Belly Putters - should they be banned

[jgpl]

Now that the R&A and USGA are discussing the topic its time for all WRX members, serious golfers, fans and Ho's to have their say

 

What do you think?

[jnradioactive]

Wow this is a unique topic...

[SJHSCCC]

[quote name='jnradioactive' timestamp='1343136460' post='5340876']
Wow this is a unique topic...
[/quote]

Well this is the first post Ive seen on this topic in about .....27 secs.

[golferlaird]

[size=1]no[/size]

[richard t]

Sure did not give any advantage to Adam Scott. I was just trying to picture Ben Crenshaw with a long putter. Can't get that in focus. (lol)

[wedger]

They can't ban the bellie or the long putter because they are not built illegally. They will only ban the anchoring to the body with the bellie or long putter. the putter will only be able to be touched by the hands and no other part of the body. It will put Tradition and mechs. back into putting. Then we'll see who can stick around if they have a case of nerves.

[Gem]

No.

[pickerjohn]

There will be a question as to whether they change
the rules, (would take 4 years, 2016, to go into the
new rule book, or whether they change the equipment regulations,
as in square grooves,whick could take place in 2013. I agree with TW
on this one, the putter should be the shortest club in the bag.

[Yosef]

Absolutely not, I don't understand the "unfair advantage" argument. Anyone can grab a belly or long putter and start using it themselves.

[orangekat]

Seriously... Every player has an equal opportunity to use the same equipment. Get over the fact that it doesn't "look" traditional! Do you really want to go back to hickory shafts just for tradition sake? Feathers for tees here boys.

[julian.r.p]

Absolutely should be banned

[slickpitt]

I don't think they should ban them. I use one, and it has helped my putting... but it's not for everyone and it's certainly not a fix for everyone. You still have to line it up correctly and put a good stroke on it.

[gators78]

They can't ban the bellie or the long putter because they are not built illegally. They will only ban the anchoring to the body with the bellie or long putter. the putter will only be able to be touched by the hands and no other part of the body. It will put Tradition and mechs. back into putting. Then we'll see who can stick around if they have a case of nerves.

 

I have zero clue how anyone will word this, because guess what...

 

 

Billy Casper had his hands anchored to his body.

[mdscpa]

The best part of belly putters is when you have to drop "two club lengths" at a lateral water hazard. Hell, at my course now you can drop back into the fairway!

[Florida Gator]

Ban anchoring to the body but not the equipment. Belly putters are great training aids for players that have a habit of breaking their wrists in the putting stroke!

[MattNewbyPGA]

[quote name='slickpitt' timestamp='1343143272' post='5341846']
I don't think they should ban them. I use one, and it has helped my putting... but it's not for everyone and it's certainly not a fix for everyone. You still have to line it up correctly and put a good stroke on it.
[/quote]

I don't think this could be said any better. I would be very surprised to see the USGA and R&A issue a ban especially with Golf 2.0 being rolled out by the PGA. The aim of this project is to get more people playing golf and one of the common barriers is that some find it too difficult. While a lot of us love the game because of its difficulty, this is a deterrent to many new golfers. The USGA is obviously completely independent from the PGA but I am sure that their goals overlap on this issue. For those that say the belly putter is an unfair advantage I suggest they go try it, if it helps them try it for now, if not go back to standard, either way I don't think it is a big enough issue to require a ban.

[ritz0019]

I think these arguments are more about fads than what is relevant to the rules of golf or the betterment of the game. I think it is hilarious that people make a big deal about belly or longer putters and they have been around forever. I guess the introduction of the original pro V (which by the way didn't just change the game of golf, but also changed golf course architecture forever) doesn't deserve a look. To me I look at the intro of the pro V and I remember how many people gained distance without sacrificing any spin and think: WOW! What a technilogical breakthrough. I look at the belly putter and think: So, this helping some golfers with their confidence, (not me I hate them). Big deal! There is no evidence that it is in fact an advantage. I think I saw on here earlier that Ernie ranked 70th in putting and 1st in ball striking at the Open. If he had used a conventional putter he may have beaten Scott by 4 shots HaHa! Look at the great consistent putters on tour, which of them use belly putters. If it is such an advantage why aren't they using them. I can tell you that it has nothing to do with some ethical principle and everything to do with it doesn't help them putt. Just my 2 cents.

[ritz0019]

For interest in my point in the previous post, here is the Top 25 in strokes gained in putting on tour. How many of these guys use belly or long putters?

1 1 Zach Johnson   67 .823 41.139 50
2 2 Aaron Baddeley   57 .808 34.750 43
3 3 Ben Curtis   36 .799 21.565 27
4 4 Luke Donald   39 .758 21.219 28
5 5 Brandt Snedeker 51 .730 27.005 37
6 6 Martin Flores   69 .704 40.102 57
7 7 Bo Van Pelt   56 .691 28.316 41
8 8 Bryce Molder   57 .681 34.734 51
9 9 Derek Lamely 48 .662 27.146 41
10 14 Brian Gay   63 .618 34.002 55
11 999 Lee Janzen 34 .611 14.656 24
T12 T10 James Driscoll 67 .580 31.918 55
T12 T10 Carl Pettersson 64 .580 32.499 56
14 15 Jonathan Byrd   57 .527 24.246 46
15 17 Spencer Levin   72 .514 31.348 61
16 18 Sergio Garcia 35 .504 12.104 24
T17 T19 Phil Mickelson 55 .498 19.914 40
T17 T19 Michael Thompson   60 .498 23.406 47
T19 21 Ryan Palmer   57 .493 24.659 50
T19 12 Brendon Todd   60 .493 24.650 50
21 22 Tiger Woods 45 .491 13.741 28
22 23 Y.E. Yang 52 .483 19.317 40
23 13 Ken Duke   78 .472 32.576 69
24 24 Greg Chalmers   68 .469 27.642 59
25 25 Cameron Tringale   68 .458 28.384 62

[tembolo1284]

ban the sucker.

[DrCRHop]

[quote name='Yosef' timestamp='1343139565' post='5341312']
Absolutely not, I don't understand the "unfair advantage" argument. Anyone can grab a belly or long putter and start using it themselves.
[/quote]
If that is your argument (which is false), then one could argue for the use of PED's. Because, you know, anyone can grab them and start using them - kind of the baseball of the 90's mentality. There is a maximum length for drivers, they should simply limit the length of the putter.

[ritz0019]

[quote name='DrCRHop' timestamp='1343153193' post='5343164']
[quote name='Yosef' timestamp='1343139565' post='5341312']
Absolutely not, I don't understand the "unfair advantage" argument. Anyone can grab a belly or long putter and start using it themselves.
[/quote]
If that is your argument (which is false), then one could argue for the use of PED's. Because, you know, anyone can grab them and start using them - kind of the baseball of the 90's mentality. There is a maximum length for drivers, they should simply limit the length of the putter.
[/quote]
A little different seeing that PED's are against the law and rules of baseball then & now. Anyone can go into an Edwin Watts and buy a belly putter.....and not get arrested.

[QuigleyDU]

No, and the PEDS angle is lame. Their illegal, bellies and brooms are not.

[ajm1555]

[b]Fact of the matter is there is no putter on earth that can make up for only playing on weekends and spending 10 minutes on the putting green pre-round.[/b]

[b]I suck at putting. I rarely 3 putt, but I also rarely 1 putt. And it’s not completely because of my stroke. I know I can’t read greens very well. Grain confuses me and any putt over 15 feet has so many variables it becomes a guessing game.[/b]

[b][b]So for the weekend warrior they’re irrelevant.[/b][/b]

[b][b]As far as the pros: [/b]I’ve yet to see anyone include statistical evidence as to why these are an “unfair advantage”… and listing wins with the long putters doesn’t suffice… because that ignores driving distance and accuracy, iron play-GIR, chipping-strokes saved, etc.[/b]

[b]Until someone shows me stats that show Long Putter dominating putts outside 10 feet and horrible ball strikers start winning tournaments strictly because of this… then I’ll be on board with the ban.[/b]

[b]And can’t the same argument be made for fat putter grips, different putter face inserts, etc? They’re all an advantage in some way to the person choosing to play them… that’s why they choose to play it… they help![/b]

[slocagolfer]

Keep 'em.

[golfheaven69]

Ban them the same day they roll the ball back. Until then leave them alone

[DrCRHop]

[quote name='creeder06' timestamp='1343154785' post='5343358']
No, and the PEDS angle is lame. Their illegal, bellies and brooms are not.
[/quote]
Actually it is quite the same argument. Not all PED's are illegal and the governing bodies can make the distinction whether or not they are allowed - much like belly putters. The argument that "everyone can do it" is not a great argument, much like the legally obtained PED's.

[xerpro]

[quote name='wedger' timestamp='1343138379' post='5341124']
They can't ban the bellie or the long putter because they are not built illegally. They will only ban the anchoring to the body with the bellie or long putter. the putter will only be [b]able to be touched by the hands and no other part of the body[/b]. It will put Tradition and mechs. back into putting. Then we'll see who can stick around if they have a case of nerves.
[/quote]

What if i putt left hand low, and it touches my forearm...
Or perhaps eat too much at a buffet and my stomach touches my putter?
Too much grey area....

[ptjn1201]

 

I have zero clue how anyone will word this, because guess what...

 

 

Billy Casper had his hands anchored to his body.

 

 

Bobby Locke putted in pretty much the same manner, with his left arm tight to his body and mostly just hinged his wrists. When greens were slower, there were many "wrist" putters. I putt more like Casper -- that Crenshaw style arms and shoulder movement seems to put may too much movement in my stroke

[ritz0019]

[quote name='DrCRHop' timestamp='1343158279' post='5343802']
[quote name='creeder06' timestamp='1343154785' post='5343358']
No, and the PEDS angle is lame. Their illegal, bellies and brooms are not.
[/quote]
Actually it is quite the same argument. Not all PED's are illegal and the governing bodies can make the distinction whether or not they are allowed - much like belly putters. The argument that "everyone can do it" is not a great argument, much like the legally obtained PED's.
[/quote]

PED's are illegal in baseball & the US court system. This is a silly comparison. I don't see where you can't make out the difference. Belly putters, currently, are not illegal to use nor have they ever been to my knowledge. Under your logic lets ban the pro V, the 460cc head, rain gloves, rangefinders, the lob wedge, graphite shafts, and the list goes on. All of these items have done far more statistically for tour Pros than the belly putter. You must have been defeated on the golf course recently by a belly-putting machine that is eating the roids'. Just kidding on the last part. I actually think it takes a courageous guy to use one of those ugly, hideous brooms. Kinda like Raymond Floyd using the ole five wood to win the Masters.

[jedc]

Please get rid of them.