Mike Davis, Executive Director of the USGA, has made the statement several times recently that a decision on bellys and broomsticks will be coming sooner rather than later. “A lot has changed in the past 18 months,” said Davis referring to the three major wins by players using long putters.
Results on thePGA Tour using the extra long putters have been anything but consistent in the 20 years since Rocco Mediate won the first Tour event with a broomstick length flat stick. In fact even proponents of the non-standard lengths can’t convincingly prove their case for its results.
So like alot of arguments, personal opinion and even prejudice are the primary factors.
Some say anchoring a putter or any club to the body is wrong, a violation of the traditional way to make a stroke. Others say, in effect…”what ever,” opting for “if it works or maybe, if it works, it’s OK.”
When or if the USGA steps up and issues a rule on the permissible length for a putter the issue of anchoring a part of the club, presumably the shaft, against the body will be key. There will be a hue and cry, a wailing, moaning and gnashing of teeth should thelords of Far Hills make the decision to “ban the long putter.”
So why not just get around allthe hassle of a ban and make a rule that you can use any putterlength you want as long as the putter is the shortest club in your bag.
Problem solved.
This is Frank Thomas of Frankly Golf’s idea andlike most of what he says, it makes sense.
