Sidesaddle Putting Could Be the Next PGA Tour Putting Craze

[disco111]

Informational purposes only:............................  http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/sidesaddle-putting-why-sam-sneads-method-might-be-post-anchoing-future-putting

[sirhacksalot]

I voted no but I did just pick up a cheap two ball copy in 41" belly to try it out myself

[Chilli Dipper]

I haven't seen a single tour pro putt side-saddle since the anchoring ban went into effect.

Can a fad be a fad if no one caught onto it in the first place?

[Patch]

I think a few pros might try it. It's a back saver from what I have read. Does it make more putts? IDK. In all the time I have spent playing this game, I have never seen anyone use it. 

[newtogolf]

I voted no, but I think Champions Tour players might try it out, especially those who anchored their putter and are struggling with a non-anchored putter swing.  

[Yukari]

I got paired up with a guy who putted this way. Very odd looking. He did not make any more putts than others in the group. But then again maybe for him that is a big improvement compared to conventional setup. 

[Buckeyebowman]

On 3/20/2015 at 5:54 PM, DrvFrShow said:

A guy was putting like this at the range on the practice green. He let me try it. I nearly sunk two 20 footers and the short putts were very easy. One of my major putting problems is that my glasses distort at the edges. I putt better if I take off my glasses. Unfortunately I can't see the hole very well if it is over 20 feet away.

You sound like me when I shoot my bow. Most right handed shooters will be looking from the inside corner of their right eye to take aim. If I do that, I'm looking through the edge of my lens where everything gets skinny and very tall! Plus a lot of detail is lost. So, I turn my head more "square" to the target in order to look through the center of the lens.

On 3/24/2015 at 4:40 AM, colin007 said:

 

you sure that was side-saddle and not just a long putter that he anchored in his chest?

I think you're right. I have never seen anyone but Snead putt sidesaddle. It was the talk of the Tour at the time. The thing about Snead was, he was such a natural athlete, and so graceful, he could make the style look good!

[Natural Patrick]

On 3/17/2015 at 4:06 PM, billchao said:

http://www.golf.com/instruction/face-sidesaddle-putting-could-be-next-golf-putting-craze-pga-tour

 

Quote:

The ban on anchored putting is less than nine months away. Some players who switched from long putters or belly putters have been successful so far by going back to conventional length putters. The idea that the ban isn’t going to be a big deal, as I read in one recent golf story, is wrong.

 

There were stories from Doral about how well Adam Scott rolled it using a conventional putter and a claw grip. At the Valspar Championship, Scott putted poorly, ranked 139th in the field in strokes gained putting and ended his streak of 45 consecutive cuts made.

 

I’m sure some pros will make the adjustment to conventional putting smoothly, but I also think it will be a small number. More players will struggle than excel, in my opinion, and some will eventually discover face-on.

I could say it looks weird or unconventional and it will never catch on, but I thought the same of anchored putting. If this technique is really that good, I can see players adopting it.

 

Heck, I'd probably do it if I didn't have to buy a putter just for it.

 

Here's Gary Van Sickle's original article on sidesaddle putting: http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/sidesaddle-putting-why-sam-sneads-method-might-be-post-anchoing-future-putting

L M A O! i have a $100 that says you won't see 5 players on the PGA tour that will do this in the next 3 years. PM me if you care to take that bet.

[boogielicious]

I have a friend who does it, but is more of a vision reason. 

[Buckeyebowman]

On 6/3/2016 at 11:15 PM, Natural Patrick said:

L M A O! i have a $100 that says you won't see 5 players on the PGA tour that will do this in the next 3 years. PM me if you care to take that bet.

That's a point. It's a lot like NBA players who can't shoot free throws, but who refuse to try the underhand style a la Rick Barry. It's an ego thing not an effectiveness thing.

Edited June 6, 2016 by Buckeyebowman

[Hardspoon]

The most relevant quote from the article:

"If you started putting better than anybody ever putted and winning tournaments, I believe the USGA would ban it," he says. "I still think they're wrong about the anchored-putting ban, but you're not going to win an argument with the USGA."

Putting aside (haha - no pun intended) any other considerations, if it actually became popular, it'd just be banned anyway.

[newtogolf]

11 hours ago, Hardspoon said:

The most relevant quote from the article:

"If you started putting better than anybody ever putted and winning tournaments, I believe the USGA would ban it," he says. "I still think they're wrong about the anchored-putting ban, but you're not going to win an argument with the USGA."

Putting aside (haha - no pun intended) any other considerations, if it actually became popular, it'd just be banned anyway.

Anything is possible, I guess the argument could be made that almost all golf strokes occur with a swinging motion that moves along a line that is parallel or close to parallel with the feet while with side saddle / face on putting the swing motion is perpendicular.  

Side saddle seems to be more of a variation of croquet style putting (which is already banned) than it is a traditional putting stroke.  If the USGA & R&A do believe this face on / side saddle isn't a proper golf swing I'd prefer they just ban it now rather than wait for some professionals to become successful with it.  

[DaveP043]

On 6/6/2016 at 9:34 AM, newtogolf said:

Side saddle seems to be more of a variation of croquet style putting (which is already banned) than it is a traditional putting stroke. 

If I remember correctly, Sam Snead was using a croquet-style putting stroke until the USGA made it illegal to stand astride the line of the putt, in 1968  He went to the side-saddle method.  

[Buckeyebowman]

9 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

If I remember correctly, Sam Snead was using a croquet-style putting stroke until the USGA made it illegal to stand astride the line of the putt, in 1968  He went to the side-saddle method.  

You are absolutely correct.

[iacas]

18 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

If I remember correctly, Sam Snead was using a croquet-style putting stroke until the USGA made it illegal to stand astride the line of the putt, in 1968  He went to the side-saddle method.  

Which gives weight to the idea that it's not going to be outlawed.

The anchored stroke wasn't a "stroke." I can see the line they drew there. I've played golf shots standing perpendicular, though. If you want to, I don't think the USGA is going to disallow it.

Heck, http://www.l2traditional.com/l2laterallineputters.py that guy has been selling "side saddle" putters for a loooooong time.

[Archie Bunker]

You might want to try "semi side-saddle" putting first. Use an open, 45-degree stance with your regular putter (instead of a full 90-degree side-saddle). Play the ball off your right foot (assuming you are a "righty"). To me, it seems to give you most of the visual benefits of side-saddle without changing your basic grip or looking too "radical". Give it a try.

[disco111]

Fear not you warriors of the 3 putt tribe, the overlords of golf will smite those that partake of this unholy practice, just as they have against the LP and BP. 

[Buckeyebowman]

On 6/8/2016 at 11:02 AM, Archie Bunker said:

You might want to try "semi side-saddle" putting first. Use an open, 45-degree stance with your regular putter (instead of a full 90-degree side-saddle). Play the ball off your right foot (assuming you are a "righty"). To me, it seems to give you most of the visual benefits of side-saddle without changing your basic grip or looking too "radical". Give it a try.

If I recall correctly, Nicklaus putted with a fairly open stance at various point in his career, especially the latter part. It wasn't quite 45 degrees, but it wasn't all that far away either.