Keegan Bradley was one of the world's
top players speaking against anchoring
Far Hills, N.J., USA and St Andrews, Scotland
(May 21, 2013) – The United States Golf
Association (USGA) and The R&A,
golf’s governing bodies, today announced the
adoption of Rule 14-1b of the Rules of Golf
that prohibits anchoring the club
in making a stroke. The new Rule will take
effect on January 1, 2016, in accordance with
the regular four-year cycle for
changes to the Rules of Golf.
Rule 14-1b, which was proposed on November
28, 2012, has now been given final approval
by the USGA and The R&A
following an extensive review by both
organizations. The decision to adopt the new
Rule came after a comprehensive
process in which comments and suggestions
from across the golf community were
collected and thoroughly considered.
The USGA and The R&A have prepared a
detailed report to explain the reasons for the
decision to adopt Rule 14-1b. The
report explains the principles on which the
Rules of Golf are founded, why freely swinging
the entire club is the essence
of the traditional method of stroke, and why
anchoring is a substantially different form of
stroke that may alter and
diminish the fundamental challenges of the
game.
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It points out that the Rule will still allow the
use of belly-length and long putters and that a
wide variety of types of
strokes remain for players to use. The report
concludes that the new Rule should not
adversely affect participation in the
game, that it is not too late or unfair to
require players to comply with it and that it
will remove concerns about any
potential advantage that anchoring provides.
It
also makes clear that one set of Rules is
essential to the future health of
the game. The report, entitled Explanation of
Decision to Adopt Rule 14-1b of the Rules of
Golf, can be found at
www.usga.org/anchoring or at
www.RandA.org/anchoring.
“Having considered all of the input that we
received, both before and after the proposed
Rule was announced, our best
judgment is that Rule 14-1b is necessary to
preserve one of the important traditions and
challenges of the game – that
the player freely swing the entire club,” said
USGA President Glen D. Nager. “The new Rule
upholds the essential nature
of the traditional method of stroke and
eliminates the possible advantage that
anchoring provides, ensuring that players
of all skill levels face the same challenge
inherent in the game of golf.”
Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A
said: “We took a great deal of time to
consider this issue and received a
variety of contributions from individuals and
organisations at all levels of the game. The
report published today gives a
comprehensive account of the reasons for
taking the decision to adopt the new Rule and
addresses the concerns that
have been raised. We recognise this has been
a divisive issue but after thorough
consideration we remain convinced that
this is the right decision for golf.”
The current Rule 14-1 of the Rules of Golf will
be re-numbered as Rule 14-1a, and new Rule
14-1b will be established as
follows:
14-1b Anchoring the Club
In making a stroke, the player must not
anchor the club, either “directly” or by use of
an “anchor point.”
Note 1: The club is anchored “directly” when
the player intentionally holds the club or a
gripping hand in contact with
any part of his body, except that the player
may hold the club or a gripping hand against a
hand or forearm.
Note 2: An “anchor point” exists when the
player intentionally holds a forearm in contact
with any part of his body to
establish a gripping hand as a stable point
around which the other hand may swing the
club.
Rule 14-1b will not alter current equipment
rules and allows for the continued use of all
conforming golf clubs, including
belly-length and long putters, provided such
clubs are not anchored during a stroke. The
new 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.
The January 1, 2016, timetable for
implementation also provides an extended
period in which golfers may, if necessary,
adapt their method of stroke to the
requirements of the new Rule.
David Rickman, Executive Director of Rules
and Equipment Standards at The R&A, said:
“This Rule change addresses the
future and not the past. Everyone who has
used an anchored stroke in the past, or who
does so between now and
January 1, 2016, will have played entirely
within the Rules and their achievements will in
no way be diminished.”
“The discussion around the Rule has been very
helpful, and we appreciate that so many
different perspectives were
offered,” said USGA Executive Director Mike
Davis. “We know that not everyone will agree
with the new Rule, but it is
our hope that all golfers will accept that this
decision is reasoned and motivated by our
best judgment in defining the
sport and serving the best interests of the
game.”