New Changes to The Rules of Golf "anchoring the putter"

[SunandFun]

Hello Golf community, Here are the proposed changes to The Rules of Golf regarding Anchoring the Putter to the body. Your comments are appreciated and welcomed. You can appreciate that this happened on my birthday, November 28. Sun and Fun a Certified Professional Golf Referee of all Professional Golf Tours.

THE R&A AND USGA ANNOUNCE PROPOSED RULES CHANGE TO PROHIBIT ANCHORED STROKES
By USGA and The R&A
November 28, 2012

Rule would take effect on January 1, 2016, allowing for transitional period;
Belly-length and long putters would remain as conforming clubs

To see this infographic explaining the proposed Rule 14-1b in full size, Click Here.
The R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), golf’s governing bodies, today announced proposed changes to the Rules of Golf that would prohibit anchoring the club in making a stroke.
The proposed Rule 14-1b, which follows an extensive review by The R&A and the USGA, would prohibit strokes made with the club or a hand gripping the club held 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.
Proposed Changes to Rule 14-1
The proposed change would relabel current Rule 14-1 as Rule 14-1a, and establish Rule 14-1b as described below:

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.
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, as well as additional information including videos and images of strokes that would be allowed or prohibited by the proposed changes to Rule 14-1, visit RandA.org/Anchoring or USGA.org/Anchoring.
New Rule Would Define and Preserve the Nature of the Stroke
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.”
New Rule Would Address Recent Developments in the Game
This proposal reflects The R&A’s and USGA’s responsibility to define how the game is to be played. Aspects of how a player must make a stroke have been addressed in past Rules changes, such as the century-old Rule codifying that the ball must be fairly struck and not be pushed, scraped or spooned and the 1968 prohibition on the “croquet” style of putting.
“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.
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.
“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 Dawson. “Our concern is that anchored strokes threaten to supplant traditional putting strokes which are integral to the longstanding character of the sport.”
Review Process and Timetable
Earlier this year, The R&A and the USGA announced that they were reviewing the subject of anchoring. There has been widespread discussion of the issue throughout the international golf community which has been noted by the governing bodies.
Each organization 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: RandA.org/Anchoring or USGA.org/Anchoring.
Also if your contact me via this forum, I will forward your valid comments and suggestions to the R&A. Sun and Fun.

[MrPlum]

Long overdue. Anchoring should never have been allowed in the first place. It obviously provides an advantage. The rule change is welcome but 3 years is too long a grace period. If you concede an unfair advantage exists, then the rule change should be applied immediately. It's like allowing Olympic athletes or cyclists to continue to take drugs for 3 years.

Watch a number of high profile players drop down the rankings, like Bradley and Simpson.

[charlesh]

It's about time they did away with 2 handed racquet plays in tennis too!

[JW]

Its very simple, if this style of putting was cheating everyone would be doing it. The big problem in golf is the ball and teh drivers which allow everyone to gain massive distances thus making the courses so much easier.

[Irish big-kev]

I use a long putter and let me tell you, I'm still crap at putting.
Doesn't give me any advantage, still playing off 18HCP

[aragon]

Long overdue. Anchoring should never have been allowed in the first place. It obviously provides an advantage. The rule change is welcome but 3 years is too long a grace period. If you concede an unfair advantage exists, then the rule change should be applied immediately. It's like allowing Olympic athletes or cyclists to continue to take drugs for 3 years.

Watch a number of high profile players drop down the rankings, like Bradley and Simpson.

Have to agree, long overdue and 3 years is far too long a grace period, once it's been decided that should be it, cold turkey right away.

I guess this would also include the Bernhard Langer under the chin style of "anchoring" the putter also?

[JW]

People who have the yips will have to give up the game...... dont see that as fair. Many of the senior tour players have them and they may not be able to play.. many people can make fun of the yips, I can promise you that it really isnt funny if you ever get them.

[T.I.G.R.]

The unidentified, or often ignored problem I see is using a long putter to take relief. That thing Adam Scott uses is longer than I am tall.

I believe an easier and more fitting rules change would have been to limit the length of the putter to being the shortest club in your bag.

[heartofmidlothian]

I would be very surprised if Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson dropped down the rankings because they can't use their long putters in the future. They have a long time to start working on their new technique and in fact the belly putter doesn't change your stroke - it is just a stabiliser. I would imagine Langer will probably stop playing when he has to change - that is sad.
They said banning square grooves would make golf tougher, but it hasn't. The same will be true with the putters - the best players will putt well with whatever method is forced on them.

[JW]

Good point TIGR, players using them for drops has been a big part in the proposed change in the rules.

[SunandFun]

People who have the yips will have to give up the game...... dont see that as fair. Many of the senior tour players have them and they may not be able to play.. many people can make fun of the yips, I can promise you that it really isnt funny if you ever get them.

No Problem with the yips JW. Using a "Two Thumb" oversize grip or a Vijay Singh Fatso 85 Super Stroke Putter Grip, either of these are designed to allow you to put your thumbs side by side. This somewhat takes the wrist out of play. The wrist are the major problem in the yips. I have been using one for years and have found a lot of success with it. Any time I pull it out and the pros see it, they all want to try it and try to get it from me. I just built a new putter and could not find the Two Thumbs Grip so I went to the Super Stroke fatso 85. Going to keep that one here in Hua Hin with my second set of clubs. Payed a few rounds in the US with it and putted pretty well. Shot 2 rounds, 77 and 78. I can live with that! Call me if you are in Hua Hin next week. I pick up my Springfield Membership tomorrow. Can't wait to play. Available after Monday.
David 089-548-7405.