Should long-handled putter be put back in the caddy?
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AT THE end of last month the two bodies in charge of the rules of golf, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the United States Golf Association finally came together to release their initial findings and views on what has become the controversial use of long- handled putters by amateur and professional golfers.
In the months and weeks following Keegan Bradley and Web Simpson winning two major championships in 2012 hardly a week has gone by when the Sky and BBC TV golf pundits did not raise the subject of using a long-handled putter and although there will be further discussion with manufacturers, and professional and amateur golfers, the two governing bodies announced on November 29 a proposed new rule that would take effect from January 1, 2016 which basically says the long length putters would remain as conforming golf clubs but how they are to be used would change. The proposed change would prohibit the anchoring of the club to the player’s body when making a stroke.
A proposed rule 14-1b effective from January 1, 2016 will not allow strokes made with the club with a hand holding the club directly against the player’s body, or with a forearm held against the body to establish an anchor point that indirectly anchors the club.
The proposed new rule would not alter current equipment rules and would allow the continued use of all conforming golf clubs, including belly-length and long putters, provided such clubs are not anchored during a stroke. The proposed rule narrowly targets only a few types of strokes, while preserving a golfer’s ability to play a wide variety of strokes in his or her individual style.
Prior to taking a final decision on the proposed rule, The R&A and the USGA will consider any further comments and suggestions from throughout the golf community.
“We believe we have considered this issue from every angle but given the wide ranging interest in this subject we would like to give stakeholders in the game the opportunity to put forward any new matters for consideration,” said Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A.
The proposed rule change would take effect on January 1, 2016, in accordance with the regular four-year cycle for changes to the Rules of Golf. This timetable would also provide an extended period in which golfers may, if necessary, adapt their method of stroke to the requirements of the rule.
For more information about the newly proposed rule which would define and preserve the nature of the stroke and view videos and images of strokes that would be allowed or prohibited by the proposed changes to Rule 14-1, visit www.RandA.org/anchoring or www.usga.org/anchoring.
In proposing the new rule, The R&A and the USGA concluded that the long-term interests of the game would be served by confirming a stroke as the swinging of the entire club at the ball.
“Throughout the 600-year history of golf, the essence of playing the game has been to grip the club with the hands and swing it freely at the ball,” said USGA executive director Mike Davis. “The player’s challenge is to control the movement of the entire club in striking the ball, and anchoring the club alters the nature of that challenge. Our conclusion is that the Rules of Golf should be amended to preserve the traditional character of the golf swing by eliminating the growing practice of anchoring the club.”
“As governing bodies, we monitor and evaluate playing practices and developments in golf, with our primary mandate being to ensure that the Rules of Golf continue to preserve the fundamental characteristics of the game,” added Davis.
“Anchored strokes have become the preferred option for a growing number of players and this has caused us to review these strokes and their impact on the game,” said Peter Dawson. He continued, “Our concern is that anchored strokes threaten to supplant traditional putting strokes which are integral to the long-standing character of the sport.”
Although anchoring the club is not new, until recently it was uncommon and typically seen as a method of last resort by a small number of players. In the last two years, however, more and more players have adopted the anchored stroke. Golf’s governing bodies have observed this upsurge at all levels of the game and noted that more coaches and players are advocating this method. The decision to act now is based on a strong desire to reverse this trend and to preserve the traditional golf stroke.
Each organisation is expected to take a final decision on the proposed rule change in spring 2013. Anyone wishing to provide written comments to the appropriate governing body is encouraged to do so by February 28, 2013 as directed on the respective websites: www.RandA.org/anchoring or www.usga.org/anchoring.
In the local amateur game there has been very limited use of the so-called broom handled putters, only two players spring readily to mind, John Hunter of Wick Golf Club, who has subsequently reverted back to the normal putter and the other noted North player whom I remember designing and using his own long putter several years ago was Steve MacKintosh (Muir of Ord). He was very successfully with it winning several North District Championship titles long before all the recent fuss came about.
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