Official - Anchoring to be Banned

[richart]

Heard Gary Player on Sky today. He said that anchored putters do not make a normal putter any better, but they dramatically improve someone who has lost their nerve putting. He mentioned Orville Moody, who went from being the worst putter around to one of the best by changing putters.

I think it is the right decision, but it is years too late. Interesting to see how the likes of Bradley, Simpson perform with a normal putter having been brought up on anchored putters. Assuming they do not have the yips it may not affect them as much as people think. Adam Scott may suffer though, as he was a relatively poor putter before switching to the anchored putter.

 

[ADB]

It would appear they give an advantage to those that are not so good with the short stick......what I don't understand though is why people on here consider it a form of cheating

There are loads of areas of the game where devices have been invented to assist the 'less skilled', a good example being the bounce on a sand wedge to assist bunker play or offset on irons to assist slicers. Maybe they are the next things to be banned?

Not a great analogy, you still used the offset clubs or sand wedge in the same way as a more regular club. My view is that it was not cheating and, in many cases, did not offer any advantage to the player as the anchored putting style needed to be perfected. However, planting a club into your body fundamentally changes the way a club is swung as it is on a pivot which I believe was wrong and should never have been allowed in the first place. Good decision.

 

[Fish]

It would appear they give an advantage to those that are not so good with the short stick......what I don't understand though is why people on here consider it a form of cheating

There are loads of areas of the game where devices have been invented to assist the 'less skilled', a good example being the bounce on a sand wedge to assist bunker play or offset on irons to assist slicers. Maybe they are the next things to be banned?

For me its not a "free stroke" of the club as the game was intended. All the devices that have been invented only assist in the remit of the original principles of the game, anchoring is not, IMO.

 

[cookelad]

It would appear they give an advantage to those that are not so good with the short stick......what I don't understand though is why people on here consider it a form of cheating

There are loads of areas of the game where devices have been invented to assist the 'less skilled', a good example being the bounce on a sand wedge to assist bunker play or offset on irons to assist slicers. Maybe they are the next things to be banned?

Fair comments, personally I don't see it as a form of cheating (until Jan 1st 2016) and I think it's the correct decision (maybe a little later than ideal) but I'd be perfectly happy if the R&A & USGA came to the decision to allow anchoring to continue as long as THEY made the decision.

I think your points about sand wedges and offset irons would be argued against that the ban isn't against long putters themselves only the method with which they are used, if someone came up with a sand wedge or an iron that was anchored directly to the body for the entire stroke then that method too would be banned.

 

[Hacker Khan]

They've banned Anchor Butter? Blimey, I'll have to buy I Can't Believe It's Not Butter from now on.

 

[Andr3w]

No I think you'll find yours don't because

1) I wasn't making reference to any skill level with putters, just the fact that everyone has the option to use the one that works best for them.
2) Who brought ridiculous scenarios into this discussion? I was referring back to something that was the norm since the day golf was invented.

1) I agree but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be banned.
2) Exaggeration for effect.

 

[Colin L]

Judging by some of the comments in the thread, we need to be clear on just what is to be prohibited. There will be be no banning of any type of currently conforming putter, long or short. 14-1b will be entirely about a method of putting ie holding a gripping hand or the club against the body or holding a forearm against the body to act as an anchor point to swing the club round.

So, Sam Torrance could continue to use his broomstick and to putt as in the picture provided he doesn't hold the butt of the club against his chin:



Bernhard Langer will not be able to putt like this because he is holding his club against his chest, but he certainly can continue using the same putter:



And now a test for you. Will this be legal or not?

 

[Fish]

Judging by some of the comments in the thread, we need to be clear on just what is to be prohibited. There will be be no banning of any type of currently conforming putter, long or short. 14-1b will be entirely about a method of putting ie holding a gripping hand or the club against the body or holding a forearm against the body to act as an anchor point to swing the club round.

So, Sam Torrance could continue to use his broomstick and to putt as in the picture provided he doesn't hold the butt of the club against his chin:

View attachment 6145

Bernhard Langer will not be able to putt like this because he is holding his club against his chest, but he certainly can continue using the same putter:

View attachment 6146

And now a test for you. Will this be legal or not?

View attachment 6147

The last picture NO. Its anchored like in a splint to the arm and is acting as an extension, its not a free stroke IMO.

 

[blackpuddinmonster]

And now a test for you. Will this be legal or not?

View attachment 6147

My oppinion, this is legal as per the second part of note 1 ???

 

[Crow]

I say, "Hurrah!"

I don't think there will be a legal challenge.

The likes of Bradley, Scott, etc will still be good players but their holing out from 12 feet and in (which IMHO is where the belly really gives an advantage) will not be as good. I expect to see a gradual change over by the Pros but almost all will be playing properly before end of 2015. The fact that it's going to be outlawed casts a big question mark over anyone who continues to use it right up to 2016.

The advantage a belly gives is all down to the fact that the player has effectively stopped the face from twisting off line during the stroke, which is what happens when we get nervous using the proper stroke and we push or pull the putt.
As long as the belly user has lined the face up correctly he just has to swing the pendulum and the ball goes exactly where it's aimed, unlike a nervous or yippy stroke.

 

[scratch]

Judging by some of the comments in the thread, we need to be clear on just what is to be prohibited. There will be be no banning of any type of currently conforming putter, long or short. 14-1b will be entirely about a method of putting ie holding a gripping hand or the club against the body or holding a forearm against the body to act as an anchor point to swing the club round.

So, Sam Torrance could continue to use his broomstick and to putt as in the picture provided he doesn't hold the butt of the club against his chin:

View attachment 6145

Bernhard Langer will not be able to putt like this because he is holding his club against his chest, but he certainly can continue using the same putter:

View attachment 6146

And now a test for you. Will this be legal or not?

View attachment 6147

Excellent post Colin, I have long asked the question that at what point does the club actually become 'anchored' and I don't think anyone is able to give a clear answer. In your example above, if Langer moves his top hand fractionally away from his chest, is that anchored or not? How far away does it have to be before it is not anchored, 1inch, 6 inches? Does having his arm pressed against his body but not his hand become anchoring? What about people who chip with their arms pressed tightly into their body using a rocking movement, is that anchoring?

I'm not expecting answers to all the above, just trying to highlight the point about when does the club become anchored. It's a minefield!

 

[Hacker Khan]

How many of you have played a round with someone using a belly putter in the now banned style?

 

[HawkeyeMS]

How many of you have played a round with someone using a belly putter in the now banned style?

Never even seen anyone use one

 

[richart]

Swinger uses one, and he will not be a happy bunny tonight. I assume they will not be banned for amateurs though ?

 

[Crow]

Swinger uses one, and he will not be a happy bunny tonight. I assume they will not be banned for amateurs though ?

I'd have thought that they would, avoiding bifurcation and all that.

 

[USER1999]

I assume from 2016 no one will be able to use an anchored stroke.

Our 8 times club champ uses a broom stick. So do several other decent players at my club. I do see these things being used.

Tbh, I have less issues with the belly putter, as the hands are still together, and it still looks like a golf stroke, albeit the end is anchored. For me the issue has always been with broom sticks where it is held to the chest or chin, with the hands separated. This is not golf. I would rather the rule be that the hands have to be touching each other, although I guess you could still anchor a long putter under your chin.

 

[Colin L]

In your example above, if Langer moves his top hand fractionally away from his chest, is that anchored or not? How far away does it have to be before it is not anchored, 1inch, 6 inches? Does having his arm pressed against his body but not his hand become anchoring? What about people who chip with their arms pressed tightly into their body using a rocking movement, is that anchoring?

I would reckon that if the hands or club are separated from the body, that's all that matters be it 1" or 6". Regarding the arm against the body, that would be illegal if it were being used to create an anchor point ie the hand on the arm that is held to the body being secured and motionless with the other hand moving the club around it as if it were a pivot or a hinge. That doesn't sound the same as keeping both arms tight to the body in order to ensure that arm and shoulder movement are made together. The hands in the latter are swinging the club together and freely. That, I believe, will be ok.

Just my interpretation - I'll be looking for guidance from those more expert than I.

 

[Colin L]

I would rather the rule be that the hands have to be touching each other,......

That could also prohibit a baseball grip on a conventional length of putter or the claw grip (see picture). Would you want that as well? It seems to me a step far too far to be legislating on the kind of grip that is permissible.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think it is a good thing that finally the powers that be have come out and made a decision although I'm sure this isn't the end of it. I am sure there will be legal challenges and ramifications and it will be interesting to see if the US in particular hold their nerve and stick to their decision

 

[Fader]

Judging by some of the comments in the thread, we need to be clear on just what is to be prohibited. There will be be no banning of any type of currently conforming putter, long or short. 14-1b will be entirely about a method of putting ie holding a gripping hand or the club against the body or holding a forearm against the body to act as an anchor point to swing the club round.

So, Sam Torrance could continue to use his broomstick and to putt as in the picture provided he doesn't hold the butt of the club against his chin:

View attachment 6145

Bernhard Langer will not be able to putt like this because he is holding his club against his chest, but he certainly can continue using the same putter:

View attachment 6146

And now a test for you. Will this be legal or not?

View attachment 6147

Under the new ruling option 3 on here would be legal

Kuchar anchors his putter against inside if his left forearm and that will continue to be legal to. So it's not exactly been well thought out as far as what constitutes an anchored stroke As there are ways to continue to anchor after rules change and still be legal.

All these comments of cheats and false majors what a load of crap. They played within the rules and beat the rest of the field fairly. If you want to say false majors this and that then strip all those that used the extra spinning box grooves because they changed that rule to. Makes me laugh really does so many high horses but all totally wrong because no rule was broken.

I'd rather see slow play addresses than putting method but that's just me.