Belly Putters - should they be banned

[Arizonalefty59]

I feel like I see this post every second of my life, maybe it's my conscious telling me to start using one? NOT!

[Pleasedwith3putts]

They are not easier than short putters, but different and as others have said this may or may not suit you. I will go as far as to say most will find putting more difficult from longer distances period

So did Scott hole clutch putts to win, is Jimenez still playing belly, etc - nope, they are not fairy dust, otherwise evfery non purist pro would be playing them as putt for dough. My only criticism is they should not be used for measuring drops but the whole anchoring hate makes zero sense to me as nobody dictates how you perform any other stroke in golf as long as you deliver a proper strike with the face

[acy32281]

"Anchoring" the putter is what should be banned.

[jnradioactive]

[quote name='acy32281' timestamp='1343173244' post='5346054']
"Anchoring" the putter is what should be banned.
[/quote]

And it will be

[Hoselrocket08]

No. Anchoring should also not be banned. Everyone has an equal opportunity to anchor their putter. It's not like it's
reserved for a select few.

[the_krulatz]

[quote name='pickerjohn' timestamp='1343139018' post='5341202']
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.
[/quote]

In regard to shortest club, I disagree. Some players have wedges that in fact are shorter than the putter length in which they play. Rare, yes, but it does happen.

[DrCRHop]

[quote name='ritz0019' timestamp='1343163201' post='5344682']
[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.
[/quote]
Sorry, not all PED's are illegal. As an example, EPO is a legal drug that is used as a PED - as well as many that are contained in supplements. Athletes get caught using them (sometimes accidentally), but they are not illegal. The fact that they are "illegal" in sports is based on a ruling from the sports governing body - which is exactly what we are talking about here. Golf just hasn't chosen to ban belly putters, but they have banned the 54" driver shaft - so it's not like all equipment is fair game.

The argument of "well anyone can use them, so there is no unfair advantage" is the argument that makes no sense.

[Hoselrocket08]

How does it make no sense? They are fair game for anyone to try. It's on the individual player if they decide not to take advantage of using one.

[bacination]

It still takes skill to putt with a belly or long putter.

Adam Scott lost the open with his putter in the last few holes. Obviously because of nerves. Does this not defeat the whole long putter makes you immune to nerves. Sure didn't seem like it when he missed that gimme.

It is not like you are going to pick up a long putter and start putting miraculously instantly. It still takes practice and dedication like any other part of the sport.

As a fan of golf, in all sincerity, we should be looking at making the game more approachable for the masses, not harder. The growth trend for golf for the last 5 years does not look good.

[BirdieBob]

Little late for that don't you think?
Like banning metal "woods" because they provide an unfair advantage on off-center hits thereby taking the skill out of the game for those clubs.

The long putter is helpful to some, but not to all...ask Phil.

[ultra45]

[quote name='the_krulatz' timestamp='1343187900' post='5347902']
[quote name='pickerjohn' timestamp='1343139018' post='5341202']
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.
[/quote]

In regard to shortest club, I disagree. Some players have wedges that in fact are shorter than the putter length in which they play. Rare, yes, but it does happen.
[/quote]


I would have a full bag of 45" clubs

[atlanta golfer]

I think what is interesting is that 460cc drivers, titanium heads, graphite shafts, hybrids, rangefinders, gps devices, 3-5 piece golf balls, heavily perimeter weighted irons, etc. all came out within the past couple decades and are used by a majority of golfers to improve their game ... yet belly putters and broomstick putters have been used for at least 75 years and yet, this is what some people want to ban because "they provide an advantage". Well, they MAY provide an advantage to SOME, but gee, the items I listed higher up in this thread DEFINITELY provide an advantage to ALMOST EVERYONE and yet no one is talking about banning any of these items, which are much more recent innovations.

I just don't get the logic being applied by some to this debate.

[DrCRHop]

[quote name='Hoselrocket08' timestamp='1343223250' post='5349794']
How does it make no sense? They are fair game for anyone to try. It's on the individual player if they decide not to take advantage of using one.
[/quote]
Why not let everyone have 55" driver shafts? If's fair game and it would be up to the individual player to decide to use one or not? Why limit the amount of golf clubs one can have in their bag?
Everyone can use as many as possible and it's up to the individual player to decide what they want?

Personally I don't care whether they keep the belly putter or not, I just think the argument of "it's available to everyone, so it's okay" is not a good argument. If that's the argument everything should be allowed and then it's up to the individual player to decide.

[J13]

I don't care either way. I think if they are fine if not fine. I do however see a possible ban at the pro level from using them but definately not at the am level. Again if the pro's were making everything and leading the putting stats with these things I would have a different tune but their not.

[potuna]

For pros yes, ams no.

[atlanta golfer]

[quote name='potuna' timestamp='1343235248' post='5351306']
For pros yes, ams no.
[/quote]

Definitely not for the senior tour. They don't want those guys shooting 4 over par ... would kind of take away the impression that they are still good.

[Hoselrocket08]

[quote name='DrCRHop' timestamp='1343231911' post='5350922']
[quote name='Hoselrocket08' timestamp='1343223250' post='5349794']
How does it make no sense? They are fair game for anyone to try. It's on the individual player if they decide not to take advantage of using one.
[/quote]
Why not let everyone have 55" driver shafts? If's fair game and it would be up to the individual player to decide to use one or not? Why limit the amount of golf clubs one can have in their bag?
Everyone can use as many as possible and it's up to the individual player to decide what they want?

Personally I don't care whether they keep the belly putter or not, I just think the argument of "it's available to everyone, so it's okay" is not a good argument. If that's the argument everything should be allowed and then it's up to the individual player to decide.
[/quote]

As the gentleman above you so succinctly stated, why not focus on other things that actually matter... Like the new drivers and golf balls that allow players to drive the ball 320 yards without a problem?

[tgsevers81]

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

in the words of Larry The Cable Guy, I don't care who you are, that's funny!

[shGGman]

Should definitely be BANNED.

I was so happy when I heard this news before. Putter length should be limited, and golf club shouldn't be anchored to the body. Period. Not to mention it just looks ridiculous, but that is very personal statement. Might as well let someone use a string attached to the driver and let them swing with it and gain 400+ yards if they can pull it off. Certain rules must be made, and I never understood why they didn't make the rule for the putter.

[SeattleRyan]

This is just one group trying to suppress another. Envy, jealousy and resentment.

It all boils down to personal selfishness. Someone with a fantasy-like viewpoint of what [i]they[/i] think [i]other[/i] people should do, wanting to use coercion to get people to do it. It's morally disgusting and logically absurd.

The putters have been around for almost 30 years and people only complain when someone has success. Let's ignore all the players who can't putt well with them, or players that didn't putt well with them and switched back. I use a normal length, tear drop Callaway putter and I putt great with it. I've tried a belly putter and did not like it. "But oh, how dare someone else putt well with them. How dare they use a different kind of putter. How dare they!"

[quote]"I can always be an average putter with that long putter," Tom Lehman told Golf World last year. "But if I wanted to be a really good putter, I had to go back to the short putter. I don't want to be an average putter. I don't want to be a decent putter. I want to be a great putter. I'm willing to sacrifice a bit of pain in the short term to make myself a great putter."[/quote]

[flip flappy]

I personally use one myself (belly) and love it. I don't think they should be banned. This argument will go on forever......heck just flip a coin!

[MileHighClub]

Absolutely they should be banned.


No way they should be banned.


Come to think about it, I really don't care.

[gators78]

[quote name='jnradioactive' timestamp='1343174061' post='5346184']
[quote name='acy32281' timestamp='1343173244' post='5346054']
"Anchoring" the putter is what should be banned.
[/quote]

And it will be
[/quote]

I bought my second one this week, I'll just anchor it to my shirt
Per Martin Laird in the new Golfweek...


Belly putting: No anchor

Laird is one of many players who use a long putter. However, he doesn’t anchor the putter against his stomach. Laird found that anchoring the putter in his stomach made it too easy for him to lean his weight into his putter. This put too much weight on his toes, which caused Laird to take the putter back on an outside path and pull putts.

“We don’t want any weight on the toes,” McCann said. “We want it from the balls of the feet to the heels. He’s pretty balanced that way.”

To ensure that he assumes a proper address position, Laird’s putter brushes against his shirt . The longer putter – because of its weight and length – still gives the benefits of a belly putter without actually being anchored.

“It still has the ‘anchored’ feeling,” Laird said. “It gives me that feeling that I can release it better.”

[jnradioactive]

[quote name='gators78' timestamp='1343274536' post='5355432']
[quote name='jnradioactive' timestamp='1343174061' post='5346184']
[quote name='acy32281' timestamp='1343173244' post='5346054']
"Anchoring" the putter is what should be banned.
[/quote]

And it will be
[/quote]

I bought my second one this week, I'll just anchor it to my shirt
Per Martin Laird in the new Golfweek...


Belly putting: No anchor

Laird is one of many players who use a long putter. However, he doesn’t anchor the putter against his stomach. Laird found that anchoring the putter in his stomach made it too easy for him to lean his weight into his putter. This put too much weight on his toes, which caused Laird to take the putter back on an outside path and pull putts.

“We don’t want any weight on the toes,” McCann said. “We want it from the balls of the feet to the heels. He’s pretty balanced that way.”

To ensure that he assumes a proper address position, Laird’s putter brushes against his shirt . The longer putter – because of its weight and length – still gives the benefits of a belly putter without actually being anchored.

“It still has the ‘anchored’ feeling,” Laird said. “It gives me that feeling that I can release it better.”
[/quote]

and...

[jgpl]

For me I agree with many post re equipment, balls, etc., having a much greater influence on the game, yet they are not uner question.

My fear is that the R&A and USGA are too "stuck up" and narrow minded to make a decision based on facts:

1. Long/belly putters do not lead the stats on any tour - far from it
2. Their win ratio over the past 20 years worldwide is low, very low

However, now that the holy grail of a few majors being won using them means thay have to take action to restore the game to where they believe it should be

What a bunch of idiots rule our sport

[yaz75]

[quote name='jgpl' timestamp='1343301815' post='5356344']
For me I agree with many post re equipment, balls, etc., having a much greater influence on the game, yet they are not uner question.

[/quote]Sure they are. They have regulated and refined the rules on grooves, club length, and driver head size, MOI and COR. It's not like they've ignored every other club in the bag and are just picking on long putters. And they still test golf balls and publish a list of approved and not approved balls for play. This is a newer (newer than 100 years) club and it's popularity is gaining. So they are forced to examine and make a ruling. It happens all the time. I use a traditional putter so I don't care which way they rule, but my suspicion is that they will ban anchoring the putter to the body as an earlier poster suggested.

[PixlPutterman]

[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]

Possibly the poorest rebuttle I have ever read.

How about a better arguement. I putt at least 5 times worse with a belly putter, thus the reason i do not use on. I would have to imagine someone succesful with a broom is probable 5 times worse with a standard putter. Why should they not be able to putt with a length comfortable to them.

There is no one dominating on tour with a belly putter so I dont see what the big stink is.

Since you seem to be the king of logic (likely not) why dont you actually come up with a technelogical arguement against long putters.

Should we not also ban adjustable drivers? Force everyone to swing the same like you are trying to force everyone to putt the same?

cant hit a driver over 400cc to save my life, im not crying about 460cc users

[Justin_Ellis]

[quote name='jnradioactive' timestamp='1343136460' post='5340876']
Wow this is a unique topic...
[/quote]
Indeed, could have sworn we covered this one in about 1000 posts last week.

So not to be completely off topic till this one gets shut down.
Me) No. Don't ban them.
jnradioactive) Yes ban them.

Any more discussion has been had 1000 times over.

[jgpl]

[quote name='Justin_Ellis' timestamp='1343345208' post='5360828']
[quote name='jnradioactive' timestamp='1343136460' post='5340876']
Wow this is a unique topic...
[/quote]
Indeed, could have sworn we covered this one in about 1000 posts last week.

So not to be completely off topic till this one gets shut down.
Me) No. Don't ban them.
jnradioactive) Yes ban them.

Any more discussion has been had 1000 times over.
[/quote]

Thanks for your positive contribution

[OldGolfer87]

[b]I thought i had seen on yesterday's GC a player be interviewed thought that the tour should have it's own set of rules away from the usga and that changing the rules on long and belly putters would be a huge mistake and very bad for the golf business [/b]