Anchored Putters Rules Change (Effective January 1, 2016)

[mvmac]

The USGA plans to make a ruling on long putter before the end of the year.   Geoff Shakelford wrote, "Most feel a decision has already been made and language has been developed by the governing bodies banning anchoring a putter against your torso, with a likely implementation date in January 2016."

article by Rex Hoggard

Quote:

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Late Monday U.S. Golf Association executive director Mike Davis confirmed to “GTC” that an announcement regarding long putters and the anchoring of clubs would be made before the end of the year but hours earlier he seemed to suggest to the PGA Tour Policy Board a final decision has not been made.

“(Davis) made a big presentation. It was informative,” said Davis Love III, one of four player directors on the Policy Board who attended Monday’s meeting.

According to Love, Davis outlined the data collected by the USGA and explained that afinal vote will be made by the executive committee in March.

“I don’t know what (the Tour) would do,” Love said. “I told Mike Davis, ‘We are going to have 10 guys who are vehemently against, and then 10 guys who are vehemently for you and then the rest of them are just going to go play.’ That’s the way it is on any issue.”

Love’s only concern was whatever the USGA and Royal & Ancient do, they should move quickly and avoid dragging a potential rule change out.

“If they said today, ‘We met with the Tour we’re going to change putters,’” Love said. “Keegan Bradley is going to get himself a different (conforming) putter and he’s still going to be a really good putter. He’s just going to have to make a change, but you’d rather not talk about it for three years and have it be a distraction.”

In July, Davis said any potential change would likely wait until the end of the current rules cycle which runs through December 2015.

The USGA issued a release on Wednesday saying, “It would be inappropriate to comment while our internal review is ongoing. The USGA and The R&A; are being very deliberate in their review, and the topic of anchoring remains very much under discussion. As Mike Davis and (R&A; chief executive) Peter Dawson have stated publicly, we are still hoping to have an announcement of some kind before the end of the year."

[cipher]

This should be very interesting to see what happens.  I am curious as to how it will affect some of the players currently using them if it is banned.

[goob3r]

Personally, I hope they ban them. I just think anchored putters go against the spirit of a golf stroke.

[Pakoh]

i dont think they will ban them.  Wait and see...

[MEfree]

be interesting to see the data that they collected

[JerseyThursday]

If banned, are they going to reimburse me the $230 I spent 4 months ago on the Nike Method belly putter?

[tristanhilton85]

Originally Posted by JerseyThursday

If banned, are they going to reimburse me the $230 I spent 4 months ago on the Nike Method belly putter?

No, but the likely implementation date is 2016 so you'll have a few years with it before you have to switch.

[hanalei]

I hope they get rid of that "training wheels for putting" stick....

[meenman]

Damn, just ordered my 47 inch scotty last night (member/guest tee gift) - I figure it is just going to mess up my game anyway

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by JerseyThursday

If banned, are they going to reimburse me the $230 I spent 4 months ago on the Nike Method belly putter?

Nope.

You also can't get a reimbursement on losing your common sense. $230 for a putter?

[JerseyThursday]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

Nope.

You also can't get a reimbursement on losing your common sense. $230 for a putter?

Talk to the Scotty Cameron cult about common sense when spending money on a putter.

[geauxforbroke]

I'm not a fan of belly putters or long putters, and can't putt with them to save my life, but I think it's a little silly to ban them. We can have massive lightweight drivers and space-age two-piece balls that go 350+, but we draw the line on anchored putters? The history of golf is littered with cases like this where something new and great came along, and out of fear, the USGA makes it illegal.

[newtogolf]

My guess is ban on anchored putting for pro's in 2016 and for rest of us in 2020.  Long putters will be permitted but may not be anchored to any part of torso or head.

[dbuck]

It will be interesting. I don't really care how it goes. I have never even tried one and won't until I can't get it in the cup any other way, but some of my playing companions might say that time is already here!

[NuclearMike]

The question "Should there be different rules for pros and amateurs?" was posed again on Morning Drive today.  I'm thinking yes- let amateurs use the anchored putter and pros not. For those of us just out to have a good time on the course I have no issues with the putter, but I don't think that I'll ever go to one.

[geauxforbroke]

The question "Should there be different rules for pros and amateurs?" was posed again on Morning Drive today.  I'm thinking yes- let amateurs use the anchored putter and pros not. For those of us just out to have a good time on the course I have no issues with the putter, but I don't think that I'll ever go to one.

Whatever decision is made, it really won't affect you unless you play in USGA sanctioned events. If you just play with a few friends a few times a month, this ruling really won't affect you. They aren't going to send out a task force of over zealous hyper agents to forcibly pry your belly putter from your hands.

[lumpuckeroo]

Originally Posted by geauxforbroke

I'm not a fan of belly putters or long putters, and can't putt with them to save my life, but I think it's a little silly to ban them. We can have massive lightweight drivers and space-age two-piece balls that go 350+, but we draw the line on anchored putters? The history of golf is littered with cases like this where something new and great came along, and out of fear, the USGA makes it illegal.

I would agree, I really could care less if they ban them or not, I know I will never be using one.  I tried using a long putter many years ago and found out that a long putter is not for me.

[mvmac]

Seems like Kuchar would still be ok to use the style he uses.  Almost belly length but puts the grip against his left forearm.