Tiger long putter ban - my take!

[HawkeyeMS]

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.

The only reason, IMHO of course, that people who go to the long putter are better at putting with it is because it forces them to practice. How many people do you know that moan they can't putt and then spend zero time practicing putting. They go and buy a new Scotty and they still can't putt so they claim Scotty's are no good - but they still haven't practiced putting.

When you go to the long putter you have to practice because it is different, you have no choice but to practice so you improve. If these people put as much time into practicing with their old standard putter they would probably see an mprovement and save themselves some money.

If you practice a lot with a standard putter and you still can't do it you have to accept it. When I was a kid I wanted to be a footballer, I played to a decent standard at youth level but at the end of the day I wasn't good enough to make any money out of it.

If Adam Scott or any of the other top players can't putt well enough to compete for the top honours then so be it - tough, there will always be someone else who has a more complete game to take his place.

Anchoring the putter fundamentally changes the the stroke and that is what is wrong in my opinion.

What if it isn't putting that is your problem? Take Homer for example, he is having a bit of a mare with his chipping which is holding him back. The rest of his game is fine and good enoug to be at least a couple of shots lower, but he can't chip. Maybe Homer should invent some wedges he can anchor to his stomach to take some of the movmement out of his chipping action so he can get a better strike? But poor old Homer can't do that, he has to go and practice and pay for lessons to improve. I don't see why putting should be any different.

 

[brendy]

The long putter market is still a relatively small one, I doubt outlawing them will put anyone out of work, they will just move onto other projects/products.
They could easily be banned just as Formular one banned turbo engines one year then another decided that they had to be V8 sat at 90 degrees etc. Quite a lot of money involved to research and develope. Putters are not as difficult to develope really. It can be done and I reckon they will rightly ban them.

 

[Monty_Brown]

I've read both sides of the argument put across here and in the end can't decide if I'm for or against them. Or even care much if I'm honest.

As an all round liberal, peace and love kind of guy , if I can't think of a compelling reason to ban something, I say let people choose what they want to play.

In the grand scheme of things, it's one part of the game, which 99% of people play for fun. Does anyone here think that their future golfing success is going to be compromised by belly putter wielding demons winning everything at their club? It's probably not.

If Sam Torrance, Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley want to chain themselves to the gates of the USGA in protest, good luck to them. Free the Broomhandle Three! :whoo:

 

[bladeplayer]

, I'm actually confident they won't be banned in my lifetime.

. Having been young enough to start golf with persimmon drivers.

4 years it is so .. ah well

 

[Mungoscorner]

If long putters offer an unfair advantage and are a foolproof guarantee of lower scores,why aren't we all using one ?
The Pro's whining about there use are not at a disadvantage because they have the option of using one.
I personally think they hideous,but i wouldn't feel cheated if i played against somebody using one.

 

[DaveM]

Live and let live. After all if they were that good everyone and his dog would have one by now. The fact they are still in the minorty proves this is not so. Would any pro turn down any advantage they could get.

 

[MashieNiblick]

If long putters offer an unfair advantage and are a foolproof guarantee of lower scores,why aren't we all using one ?
The Pro's whining about there use are not at a disadvantage because they have the option of using one.
I personally think they hideous,but i wouldn't feel cheated if i played against somebody using one.

But the thing is they do offer an advantage to the people who use them over traditional putters or else they wouldn't use them.

Croquet style putting wouldn't offer a foolproof guaranteed advantage nor would using your putter like a snooker cue, but they aren't allowed.

I don't think a "golf" swing should involve any anchoring or bracing of the club against the body. The club should be held in the hands and swung. That's the essence of a golf shot. If I bought a sabre-tooth putter, fitted my toe into the back of it and used it to kick the ball at the hole would that be golf? Would that be legal?

 

[brendy]

I think some are missing the point of long putters. They dont make good putters great, they make bad/nervy putters better. This is what makes the difference, its like giving them a couple of shots back on the course.

 

[Mungoscorner]

I think some are missing the point of long putters. They dont make good putters great, they make bad/nervy putters better. This is what makes the difference, its like giving them a couple of shots back on the course.

Spot on Brendy.

Torrance and Langer were paralysed by the yips,the long putter didn't give them an unfair advantage,it just allowed them to compete again.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Spot on Brendy.

Torrance and Langer were paralysed by the yips,the long putter didn't give them an unfair advantage,it just allowed them to compete again.

Which is why they should be banned

 

[Val]

I think they are great for scooping the ball out of the water, especially if the ball is over arms length away :thup:

 

[sweeneytoddd]

You don't actually anchor the putter to your body with a long putter, my left hand rests against my chest but at no point does the shaft touch my body. Granted those with belly putters do rest the putter on their belly.
Still you've got to take Tiger's " I'm a traditionalist " statement with a pinch of salt. He wasn't so much of a traditionalist with his wedding vows when he was banging cocktail waitresses and porn stars all over the country.

 

[Oddsocks]

Still you've got to take Tiger's " I'm a traditionalist " statement with a pinch of salt. He wasn't so much of a traditionalist with his wedding vows when he was banging cocktail waitresses and porn stars all over the country.

Living the dream!

 

[Mungoscorner]

This would explain why there was no golf in that "Tigers favourite 18 holes" DVD i got for my birthday.

 

[Farneyman]

I don't care what length anyones putter is but if there my partner in a game they better sink a few during the match!

 

[thecraw]

I don't care what length anyones putter is but if there my partner in a game they better sink a few during the match!

Cuts me to the bone!

That sod Andy was -3, 5 birdies and an eagle, cant complain at getting pumped 4&3 today!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think now the USGA have made muted noises to look at it they will do so in the next few years and I can see some definitions on where the club can be placed and perhaps even held to make it a legal stroke and motion but don't think they'll go the whole hog and ban them