them usable by a local rule, like GPS devices, in the amateur game.

Personally I don't think they are of benefit to all, but seem to benefit a group of players who have some putting issues. So kind of levels the playing field.

They are against what I believe to be the game of golf. But that's just my view. What do I know anyway
 
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