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Do you think the long putter should be banned?

Poll Results: Should the long putter be banned

 
  • 38% (35)
    Yes, Golf is a game of tradition.
  • 61% (55)
    No, what for?
90 Total Votes  
post #1 of 54
12/13/07 at 5:30am
Thread Starter 
What do you guys think?
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post #2 of 54
12/13/07 at 5:56am

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

Nah. I wouldn't be bothered, really, if it was, but I just don't see how you draw a line at the long putter. "Woods are made of exotic metals; irons are made of high-quality steel, but no, sir, that long putter is totally unacceptable." Sort of rings hollow.
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post #3 of 54
12/13/07 at 3:08pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

Originally Posted by follyforhire View Post
Nah. I wouldn't be bothered, really, if it was, but I just don't see how you draw a line at the long putter. "Woods are made of exotic metals; irons are made of high-quality steel, but no, sir, that long putter is totally unacceptable." Sort of rings hollow.

Who cares what its made of! The fact is its basically a fixed point, it doesn't take nearly as much skill to be a good putter with a long putter.
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post #4 of 54
12/13/07 at 3:36pm

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

Originally Posted by Zachwright1 View Post
Who cares what its made of! The fact is its basically a fixed point, it doesn't take nearly as much skill to be a good putter with a long putter.
Your refering to a belly putter? I personally don't have a problem with them but I do see your point. A fixed pivot point does give a user an advantage.

"If you don't have a belly, you should not be allowed to use a belly putter", David Feherty
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post #5 of 54
12/13/07 at 4:49pm

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

Originally Posted by Zachwright1 View Post
Who cares what its made of!
The "yes" answer option is qualified/supported in the poll by the phrase "golf is a game of tradition." If tradition was important in the area of equipment, we would be playing with clubs made out of the materials that their very names imply.

I don't really want to bicker about that, though.

Your argument about the long putter making use of a more or less fixed point is something quite different and, I think, much more plausible. However, that doesn't necessarily mean less skill is involved in using a long putter. It may make use of different skills, maybe even skills that are easier for some people to master, but that does not mean it is absolutely easier to be a good putter with a shaft stuck in your gut.

Personally, I can't stand the posture you have to use for it. I believe my alignment suffers when I use one, and I cannot stand the feel of it. I find the touch I have with a long putter quite lacking. And I don't think my experience is unique. If it truly was absolutely easier to use one, wouldn't more people do it?
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post #6 of 54
12/13/07 at 5:35pm
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Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

Originally Posted by follyforhire View Post
that does not mean it is absolutely easier to be a good putter with a shaft stuck in your gut.

Personally, I can't stand the posture you have to use for it. I believe my alignment suffers when I use one, and I cannot stand the feel of it. I find the touch I have with a long putter quite lacking. And I don't think my experience is unique. If it truly was absolutely easier to use one, wouldn't more people do it?
Im not talking about belly putters, I know that those are not easier to use, I'm talking about the long putters that guys like Bernard Langer , and Kevin Stadler use.

Also the reason people don't use the long long putters is because they have the same opinion as me.

I do agree with David Feherty though. That guys hilarious.
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post #7 of 54
12/13/07 at 6:07pm

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

Originally Posted by Zachwright1 View Post
Im not talking about belly putters, I know that those are not easier to use, I'm talking about the long putters that guys like Bernard Langer , and Kevin Stadler use.
You're right to make the distinction. I was lumping them together and was wrong to do so.

Originally Posted by Zachwright1 View Post
Also the reason people don't use the long long putters is because they have the same opinion as me.
Really? That's quite an ambitious claim.

But it is legal, the long putter. And if it was absolutely and measurably easier to use than a standard length putter, guys who play for pay or bragging rights or kicks would be using it much more frequently. Isn't it possible that lots of folks simply find it uncomfortable, awkward, difficult to align, and lacking in feel, feedback, and touch? Or, better said, not necessarily easier to use and produce the desired result?
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post #8 of 54
12/13/07 at 7:08pm

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

I voted to ban, although tradition has nothing to do with it. Anytime you allow golfers to start anchoring the club to their body using an over length implement I feel that crosses the line by trying to eliminate one of the basic golf skills. Belly putters don't do this in the same way so I can live with them. It the combination of special length anchored to overcome a lack of skill. It is for this reason golf balls that favor one direction are outlawed. I wouldn't outlaw them I would just make the maximum length of any club the same as Driver length. Any other change would be to difficult to enforce or possibly exclude handicapped golfers.
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post #9 of 54
12/14/07 at 2:15am

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

I believe the long putter is legal as long as only two parts of your body (hands) touch the putter. I use a long putter (50 inch) but my top hand separates the grip from my body.
I find the belly putter to be more of a violation...
With the belly putter 3 parts of the club touch your body.
This third point acts as an anchor/pivot point which I find troublesome.
As a side issue, I do feel the longer shaft often allows me a better drop.
5 inches longer X 2 club lengths does come in handy !!
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post #10 of 54
12/14/07 at 2:33am

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

I don't think either should be outlawed, but if you were going to outlaw a putter, it should be the belly putter.

I don't think either the long or belly putter help anyone. Everyone would use them if they were that easy to use.

Last time I check the long putters and belly putters couldn't help anyone read the line and judge the speed
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post #11 of 54
12/14/07 at 2:50am

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

Standing more erect...
It does seem to help ME see the line better...
Biggest problem I have is long, steep downhill putts...
On occassion I scuff the club on back swing...
Then nearly wiff on foreswing.
This year I took a week off from the Long Putter...
Used a Oddesey 2 ball Black...
After a week of 3 putts I went back to the 'leadpipe'.
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post #12 of 54
12/14/07 at 3:48pm

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

I'd rather ban long putts -- outside of 25 feet -- an automatic 2-putt!
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post #13 of 54
12/14/07 at 4:19pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

Originally Posted by jammer59 View Post
I'd rather ban long putts -- outside of 25 feet -- an automatic 2-putt!
I agree!!
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post #14 of 54
12/14/07 at 5:17pm

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

Gimme 2 putt 25 footers ????
Would probably drop my handicap by 2, maybe 3 strokes.
Since I do not 3 putt as often as my playing partners...
it might actually cost me $$...
OF course it would speed up play a great deal !!!
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post #15 of 54
12/14/07 at 7:42pm

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

Let Golf be a game of advancement in line with improving the players chances . If they make the game very hard to play (stricktly enforcing the ancient rules and clubs to be used) then there will be a dwindle in the number of players as they would rather play some other sport .
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post #16 of 54
12/15/07 at 1:31am

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

I played a round of golf with someone who has the early stages of Parkinson's. He uses the belly putter because it provides him with stability.

I don't have a problem with it. You still need to be able to make putts. Again, as others have said, if putting with it were so easy, why aren't more guys using it?
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post #17 of 54
12/15/07 at 5:14am

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

Originally Posted by capecodbeachfrontgolfer View Post
I believe the long putter is legal as long as only two parts of your body (hands) touch the putter. I use a long putter (50 inch) but my top hand separates the grip from my body.
I find the belly putter to be more of a violation...
With the belly putter 3 parts of the club touch your body.
This third point acts as an anchor/pivot point which I find troublesome.
As a side issue, I do feel the longer shaft often allows me a better drop.
5 inches longer X 2 club lengths does come in handy !!
I never thought of that. I could use the extra length for drops!
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post #18 of 54
12/15/07 at 6:32am

Re: Do you think the long putter should be banned?

I don't think it should be banned, just because you can't limit people to one thing, everyone is different. Some people use belly putters better (me), some use long putters better. By wanting the long putter banned is like want to make it so people can't change the length of shafts. When people change their shaft length and lies they make it easier for them to play, but if you banned that then you could have shorter or taller people playing standard mens clubs when they need it a inch or to smaller or bigger.
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