Odds of the PGA banning Belly/Chest putters?

[eclark53520]

What do you guys think? Good way to go?

What should be the specifications on putter length in your opinion?


Tiger suggests implementing a rule that the putter cannot be longer than the shortest club in the bag. Thoughts on this?

 

[limpalong]

I do believe we will see something in the next year or two. There are just too many tour pros going the way of an "anchored" putter for it not to be an advantage. The argument that I've heard against TW's "no longer than the shortest club in the bag" is that back trouble requires some to have a slightly longer putter. If you cannot bend over without pain, should you be allowed to use a longer putter if it is not "anchored"? Raymond Floyd was one who used a longer putter, once his back wore out from a life of golf and "other entertainment". What about those who have been sold on the constant length iron system? If all my irons are the length of a 6-iron... even the wedges... I could carry a longer putter than someone using standard lenth clubs. Or, I could just learn to play with clubs that were 1" over standard and have a little longer putter.
They also have difficulty defining "anchoring". Langer used a regular length putter, but "anchored" it to his left wrist with his right hand.
I look for the USGA to come up with an artibrary maximum length, sorta like they did for the displacement size of drivers.

 

[Rockford35]

Unless you see guys making huge runs and winning everything is site, i doubt this will ever be an issue, especially since they've basically allowed the cheating/anchoring to date.

But, they did switch the grooves for the average joe, so get ready to bend over again for absolutely no reason.

R35

 

[SiberianDVM]

Need to differentiate between the PGA and the USGA/R&A. I don't give a rats ass what the PGA does, but if the USGA takes away my belly putter I'm gonna be pissed. I just started making some darn putts again!

 

[eclark53520]

Need to differentiate between the PGA and the USGA/R&A. I don't give a rats ass what the PGA does, but if the USGA takes away my belly putter I'm gonna be pissed. I just started making some darn putts again!

You're right. I'm not sure which one was looking into it..

 

[Rockford35]

Need to differentiate between the PGA and the USGA/R&A. I don't give a rats ass what the PGA does, but if the USGA takes away my belly putter I'm gonna be pissed. I just started making some darn putts again!

The USGA won't take your putter away. Unless you play in a sanctioned event, how does this affect you?

R35

 

[BigJim13]

Should they? Probably.

Will they? Doubt it.

 

[xamilo]

Why should they? If "belly putters" are an advantage, then who's advantage it is when anyone can play with one? You can't call cheating something which you can use if you want to, so there is no reason to ban the putter. It's like banning the 4 or 5 layer balls because Tiger likes to use a 3 layer one!

 

[SiberianDVM]

The Golf Channel Amateur Tour and the GolfWeek Amateur Tour, both base their rules on USGA rules. They MIGHT ban them. Sometimes I play Georgia State Golf Association events, like the Publick Links, and they DO follow USGA rules.

 

[BigJim13]

Why should they? If "belly putters" are an advantage, then who's advantage it is when anyone can play with one? You can't call cheating something which you can use if you want to, so there is no reason to ban the putter. It's like banning the 4 or 5 layer balls because Tiger likes to use a 3 layer one!

So because everyone can cheat, cheating is Ok? Can I bring my training aids on the course with me then? Maybe a slope reader to better read putts? I think the point is that its easier to make a repeatable arc with the "anchored" putter.

Although, that brings up the question if it makes it easier to putt why hasn't there been a big time player using a belly putter?

 

[Rockford35]

Although, that brings up the question if it makes it easier to putt why hasn't there been a big time player using a belly putter?

Both Phil and Ernie did, but went back.

I guess you could call them "big", I suppose.

R35

 

[anonymous golfaholic]

I think anchoring a putter should be banned if the anchor point is also the fulcrum. I also think that the putter should no be longer than the driver. i don't want to see someone measuring 2 club lengths with a putter.

 

[BigJim13]

Its funny, even though I agree that it should be banned I don't feel a burning desire for it to be so. To me it goes to show where the game has gone. Today's players spend so much time working to hit the ball a mile and less time around the green and on the green, it was inevitable that they would use cheater sticks. Maybe I'm crazy. The first "big" guy I remember using the long putter was Vijay. He tore off like 10 or 12 wins one year but no majors and then went back to the regular putter so who knows.

 

[eclark53520]

I'm with you Jim...

I have no dog in the fight really, i have no intentions to go to a anchored putter and i think it's 'cheating' to anchor any golf club, but I don't really have a hard stance on the banning thing.

I kind of agree with the announcers at the AT&T, ban it on the Pro tours, but not for the amateur golfers.

 

[floggerrushmd]

I have not seen a difinitive advantage to using the anchored putters. Can anyone name a single player who was an atrocious putter who swiched to an anchored putter and suddenly started winning every tournament? I personally hate seeing and hearing so much about these stupid putters. Until you see 6 or more of the top ten players in the world sticking with these putters they are not a problem. Also, lets be realistic here they are not "cheating" by using these clubs. They are within the rules of golf. People need to learn to separate nostalgia from their arguments. Just because you have always done something one way does not mean it is not incredibly stupid.