US Senior Amateur Champ Vinny Giles calls for ban on Belly Putters

[George Pazin]

Golf is a game of getting the ball in the hole with whatever "stroke" the player wants to make.  The Rules ought not dictate how a player makes a stroke.  Never have (other than the idiotic Snead decision).  And never, ever should.  THAT is the overriding principle here, and I hope the USGA takes it seriously.  Good Lord, I can only imagine what it must be like to live next door to all these long-putter NIMBYs, constantly sticking their noses into other people's legitimate and perfectly legal decisions....  

If the player wants to anchor his club to his leg and swing it with his leg in a kicking motion like Tom Dempsey, more power to him...

Well said. Gutsy, even.

[JESII]

This is pathetic to ask, but I've always been under the impression that there is some rule defining a stroke. Is there nothing?

[George Pazin]

Rule 14 - Striking The Ball

That's a start.

Also, in the definitions:

Stroke
A "stroke" is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if a player checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a stroke.

[Dan Kelly]

Golf is a game of getting the ball in the hole with whatever "stroke" the player wants to make.  The Rules ought not dictate how a player makes a stroke.  Never have (other than the idiotic Snead decision).  And never, ever should.  THAT is the overriding principle here, and I hope the USGA takes it seriously.

Interesting. Possibly persuasive! (It's entirely possible that I'm just too aesthetically conservative for my own good.)

[Kalen Braley]

Except for this one...which many seem to think is no big deal.

Rule 14-3
The United States Golf Association (USGA) reserves the right, at any time, to change the Rules relating to artificial devices, unusual equipment and the unusual use of equipment, and make or change the interpretations relating to these Rules.

If the belly putter stance/stroke is not an "unusual use of equipment" then I don't know what is...

Furthermore, the case can be made that the belly putter is in fact "unusual equipment"

There is plenty here for the USGA to work with it...no excuses!

[George Pazin]

If the belly putter stance/stroke is not an "unusual use of equipment" then I don't know what is...

You should take a look into the many products that are deemed in violation of the rules every year.

Anchoring the club is a tradeoff. It may work for many, but there are plenty more who would see no benefit, or might even perform worse. It is not a cure-all. I tried a belly putter once at Dick's and found it uncomfortable and restricting, completely inhibiting my feel.

[Kalen Braley]

If the belly putter stance/stroke is not an "unusual use of equipment" then I don't know what is...

You should take a look into the many products that are deemed in violation of the rules every year.

Anchoring the club is a tradeoff. It may work for many, but there are plenty more who would see no benefit, or might even perform worse. It is not a cure-all. I tried a belly putter once at Dick's and found it uncomfortable and restricting, completely inhibiting my feel.

George,

That may be....but the 1st time I ever picked up a conventional putter if felt awkward and uncomfortable and I couldn't hit it worth a damn either.  Everything takes a little time getting used to.

[Carl Nichols]

As predicted, there's gonna be a story a week on this for the foreseeable future because golf writers don't have anything else to write about now that their meal ticket can't hit the hole from 8 feet.  This, too, shall pass...not because Tiger will start making 8 footers again, but rather because this whole "issue" is wholly manufactured, and will therefore die off as soon as the golf press comes up with something else to harp on, like Ryder Cup rainsuit leaks or whatever other nonsense comes along...

Or Tiger pulling out the belly putter and making 8 footers again!

[George Pazin]

George,

That may be....but the 1st time I ever picked up a conventional putter if felt awkward and uncomfortable and I couldn't hit it worth a damn either.  Everything takes a little time getting used to.

C'mon! A PUTTER? You never played mini golf as a kid? Putting is one of the most natural things about golf, imho. If your statement is true, I feel sorry for you!

[Steve Scott]

Old Mac is the first course designed in defense of belly putters.  They do not work well in the wind or on long putts.

John, I would agree with you that long putters are not as easy to maneuver in the wind or long putts.  I am one that off and on for the better part of 11 years have used a long putter and I can attest that there are certain courses where I thought it was an advantage (flatter, slower greens) and others where it was clearly a disadvantage (i.e. Oakmont...I 5 putted my first hole that I ever played there).  It clearly was better with my nerves (the reason I mainly went to it), but i never really liked the stigma associated with it.  It seems that these putters that are anchored are becoming popular now, but I hope they are simply a fad.  I will certainly not tell my 3 year old who is picking up the game to try one...that's for sure.

[Kalen Braley]

George,

That may be....but the 1st time I ever picked up a conventional putter if felt awkward and uncomfortable and I couldn't hit it worth a damn either.  Everything takes a little time getting used to.

C'mon! A PUTTER? You never played mini golf as a kid? Putting is one of the most natural things about golf, imho. If your statement is true, I feel sorry for you!

George,

I did and I was lousy as all get out.  Couldn't hit a straight putt to save my life at 1st.  But I kept at it and now consider myself an above average putter (despite my worst putting round in years when I played Chambers... before Brent or Garland try to bust me for saying that  )

It could have been that I was already too entrenched with baseball at the time and so swinging the club on a vertical plane seemed so odd, compared to a horizontal plane.

[Garland Bayley]

“Nobody can tell me how Sam Snead’s croquet (putting style), where nothing is connected but just because you’re straddling your line is illegal, and then tell me (the belly putter) is legal.”

Dave Stockton

[Mike Hendren]

I think I'm going to buy one on eBay.  I'm weak.  Taylor Made's 43" Corza Ghost has seduced me. 

Bogey

[jeffwarne]

I think I'm going to buy one on eBay.  I'm weak.

Bogey

I'm going for the belly driver.......

[Ronald Montesano]

I like mine...it putted well in the snow yesterday.

[Terry Lavin]

I think I'm going to buy one on eBay.  I'm weak.  Taylor Made's 43" Corza Ghost has seduced me. 

Bogey

Seducible is the lowest bar of all.