--photo amateurgolf.com
by James Achenbach
HOUSTON, Tex. (Feb. 5, 2012) -- Just
when it appeared likely that belly putters and
chest putters would be with us for an
extended period of time, a new ban-the-belly
movement within the R&A has convinced
the U.S. Golf Association to take what
executive director Mike Davis calls a
“fresh look” at the putting
phenomenon known as anchoring.
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now, click here.
Anchoring, as it is commonly called in
R&A and USGA circles, refers in general to
any putting method in which the putter is
secured against the body in a manner
considered to be outside the definition of a
natural or traditional stroke.
In belly putting, the grip end of the putter
is anchored in or around the abdomen. In
chest putting, which is often called long
putting, the grip end is locked against the
chest.
Writing an anti-anchoring rule would be
extremely tricky. Drafting the precise language
would in all probability become the biggest
challenge in the history of equipment
rulesmaking. It would constitute a major rules
decision.
The putters themselves would not be ruled
nonconforming, but rather the putting methods
would become illegal. This is exactly what
happened more than 40 years ago when
between-the-legs (croquet) putting was
outlawed. The putters continued to be used by
a few players, namely Sam Snead, in a
sidesaddle style.
A change in attitude toward belly putters
and long putters was clear at the USGA annual
meeting, which ended Saturday evening at the
Houston Hilton Post Oak Hotel.
In the past, Davis has talked
sympathetically about golfers whose careers
have been saved or extended by chest putters
or belly putters.
This time, though, Davis appeared to adopt
a tougher and more idealistic stance on
anchoring.
“All of a sudden ... this has become
a much bigger topic,” Davis stressed.
“The USGA and R&A have been
talking about this at length.
“We are looking at it from a
perspective that ... what we should look at for
everything: What is good for the game, for all
golfers, long term? I will tell you, the R&A
was in Far Hills (N.J.) last week. We have an
annual meeting where we talk about all kinds
of issues about how we govern the game
worldwide.
“We did talk about various
equipment issues, including anchoring. Our
board (USGA Executive Committee) did (talk
about it) this week as well. There are no
outcomes at this point.
“It is something we have taken a
fresh look at. More players are using it, both
on the elite level and the recreational level.
We want to be sure that we are looking at all
the angles and thinking about what is in the
best interests both of the traditions of the
game, the history of the game, and what we
think would be good for the game.”
Davis was bolstered in his position by new
USGA president Glen Nager, who was
inaugurated Saturday night and will serve two
consecutive one-year terms.
Nager fully backed Davis while delivering an
aggressive speech against bifurcation of
equipment rules (creating one set of rules for
elite players and another set of rules for
everyone else), and he expressed the same
support for a renewed look at anchoring.
What exactly does all this mean?
USGA officials declined to offer details, but
an informed Golfweek source said Davis, Nager
and USGA equipment standards chair Dan
Burton have committed themselves to
participating with the R&A in a top-to-
bottom examination of belly putting and chest
putting.
The source talked at length about the
influence of British weather.
“The R&A do not like the fact
that golfers can steady themselves by using a
putter as a crutch in windy, rainy or cold
weather,” the source said. “In
essence, they are steadying themselves with
the putter. This was never intended under the
Rules of Golf. They are using the putter for
something other than a traditional
stroke.”
Both the R&A and USGA have
assumed a largely passive view of anchoring
for more than 20 years. In 1989, an official
statement condoned long putters, at least
temporarily. There have been no statements
since then.
The element that has most influenced the
current atmosphere, according to the source,
is the emergence of players such as Webb
Simpson and Keegan Bradley who have used
belly putters for several years.
“Nobody (within the ruling bodies)
wants children to know nothing else but
sticking putters in their bellys,” the
source said. “It now seems possible that
an entire new generation of golfers could learn
to putt this way and never use the traditional
method that has been the bedrock of putting
for hundreds of years.”
Peter Dawson, R&A chief executive,
has expressed his personal dislike of anchoring.
However, he has pointed out that the
equipment standard committees for the two
rulesmaking organizations are charged with
much of the responsibility for any equipment
rules change.
The USGA is expected to once again
address the subject publicly at San
Francisco’s Olympic Club during the
2012 U.S. Open.
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now, click here.