Tiger Wants to Ban the Long Putter

[dave67az]

Originally Posted by Bayou Boogie

Whew--that looks pretty weird and not keeping to the traditions of the stroke and grip, hey here's an idea, let's also ban that while we're banning the

"unorthodox" anchored stroke.

While I understand the emotionally-driven "well let's just ban everything" responses, they don't make much logical sense.  It's not whether something is simply unorthodox or unusual.  It's whether it's use becomes so popular that it threatens to eliminate the traditional style of play.  When unusual styles become so popular that they become the first and only style a player is taught (which is happening now with some young players and the anchored stroke) then it threatens the traditions of the game.  The damage is only made more obvious when people argue that it's not fair to ban the anchored stroke because that's all that some players have ever used.  That statement only strengthens my point.

I realize tradition doesn't mean anything to some people.  I'm guessing some golfers would love it if the USGA would stay out of the equipment issues.  Maybe you'd like it if the USGA allowed manufacturers to create golf balls and clubs that always went straight and allowed you to drive every par 4.  Wow, wouldn't that be fun.  Imagine golf balls with gyros and GPS so you were guaranteed a hole-in-one on every hole.  If that's really how you feel maybe you should stick to Tiger Woods Golf where you can change the spin of your ball while it's in the air.  Is this the problem I wonder?  Have golf video games made the game so easy that if people can't play as well in real life then they want to create equipment and methods that can make them better without the challenges that traditional golf offers?

The argument that "well maybe they should ban everything" can easily be countered with "well maybe they should allow everything", couldn't it?

- Dave

[Frank623]

Ban it for the Pros but leave it be for the rest of us.  I don't use one, my putter is an old ZEBRA putter by RAM I got in the late 70's in Okinawa Japan (played the same course that Trivino worked and played on when he was in the USMC, Awase Meadows.)  If the handicap is based on the use of a long/belly putter it's fair.  If the use of these putters make the game more enjoyable for someone I'm all for it.  Kind of like playing from the white or even red tees, your handicap is based on them also .

[Chas]

Frank:  as others (and I) have said previously, they aren't even considering banning the long putter per se .  It is the method of use (i.e. anchoring) which is under consideration for the chop.  Not the broomstick itself.

So yes, people who own a long putter will still be able to use it.  Which raises an interesting question: if long putters are banned, will weekend hackers who anchor (and I must say I haven't actually seen one do it ....) actually stop anchoring the blasted thing?

And if they continue to anchor, will their fellow hackers start saying, "hey Jack, I saw you anchor that putter again you-sneeky-devil-you.  Add 2 strokes!"?

I will be sorely tempted ....

[Chas]

Originally Posted by dave67az

Imagine golf balls with gyros and GPS so you were guaranteed a hole-in-one on every hole.  If that's really how you feel maybe you should stick to Tiger Woods Golf where you can change the spin of your ball while it's in the air.  Is this the problem I wonder?  Have golf video games made the game so easy that if people can't play as well in real life then they want to create equipment and methods that can make them better without the challenges that traditional golf offers?

That is a most profound, almost philosophical question (my italics).

Ph.D. thesis anyone?

[Bayou Boogie]

Originally Posted by Chas

That is a most profound, almost philosophical question (my italics).

Ph.D. thesis anyone?

Have golf video games made the game so easy that if people can't play as well in real life then they want to create equipment and methods that can make them better without the challenges that traditional golf offers?

Ha! I'm an older guy and have never liked video games, none of them accurately represent the real thing, and the only one

I ever spent much time with (Doom) dried my eyes out from not blinking enough!  I just have the viewpoint that the tptb given the

body of history already written into the record books and in the spirit of inclusion rather than exclusion of a technique that doesn't

quite make everyone light torches in anger.

[StealthTrader]

I believe the spirit of the rule was a stipulation on the "Building of a Stance," by bracing your club against your body - or something equivalent to that sentiment.  You are not supposed to be able to use your club to anchor, support and/or build a stance against the ground, if I am not mistaken.

When you use a belly putter and brace it against your stomach, or when you use the long stick and brace it against your chest, you are at the very least in violation of the spirit of the rule.  How you define this building of a stance in technical terms is the problem for those wanting a ban.

I think somebody already said it best somewhere earlier in this thread, that if any club comes in contact with the body for the express purpose of providing [b]stability (building a stance)[/b] for the player [b]prior to the initiation of the stroke[/b], then that should meet the technical requirement for a violation of the rule and thus should trigger the conversation about whether or not those using such equipment should be restricted from doing so.

Stick'em was banned from the NFL and yet Lester Hayes, of the Oakland Raiders still went on to become one of the best (if not the best ever) Cornerbacks in the history of the game.  Lester Hayes, established the prototype model for what later became the Cornerback of the modern era in professional football.  Both Lester Hayes and Mike Haynes, were the best Corner tandem to every take the field at the same time.  No Corner tandem has ever been as dominating and no Corner tandem has ever shut down the passing game as prolifically as Hayes & Haynes.

So, banning the "stance improving" long stick won't hurt the game, the sport or the profession of golf.

That's my two cents.

[Jimmy3putts]

Funny that after nealy 50 years of using them the authorities have decided that the long putter is ok, it's just the way we've been holding them.