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August 16, 2012

Anchoring putters needs to go

By Gregg A. Sims Washington Times Herald

WASHINGTON — Rory McIlroy’s dominating performance at last week’s PGA chilled earlier conversation about the legality of the long, or belly, putter.

After Carl Pettersson took the first-round lead, the conversation was hot and heavy for a day.

Peterrsson has used a long putter for several years. Earlier major winners included Webb Simpson, who uses a belly, and Keegan Bradley who took last season’s PGA. so the discussion was ripe for the talking.

Adam Scott came really close at the British Open with a long, so the discussion was ripe for the talking.

The United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient had advertised a possible look the belly and long putters earlier this spring. Rumors were running at this season’s PGA that 2016 would be the year when those putters hit the road, at least for major amateur and professional competitions.

The length of the putters is not the problem. The problem arises when the putters are anchored against the body.

Long putters have been placed under the chin by Sam Torrence of Scotland, while the belly is usually anywhere from the chest to the waist.

Either way, anchoring a club against the body is not a natural stroke.

As you may remember, I have written in this space about using long putters. In fact, I have bounced back and forth for some time between a YES long putter, a Cleveland belly and my usual varieties of conventional models that normally features a Wilson 8802.

I have even told many that if I had a youngster starting the game today, I would start them on a long putter simply because it is a better way to putt.

It is not only better, it is easier.

Anchoring a putter against the body simplifies the stroke from having to move only the right arm, for a right-handed player. It also calms the nerves, as was the supposed first intent of the instrument.

You might even be surprised to know that one of the oldest clubs in my possession, that I purchased, is a 50-inch Ping B90. It was purchased in the late 1980s to help with back spasms.

Still, anchoring the putter is not a natural stroke. As Ben Crenshaw noted in his book, “A Feel for the Game,” anchoring the putter takes away, “the freedom of expression in the stroke.”

In other words, having to move the putter back and through the ball should be done with two hands extended away from the body just as in the swing.

I do feel sorry for many players who have come to love the long and belly putter. There are several PGA players who have found the anchored putter very useful. They are making their living with the help of the long and belly.

That is certainly important to each of them.

More and more younger players are beginning to understand the long and belly can make their putting better.

These players would be at a disadvantage, having to go back to a conventional.

 That is likely unfair, but the anchored putter is a mistake that should be corrected.

My back likes the long putter. The putters have been deemed legal for  several years. Golf is littered with technological advances that have helped make the game easier for all.

Anchor putters simply should go.

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