Anchored Putters Rules Change (Effective January 1, 2016)

[Hatchman]

Anchored YES, long NO. Seen a lot of putters for sale at the club after buying both standard and long if they were so easy to use.

[No Mulligans]

I know that I might be in the minority, but I thought most on this site found the ROG to pretty simple and straight forward.

It's pretty obvious from all the discussions and disagreements of ROG on this forum that the rules are not "pretty simple and straight forward".

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MEfree

I know that I might be in the minority, but I thought most on this site found the ROG to pretty simple and straight forward.

It's pretty obvious from all the discussions and disagreements of ROG on this forum that the rules are not "pretty simple and straight forward".

Actually, the general playing rules are quite easy to grasp when one makes a small effort to learn them.  Learn the procedures which allow you to lift or substitute a ball during play of a hole and you are better than 90% of the way to playing by the rules.  Know those procedures and follow them scrupulously and you will almost never have to worry about the more obscure or complicated procedures for dealing with breaching those rules.

[meenman]

I use one and personally feel they should not be banned at a social/club level.

I can understand motivation to ban for pro's and amateurs playing in serious/scratch level tournaments - probably should never have been allowed in the first place.

But if they are such an advantage - why are more pro's not using them?

Not going to disagree with you but that ship has sailed.

Go with the arm lock, has worked even better for me - but if too many do it, the crying will begin all over again that we *have an advantage*

[iacas]

I know that I might be in the minority, but I thought most on this site found the ROG to pretty simple and straight forward.

This is just you being a jerk, dude. Contribute to the discussion - don't bring up your age-old pet peeves or disagreements. Particularly if they're misguided, off-topic, and just plain silly.

The Rules of Golf are pretty darn simple given the variety of conditions, competitions, outside influences, etc. that can take place.

[Gunther]

The Rules of Golf are pretty darn simple given the variety of conditions, competitions, outside influences, etc. that can take place.

I used to agree with this, until a couple hours ago when I took that CBS rules quiz. I think conceptually it's true, right? Most of us understand the fundamentals. But when it comes to how many strokes to penalize for various infractions, and a few other nuances (that I missed on that quiz) it gets a little more complex, at least for me.

[iacas]

I used to agree with this, until a couple hours ago when I took that CBS rules quiz.

I think conceptually it's true, right? Most of us understand the fundamentals. But when it comes to how many strokes to penalize for various infractions, and a few other nuances (that I missed on that quiz) it gets a little more complex, at least for me.

Let's keep this thread on topic, please. A response or two (particularly to the known rules troll) is fine. But let's nip this in the bud.

[Asheville]

Quote:

Originally Posted by No Mulligans

Different rules for pros and amatures would further complicate and confuse things.

I know that I might be in the minority, but I thought most on this site found the ROG to pretty simple and straight forward.

Aren't some competitions (like the PGA Tour) held using the one ball rule, while most recreational competition does not have this rule in effect?

It's not a Rule of Golf, it's a Condition of Competition authorized by Appendix I and recommended only for competitions involving expert players.

[onthehunt526]

To be honest, I agree with the Ruling Bodies on this one... I believe that Anchored Strokes are not Strokes at all... I have a traditional length putter... I haven't used a long putter or a belly putter on the course... I think those counter weighted putters will pick up popularity with the ban going into effect in basically 5 months now.

[GreatestGolfers]

Is the ban for pros applied at the same time as the ban for amateurs?

[iacas]

Is the ban for pros applied at the same time as the ban for amateurs?

Yes. And it's a method ban not an equipment ban.

[Rulesman]

Is the ban for pros applied at the same time as the ban for amateurs?

Although the USGA & R&A; differentiate between pros and amateurs in the Rules of Amateur Status, the Rules of Golf do not make any distinction.

[GreatestGolfers]

Yes. And it's a method ban not an equipment ban.

Thanks and yes I understand it is a method ban - I for one, will putt with my belly putter without anchoring.

[iacas]

Although the USGA & R&A; differentiate between pros and amateurs in the Rules of Amateur Status, the Rules of Golf do not make any distinction.

Yes but they did in their recommendation for when to implement the CoC for wedges/grooves. I took his question as asking something similar to that.

[JazzFatCat]

Has anybody tried just cutting a couple of inches off the shaft like suggested in this video?

It kind of makes me laugh that the guy misses 2/3 putts at the end.

I love my old 48 inch Ping Scottsdale Pickemup Long Putter. It looks like you can get one for $50 bucks now.

http://www.revolutiongolf.com/instruction/video-collections/experts/experts/jim-mclean/videos/getting-around-the-anchoring-ban

[Jeremie Boop]

Has anybody tried just cutting a couple of inches off the shaft like suggested in this video?

It kind of makes me laugh that the guy misses 2/3 putts at the end.

I love my old 48 inch Ping Scottsdale Pickemup Long Putter. It looks like you can get one for $50 bucks now.

http://www.revolutiongolf.com/instruction/video-collections/experts/experts/jim-mclean/videos/getting-around-the-anchoring-ban

2 comments, first he said "all the sudden" they are banning the anchored putt.... Really? "All the sudden?' Second, he was putting at a coin *actually a poker chip* and all 3 of those putts would likely have went in. One issue with cutting a couple of inches off the putter is that the change in swing weight may cause more problems for the person.

[Golfingdad]

Wasn't sure which old thread to bump so hopefully I chose wisely.

Anyway, I was watching the Senior PGA a little last week and it sort of dawned on me that Bernhard Langer hasn't seemed to be phased in the least by the rules change.  He just keeps on winning.  All he seemed to do was to just move the hand that was anchored against the chest ever so slightly away from the chest such that it wasn't anchored anymore.  Now, I don't know how his putting stats have changed, but he certainly still seems to be winning.

I will admit that on at least one occasion, I pondered just how much he actually moved his hand - because it's really hard to tell on tv.  Then this popped up on my facebook feed today:

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/hank-haney-rekindles-debate-over-the-legality-of-bernhard-langers-putting-stroke?mbid=social_facebook

For reference and to keep anybody from having to backtrack into this 107 page thread, here's the handy chart:

The .gif in the tweet appears to be a portion of a practice stroke, so it's possible that it's meaningless, but one can wonder if his forearm is against his chest there and then see "Note 2" in the above graphic.

Edited May 31, 2017 by Golfingdad

[iacas]

He says he moves it off his chest. He has shown it to rules officials and they've okayed it.