Golf Officials Propose Ban on the Way Belly Putter is Used

Golf’s governing bodies have made a decision regarding the potential ban of the controversial “belly putter”.   The heads of the USGA and Royal & Ancient Golf Club (R&A) have proposed a new rule that would ban the putting stroke used by three of the last five major champions.

With more and more players using the belly or “broom-stick” putter, the governing bodies have proposed a rule that would still allow the use of the club, but not when used in an anchoring manner.  So essentially, you can use the club, but you can’t tuck it under your gut.

One of the many pro players to speak out about the issue was 74 time PGA Tour winner, Tiger Woods.  When asked about the issue
The proposal is for Rule 14-1(b) would read, ‘In making a stroke, the player must not anchor the club, either ‘directly’ or by use of an ‘anchor point.’Tiger said, “I just believe that the art of putting is swinging the club and controlling nerve…And having it as a fixed point, as I was saying all year, is something that’s not in the traditions of the game. We swing all other 13 clubs. I think the putter should be the same.”

2012 U.S Open winner Webb Simpson, a belly putter user, said, “I don’t know what their definition of ‘anchoring’ is going to be,” noting that US pro Matt Kuchar plays with a long putter that he holds against his forearm but which isn’t anchored like a pendulum to his body. “First of all, I think we’ve got to get a definition out,” Simpson said, declining to be drawn into debate on whether a rules change would be “fair”.

Officials say the golf stroke should be a free swing, and anchoring a club eliminates part of the skill. The rule would apply to golfers at every level and would not take effect until 2016.

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