Tour News

Anchored putter ban goes through

Published

13 years ago

May 21, 2013

GolfWRX Staff

The clock is ticking for anchored putter users.

The USGA and R&A have ruled that rule 14-1B, the ban on anchored putters, will go into effect Jan. 1, 2016.

The new rule was proposed on Nov. 28, and faced considerable push back from PGA Tour players, the PGA of America and Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem. It states that golfers will no longer be able to anchor the butt end of a club to their body.

“Rule 14-1b protects one of the important challenges in the game — the free swing of the entire club,” said Glen Nager, president of the USGA, in prepared remarks. “The traditional stroke involves swinging the club with both the club and gripping hands held away from the body, requiring the player to direct and control the movement of the entire club.

“Anchoring is different: intentionally securing one end of the club against the body, and creating a point of physical attachment around which the club is swung, is a substantial departure form that traditional free swing.”

Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Ernie Els and Adam Scott, who have won four of the last six major championships, have all used the anchored putting stroke in their victories.

Here is a graph that explains the rule more clearly.

You can click the images to enlarge

Click here to read more about the ban.

Related Topics:putters putting USGA

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44 Comments

cesar castorena

May 21, 2013 at 10:30 pm

best thing to happen to pro golf, anchoring is cheating i want to see if Adam Scott ever wins again, they should make the rule to be effective tomorrow thank you USGA.

Reply Report comment
- christian
  
  May 22, 2013 at 9:38 pm
  
  I agree, It’s ugly, an abomination. A crutch for people with the yips. Gives an unfair, totally unfair actually, advantage when it comes to taking a drop. Good riddance.
  
  Reply Report comment
Randall

May 21, 2013 at 9:19 pm

Why wait 2.5 years before put in effect?

Reply Report comment
billy bob

May 21, 2013 at 7:43 pm

Glad they banned this……. bet adam scott NEVER wins another major and say goodbye to Webb Simpson (thankfully)

Reply Report comment
Mike

May 21, 2013 at 6:10 pm

Looking at that photo of Adam Scott makes me think this rule is impossible to police. Is Adam’s left hand touching his body in a way that is illegal (e.g. Anchor point created by forearm)? It looks like his left forearm is away from his body so how do you decide if the broomstick is illegal?

I putt poorly using a conventional technique so this rule doesn’t impact my poor play but it’s a giant waste of time. Remember the old slogan ‘these guys are good.’ I bet Keegan will be able to change his putting style without too much difficulty.

Reply Report comment
- christian
  
  May 22, 2013 at 9:35 pm
  
  This is golf, if Adam Scott were to continue using the same stroke and claim “it can’t be policed” he would be demonished. Plus, we are supposed to call rule infractions on to ourselves, did you forget that part about being a golfer?
  So Adam, who seems to be very much a “follow the rules guy” would never EVER stoop so low and bring chicanery and cheating into the game claiming it can’t be policed and go “catch me if you can ha ha ha”…
  
  Reply Report comment
Troy Vayanos

May 21, 2013 at 4:46 pm

It’s little too late for this rule change, it’s been in play for over 30 years. Many professionals have grown up playing the game with a anchored type of stroke because it was legal and now they’re changing it.

Can’t understand it?

Reply Report comment
- G
  
  May 21, 2013 at 9:12 pm
  
  14-club rule came in 1939. Do you think that was too late, what about all the golf that was played before 1939? Bobby Jones’ record, the Tom Morrises? What about them?
  Then the stymie was abolished in 1952. Was that too late? Or was that for the good of the game, or did the game CHANGE completely at that point, since low-scoring became the norm, rather than beating your opponent somehow with previous rules?
  
  It’s never too late to change the rules for the better.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - G
    
    May 22, 2013 at 11:12 am
    
    No reply? Thought so.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - JD
      
      May 22, 2013 at 8:50 pm
      
      More than 14 clubs and some of the creativity of the game is lost….the stymie is not in keeping with the sportsmanship that is ingrained in the game….removing anchoring doesn’t enhance anything. If you think it’s wrong, than let me ask you how your 460cc driver, juiced ball, and laser range finder are working for you?
      
      Reply Report comment
      - G
        
        May 23, 2013 at 3:24 am
        
        Obviously you don’t get it.
        
        Reply Report comment
      - Vic D
        
        Jun 12, 2013 at 1:30 pm
        
        yeah you dont get it. anchoring could start to flow into chipping or even a real swing. Can you imagine golf with an anchored driver swing??? No, it’s not the way a club should be swung in any fashion….period
        
        Reply Report comment
Woodie

May 21, 2013 at 4:19 pm

That is a joke. Anchoring was allowed for decades… Sam Torrance was one of the first in the 80/90s, Bernhard Langer followed in the mid 90s.
And now it is gonna be illegal?

Reply Report comment
Paul

May 21, 2013 at 4:10 pm

I don’t use a long style putter but think it’s a rediculous rule against them. To be effective with any putter one must roll the ball on the correct line – at the right speed to make the putt.

Reply Report comment
- Matthew
  
  May 21, 2013 at 4:12 pm
  
  Have you ever tried using an anchored putter? you never miss your line…
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Al.J
    
    May 21, 2013 at 11:04 pm
    
    That’s not true about never missing your line! Putts can still be pushed or pulled with an anchored putter just as easy. Still requires making a good stroke along with proper speed. If you never missed your line the guys using the anchored putters would be winning every tourney with no more than 18 putts per round.
    
    Reply Report comment
Barry

May 21, 2013 at 1:54 pm

Kuchar’s method is still allowed because he isn’t “locking” the end of his club to a part of his body. There is a world of difference between swinging a free floating club and swinging a club with a fixed point like a pendulum.

Reply Report comment
- Steven
  
  May 21, 2013 at 3:32 pm
  
  Right – the end of his club is not fixed against any part of his body.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Reqq
    
    May 21, 2013 at 4:21 pm
    
    yes but his arm is moving.. while other anchor points does not..
    
    but ye im not sure myself what to think about kuchars way of putting.. think i need to try it myself before i can say anything about that..
    
    about the rule itself, i think its good!
    
    Reply Report comment
JKratz

May 21, 2013 at 1:19 pm

The rules of golf continue their war on common sense. Any technique or piece of equipment available to every player offers no advantage over another. If your argument is protecting the integrity of the game, there are many pieces of golf equipment that should be addressed before this. Golf begs for more players, but continues to turn off the ones they have. BTW, I have never used a belly/long putter.

Reply Report comment
- Desmond
  
  May 21, 2013 at 1:48 pm
  
  But it is not about the equipment, it’s about anchoring.
  
  You can put money on it — the equipment makers will adjust and find new ways to make money in putting, and they will probably make more money with the anchor ban.
  
  Reply Report comment
Minh

May 21, 2013 at 1:01 pm

I understand the whole concept of not anchoring. However, as one who putts traditionally, I find all forms of anchor putting extremely difficult. If there is indeed some form of competitive advantage, I sure don’t see it.

Reply Report comment
sdgfhjkhgjkdfsfg

May 21, 2013 at 12:03 pm

Ban the USGA.

Reply Report comment
- JD
  
  May 22, 2013 at 8:55 pm
  
  I’ll second that
  
  Reply Report comment
Mick J

May 21, 2013 at 11:28 am

Can’t wait to see Keegan’s reaction to all fo this…

Reply Report comment
Double Mocha Man

May 21, 2013 at 11:16 am

Gump… I think “anchoring” for the USGA and R&A refers to attaching the butt end of the club to the trunk of the body, not an appendage.

Though of interest, I believe it was Billy Casper, one of the great all-time putters, who anchored the butt end of his putter, via his left hand, to his left hip.

Reply Report comment
BeThere

May 21, 2013 at 11:14 am

Sorta have mixed feelings. Waited too long to make a ruling. No real evidence that shows there is an advantage to anchoring and thus making more putts. Raises more questions about other equipment-related issues, which could be bad for the game long term. What if they go after the ball next? Read Aaron Oberholser’s tweet about hitting a new Pro V and an old, mint Professional 90 (wound) the same distance. What about game improvement irons? Don’t they aid the golf stroke? They correct or mask poor swings? Do weaker players gain an advantage by using hot faced, oversize irons? Maybe everyone uses muscleback irons? Why not make an argument about that? What about drawing alignment aids on the ball? Just seems a little bit arbitrary to me. If everyone was doing it and winning then you have an argument. But Keegan lipped a putt this past weekend on 16 that could have helped him win, and he uses an anchored putter. Very strange ruling.

Reply Report comment
- G
  
  May 21, 2013 at 9:08 pm
  
  1939: 14 club rule.
  
  1952: Stymie abolished, marking balls mandatory and etiquette.
  
  2010: Square grooves bye-bye.
  
  2013: Anchored putting stroke DEAD.
  
  Move along, nothing to see here
  
  Reply Report comment
- doc19
  
  May 21, 2013 at 9:47 pm
  
  That’s the thing, it’s not an equipment ruling, I think that’s a point that people keep missing. The clubs are still legal, you can still use them. They are just ruling on what constitutes a “swing.” You cannot anchor the club when using these clubs. Adam Scott recently said he would just hold the putter a millimeter away from his chest and use the same putter. By the rules, it’s still legal. They are not saying it makes you a better golfer, they are just saying that a golf stroke should constitute some sort of free swing that isn’t anchored.
  
  And forgive me for getting on a soup box… but game improvement clubs/balls are a marketing scam. Most people would be better off getting a mid-level set of irons that give you feedback, get properly fit, get lessons and actually practice on a regular basis. And I’m pretty sure the USGA knows that as the average handicap index hasn’t changed in forever.
  
  I do agree though that the ball is something they have to take a look at. They need to start thinking about capping the balls distance where they are at now. Modern day balls I hit further than range balls, which is a bit ridiculous if you think about it.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - JD
    
    May 22, 2013 at 8:42 pm
    
    This is 100% an equipment ruling. The USGA and R&A just decided that in order to do away with long putters and not get sued by every manufacturer out there, that their best option was to rule on the stroke. Aside from the Kuchar option, a long putter is useless without anchoring. Their rules are inconsistent at best….you can anchor your forearms to your torso if you use a short putter, but can’t anchor your forearm to your chest if you use a long putter??? Dwindling numbers and closing courses…seems like a wise move to make the game tougher. And for all you purists out there, without joe average paying his green fees, you can’t afford to golf.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - christian
      
      May 22, 2013 at 9:27 pm
      
      “Joe average” does NOT use a long putter..It’s very very rare to see omebody with a long putter. I have a neighbour/golf buddy that uses it, and it’s the ONLY one I have ever seen being used. You make it sound like a huge majority of amateurs use a long putter, that’s just pure BS.
      
      Reply Report comment
    - kevin smith
      
      May 23, 2013 at 5:36 am
      
      Economic events over the last 10 years, and the shipping of middle class jobs overseas is the real problem with golf. Overbuilding of golf courses and golf course communities during the boom time was reckless at best.
      Golf is a difficult game, and anchoring of the putter is the issue, not the equipment..
      Pace of play, and the golf ball need to be the next issues to tackle in that order. Five hour rounds are more detrimental to the game of golf in modern times then the Belly Putter. And, I mean pace of play for recreational golfers. They are the ones who fuel the sport, and that point I totally agree with you.
      
      Reply Report comment
- Blanco
  
  May 21, 2013 at 9:50 pm
  
  I think it’s completely different than the equipment/strategy thing. They are trying to define what is and isn’t a golf swing: the one and only athletic movement in golf.
  
  Reply Report comment
Gump

May 21, 2013 at 10:42 am

Got to say, I don’t see how Matt Kuchar’s “grip resting against the forearm” can be allowed when the whole principle they are banning is the anchoring of the end of the club against the body!!! Seems like a bit of a cop out….

Reply Report comment
- A
  
  May 21, 2013 at 11:20 am
  
  the butt end of the club moves when using the Kuchar technique. its not anchored…
  
  Reply Report comment
- Eric
  
  May 21, 2013 at 11:40 am
  
  You make a good point and I thought this as well. I think it might have to do with the fact that Kuchar’s putting stroke doesn’t have a fixed point that a typical pendulum motion would have. One of the main reasons why anchored putting was banned is because having a pendulum with a fixed point makes gravity do most of the work and therefore leads to enhanced consistency.
  
  That’s just how I am making sense of this ruling, and even then I still see a gray area in this rule. Like you mentioned he is still “anchoring” it to his forearm. Hopefully we get some further clarification.
  
  Reply Report comment
- cjb
  
  May 21, 2013 at 11:58 am
  
  The club will not be swung around one anchored point the way he do it.
  Even if he is resting it against the forearm the whole club is in motion when he is putting.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Desmond
  
  May 21, 2013 at 1:46 pm
  
  Apparently, the arm is not the body for purposes of the Rule.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Andrew
  
  May 21, 2013 at 6:05 pm
  
  The rule being enforced here is free swinging. In the anchoring method, there is a piece of the club that isn’t free swinging (the anchor against the body).
  
  In Kuchar’s method, every piece of the club still moves with his stroke. The club is anchored to his moving forearm, just like the club is anchored to most peoples moving hands with a standard stroke.
  
  In the case of long putters, the club is being anchored against a part of the body that isn’t swinging with the stroke like the hands/arms.
  
  Reply Report comment
Kyle A

May 21, 2013 at 9:57 am

The USGA only thought about the 1% of golfers (aka Tour Players) when making this rule. If they had a problem with people winning majors with the anchored putter make it a PGA problem and dont try and ruin everyone else’s round of golf

Reply Report comment
- christian
  
  May 22, 2013 at 9:23 pm
  
  But they don’t ruin anything for anybody else. If you want to use a belly putter during your casual round of golf, then do so. Nobody will run out on the golf course on the first green to arrest you or anything. Just like some people use a non-conforming driver, use a golf cart and wear shorts, examples of other things that are different compared to the pro game.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - erkr
    
    May 23, 2013 at 9:24 am
    
    Many play casual competitive golf. Rules must be obeyed even if you play against friends.
    This rule takes away the fun for players who have yips problems. Let the game progress and don’t hold it back. Its complicated enough.
    
    Reply Report comment
John F

May 21, 2013 at 9:33 am

Interesting to see that Matt Kuchar’s arm-lock putting style will still be legal in 2016! I was curious about them and found some good info here.

Reply Report comment
- G
  
  May 21, 2013 at 11:16 am
  
  http://www.odysseygolf.com/armlock/armlock,en_US,sc.html
  
  Reply Report comment

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