I personally have never used one during a round. I have played around with some at the golf
store but never went further than that. It appears the leading golf sanctioning bodies across
the world may very well ban the long putter from play. Now while the weekend hackers of
the world are free to do as they please, all sanctioned tournaments whether pro or amateur
will have them banned. Golfers of the CSFMB, what is your opinion on this? Does it really
give golfers an advantage?



After years of debate and months of rumors about what golf's governing bodies will do about anchored putters, it appears the golf world will hear a decision on Wednesday morning.

The R&A and USGA announced Tuesday that they will hold a joint teleconference with members of the media at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. On the call will be Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A; Mike Davis, executive director of the USGA; David Rickman, executive director of rules and equipment standards for the R&A; and Thomas Pagel, senior director for the Rules of Golf for the USGA.

The topic of the call was not announced, but it's certain to address the growing controversy around the use of various kinds of long putters that are anchored to the body while putting. The most common method is belly putting, in which the butt end of the grip is steadied against the golfer's stomach. Purists argue that this makes putting under pressure easier by lessening the effects of shaky hands.

Three of the last five majors have been won by players using belly putters: Keegan Bradly at the 2011 PGA Championship, Webb Simpson at the 2012 U.S. Open, and Ernie Els at the 2012 British Open. Golf.com will have more details as they become available

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Why ban it? If some players think it gives an unfair advantage, why don't they start using it too? These putters aren't injecting golfers with Performance Enhancing drugs.

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I agree with you on something about golf, maybe the Mayans are correct.

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2018
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10 More Wins

I used a belly putter for about two months this season to write up a few columns on this subject. Overall, while I feel that the putting stroke is made more consistent by anchoring it to your body, I'm still not convinced that it provides an unfair advantage over traditional putters.

All indications suggest that the USGA will ban the putter tomorrow. I have no idea what they are basing the decision on.

You have no idea? Aren't you a golf writer?

I'm a very casual fan and I know the rationale for it being banned.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

The bigger concern is that a writer ended a sentence with a preposition.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

The rationale is not the question. The question is what evidence they have to prove it provides an unfair advantage.

Mike Davis apparently has "data", but no one has seen it as it hasn't been released.

Thus, as I said, I have no idea on what they are basing their decision.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Why do they have to prove it provides an unfair advantage? They are ruling it isn't a natural golf swing. Kicking the ball off the tee doesn't give an unfair advantage either. It's just not a golf swing so it's not allowed.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I am torn on it. I think in part they are trying to keep the game a bit more traditional as clubs from
tee up to the point of putting have all been made so much better over the years helping with accuracy
and distance. They would never come out and say that as it is a very flimsy argument but I don't doubt
that could be part of their reasoning.

I think using the long putter on putts from 6 feet and in there has to be a better chance of not yipping
it if you have a smooth stoke using the body as a fulcrum. Personally I think using the putter from 15
feet and out, especially longer lag putts has to be a bit more difficult using the long putting method, but
maybe I am wrong and the better players have it dialed in from everywhere. I too would be interested
in seeing what kind of "data" they have to support their stance on the issue.

Rick, they need to prove why it provides an advantage because hundreds of guys make their livings with
this particular club and they are going to want to know what the decision is based on. Yes, you are right
they will likely make the argument it isn't a natural swing but if they had some kind of data to back it up
it may look a little better. 3 of the last 5 major winners have used the club. Maybe it is coincidence, maybe
it isn't. When million dollar tournaments come down to one shot over 4 days and many shots come down to
missing a shot by less than half an inch there could be more to the ban.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

To that point, many of those players have already publicly stated they will lawyer up and fight the ban (especially Keegan Bradley). The USGA and R&A will have to defend their side with some type of proof, especially since they voted to make long putters legal in 1989. Lots of variables come into play, but I'll leave that to legal experts.

Long putter, short putter, pool cue, kicking the ball, whatever. 98% of putting depends on the golfer and how good/bad he is.

I am horrible at putting. Ugie looked like a fairy using that long putter the couple times I golfed with him this year.

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Why not just create a rule that says all men using the long putter must wear a dress while putting?

Seems like a reasonable compromise.

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Rules change all the time though. Players have to adjust.

It sucks for those who rely on that type of putting, but if they literally cannot compete without it and need to sue I think that's actually pretty strong evidence that it makes a big difference. I think we all agree that an anchor to your body is not a natural golf swing. The PGA tour was stupid to let it go on this long.

I predict, that some players will be given a fairly long grace period to adjust. It will be kind of like the hockey players who didn't have to wear a helmet. They'll probably get until 2015 to still use it.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I agree with your response. I am not defending the long putter, just curious to hear how they defend their choice.
You are likely right about giving them a grace period to adjust their games. I hadn't considered that initially.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

From what I've heard the ban would go into affect globally in 2016. Whether a bifurcation of the ban to separate pro's from amateurs will be implemented remains to be seen. My best guess is they will treat this like they did with grooves on wedges; pro's need to comply first, amateurs a couple years later.

I saw a comment on the Warming Glow today in which a writer (at least that's what he said he was) used the phrase "on accident." Ugh.

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-- source

Let them putt with whatever they want.

For me, a better idea would be to ban drivers/golf balls that let guys hit 400 yard drives and make 7200 yard courses "short".