Anchored Putting Banned
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Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The USGA announced on Tuesday that anchoring the club in making a stroke will be banned effective Jan. 1, 2016.
Four out of the last six major winners have used this technique, including this year’s Masters winner Adam Scott. The use of a belly putter or long putter will no longer be allowed come 2016.
“Rule 14-1b protects one of the important challenges in the game — the free swing of the entire club,” said Glen Nager, president of the USGA, in prepared remarks. “The traditional stroke involves swinging the club with both the club and gripping hands held away from the body, requiring the player to direct and control the movement of the entire club.
“Anchoring is different: Intentionally securing one end of the club against the body, and creating a point of physical attachment around which the club is swung, is a substantial departure from that traditional free swing,” he continued.
The USGA and R&A first proposed the offer back in November.
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