I'm back! I hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and are ready to make 2016 your best golf year ever!
Every Friday I'll posting a new golf tip on my blog. Be sure to send me your suggestions for future tips by leaving a comment or sending me an email. Enjoy!
It’s official. The USGA and R&A have banned the anchoring of the club, gripping hand, or forearm to the body during the putting stroke. So now, thousands of golfers are left with putters that were designed with anchoring them in mind.
Is your long, or belly putter now completely useless? One thing the governing bodies made clear was that this was not an equipment ban. Meaning you are free to use your unconventional putters however you choose, as long as it’s not anchored.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you decide to continue using a nonconventional putter in the post anchoring ban world:
· A long putter is increasingly difficult to control without an anchor. When the putter swings, the butt end of the club will have a mind of its own. This will make keeping the clubface square to the target line at impact extremely difficult, resulting in putts that start offline.
· You are allowed to “anchor” the club in a way that the grip fits against your forearm. This wonderful exception may be your best use for an unconventional putter if you deal with the yips (if you don’t know what the yips are you don’t want to know). It can also allow you stand a little taller to alleviate any back issue you may have.
· Nearly all of putting is about reading the greens (speed and direction) and confidence. The equipment you use or the stroke techniques you have play a small part in you becoming a good putter. As long as you take the time to practice reading greens and controlling your speed, you will develop confidence no matter what kind of putter you use.
· Be creative. Creativity led to the use of unconventional putters and putting grip styles. Go out and experiment different ways to use your unconventional putter within the rules. Who knows? You may come across the next great thing in putting. And if it’s really good, the USGA an R&A will ban it!!
