Tiger long putter ban - my take!

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thecraw

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I dont actually think Tiger gives a Castlemain XXXX about the long putter or the belly putter. I'm also confident that Tiger has enough faith in his own ability to know he's at least equally as good as anyone using a belly or broom.

Tiger is on a mind f***. Mainly in my theory aimed at a certain Scott and Williams combination. A bit more subtle than the racial abuse he suffered. Hit the man in the pocket.

I also don't think they will get banned, I'm actually confident they won't be banned in my lifetime.
 
thecraw said:
I dont actually think Tiger gives a Castlemain XXXX about the long putter or the belly putter. I'm also confident that Tiger has enough faith in his own ability to know he's at least equally as good as anyone using a belly or broom.

Tiger is on a mind f***. Mainly in my theory aimed at a certain Scott and Williams combination. A bit more subtle than the racial abuse he suffered. Hit the man in the pocket.

I also don't think they will get banned, I'm actually confident they won't be banned in my lifetime.
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Spot on.
And too many people earning a living with the long putters for them to be outlawed.
 
HughJars said:
Like square grooves you mean? Or drivers that had too much spring?
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You see mate, thats just the thing. Having been young enough to start golf with persimmon drivers I know for a fact that 460cc driver heads, titanium, advances in graphite shaft technology etc have had a far far far far far bigger impact on the ethics of our game than a long putter.

If I hit a ball out of the toe of a persimmon headed steel shafted driver you'd be lucky to get 150 yards or it would be 2 fairways away going at right angles. Hit a Callaway, Titleist, Cobra whatever driver out of the toe now it still flies 200 and due to MOI usually stays relatively straight.

Just ask Andy Coultart about the advancement of modern equipment. Shot shaping due to equipment is a thing of the past.
 
thecraw said:
You see mate, thats just the thing. Having been young enough to start golf with persimmon drivers I know for a fact that 460cc driver heads, titanium, advances in graphite shaft technology etc have had a far far far far far bigger impact on the ethics of our game than a long putter.
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Agreed. However none of the things listed change the way that a player actually swings a club and hits the ball. It's not the design, material or even the length of the putters that's the issue, it's the anchoring of it to the body. I for one think they will be banned in the next few years. Well I hope so anyway as they fundamentally change the way the game is played just like croquet putting did before that was banned. The impact on manufacturers is minimal as very few club golfers actually use these anyway.
 
HughJars said:
Like square grooves you mean? Or drivers that had too much spring?
Click to expand...


Square grooves that allowed the ball too be spun so much that even from deep rough onto concrete hard greens the Pro's were getting the ball to dance,now they have grooves that still allow plenty of action to a properly/cleanly struck shot.

Drivers with a cor above 0.83 that aren't as long as the current crop of "conforming" drivers.

Some of the worlds best golfers would be relegated to club pro's if they outlawed the long putter.It ain't happening.
 
thecraw said:
You see mate, thats just the thing. Having been young enough to start golf with persimmon drivers I know for a fact that 460cc driver heads, titanium, advances in graphite shaft technology etc have had a far far far far far bigger impact on the ethics of our game than a long putter.

If I hit a ball out of the toe of a persimmon headed steel shafted driver you'd be lucky to get 150 yards or it would be 2 fairways away going at right angles. Hit a Callaway, Titleist, Cobra whatever driver out of the toe now it still flies 200 and due to MOI usually stays relatively straight.

Just ask Andy Coultart about the advancement of modern equipment. Shot shaping due to equipment is a thing of the past.
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i disagree, a metal wood is a modern version of the persimmon wood. the player doesnt change his stance or grip to play it. the belly putter does. but under the current rules its fine. but who was it that putted side saddle (sam snead) and it was banned. i dont loose sleep over it and if i ever play someone with a belly putter i would try it. do kzg do belly putters?
 
...............never say never
Mungoscorner said:
Square grooves that allowed the ball too be spun so much that even from deep rough onto concrete hard greens the Pro's were getting the ball to dance,now they have grooves that still allow plenty of action to a properly/cleanly struck shot.

Drivers with a cor above 0.83 that aren't as long as the current crop of "conforming" drivers.

Some of the worlds best golfers would be relegated to club pro's if they outlawed the long putter.It ain't happening.
Click to expand...
 
Thing that amazes me is I have never played with or seen anyone using either Belly or Broomhandle putters ....

Until I played with Chrisd that is, didnt seem to ehlp him too much :whistle:
 
Gotta love this comment.

""Three-time major winner Ernie Els perhaps summed up the feeling of many.

Once a critic, he switched to a belly putter late last year and said: "As long as it's legal, I'll keep cheating like the rest of them."

""
 
I dont think they will get rid of them as such, I think they will change the rules and say it cannot be anchored or can only have 2 points of contact with the body. If they do decide to out law them then it will hit the pro game and then have to be taken out of the amateur game within a longer time frame.
 
I am suprised it has taken them this long to look into banning them. I have been playing over 20 years now and they have always been around since I starteed playing. I think Sam Torrance was the first person I saw using one. It just seems strange to me that they allow it. You are not allowed to use any outside influences to aid you in playing your shot. Like having those grips that put your hands in the correct place, or the gloves you can get with the straps on to link your hands together in the correct place. So why are you allowed to use a putter that anchors to your belly to make sure you swing it on a true consistent line everytime?
 
I've just read the article and this is how I interpret it:

Tiger Woods:

""I believe it's the art of controlling the body and club and swinging the pendulum motion."I believe it's the art of controlling the body and club and swinging the pendulum motion."

All I can add is that in the above statement is he has hit the nail on the head but doesn't seem to realise that his statement applies to any type of putter including the belly putter.

Mike Davis:

"If you look back at the interest in it, it really never changed for over 20 years. Then all of a sudden in 2011 ... this has become a much bigger topic. So the R&A and USGA have been talking about this at length, and we're looking at it from the perspective as ... what is good for the game for all golfers long term."

"It is something that we have taken a fresh look at, because there are more players in the game, both on the elite level and on the recreational level, using it."

"I think we just want to be sure that we're looking at all the angles and thinking about what is in the best interest, both the traditions of the game, the history of the game and what is what we think would be good for the game long term."

My interpretation of this is that there are many factors however if you break it down, banning the long putters comes down to two factors:

1. Sour grapes by the professionals who have been beaten by players using who are unwilling or unable to adapt to a different style of putting

2. The old womens brigade of traditionalists who believe it is not the development and enjoyment of the game that is important, it is the ethics and tradition.

For me this will be the deciding factor:

The R&A and USGA are still looking into the situation but are wary that longer putters can help recreational players stay interested in the game while a ban might also affect the equipment companies.

My take on this is

In an economy where many businesses ar struggling to compete or make ends meet, (this includes both manufacturers and golf clubs), anything that stops the market stagnating and generates new business and sustainment of that market has to be taken into consideration.

Long putters are a growing market within the industry and if they keep people in or interested in the game they can only be deemed to be good for the game. The fact that they give the players freedom of choice and another option can only be deemed to be good for the game. The fact that they add another dimension to the game and give the consumer food for thought, (I don't know anybody with a belly putter who does not have at least two traditional putters), can only be good for the industry.

The fact that long putters v short putters adds a new dimension to the game in and makes good television viewing in addition to healthy debate can onlybe good to help raise the profile of the game.

My vote is everybody should have one :thup:
 
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