Frank,
May be a silly question, but since it looks as though the belly putter is not long for this world, is it possible to have mine cut down to a standard length of 34 or 35 inches?
Tom
Illinois
I have a Frankly Frog belly putter but I would like to buy a regular length Frankly Frog putter to prepare myself for any future rules changes?
Wolfgang
Germany
Tom, you certainly can cut your putter down to a regular length if the head weight is about 350 grams, and the lie angle is about 72 degrees. Don’t worry about swing-weight because it is meaningless in putters –head weight is most important not the static balance called swing-weight. Your rhythm will depend on the MOI of the system – comprised of your arms, hands and the putter.
Wolfgang, you certainly may order a regular length Frankly Frog, and you both should also consider pre-ordering our new book, The Fundamentals of Putting which will help you not only transition to using a regular length putter if this is what you wish to do, but also offers advice on alternative styles of putting, such as sidesaddle putting which will be permitted should the proposed rule be adopted .
The USGA and R&A announced today that they are proposing a rules change prohibiting anchoring, not banning long or belly putters. This rule change proposal will be open for comment for three months and then if adopted will take effect in 2016. Both bodies have stated that it is not a performance issue but rather defining a swing, and that anchoring is not considered to be a traditional stroke.
At present, the statistics show that the best putters on PGA Tour – based on the new and very good statistic i.e. “Putts Gained” — are not using a belly or a long putter.
Mike Davis the Executive Director of the USGA said, “The player’s challenge is to control the movement of the entire club in striking the ball, and anchoring the club alters the nature of that challenge. Our conclusion is that the Rules of Golf should be amended to preserve the traditional character of the golf swing by eliminating the growing practice of anchoring the club.”
Peter Dawson, Secretary of R&A said, “Our concern is that anchored strokes threaten to supplant traditional putting strokes which are integral to the longstanding character of the sport.”
Unfortunately defining anchoring is a little vague and requires a lengthy explanation along with graphics. This always creates problems with interpretation and enforcement.
Mike Davis indicated that enforcement would be based on intent of the player – which I applaud, because the game is unique in this respect as we call ourselves on infractions – BUT the rule must be clear and unambiguous for us to self-enforce it.
How much are we prepared to preserve “Tradition”?
If the solution turns out to be worse than the problem then it would not be wise to introduce such a change.
In the long term if the problem really is the long-putter – even though we are not now prepared to admit it — then we may be better off by making a rule that the putter must be the shortest club in the bag.
Let us know what you think by sharing your comments below.
Frank
franklygolf 
I’m in complete agreement with M Vogl.
Taking a 2 club length drop of 100″ with a 50″ putter is a HUGE advantage over an 88″ drop with a 44″ driver. A full 12 inches is an advantage classified as cheating in my book of rules.
Who cares if someone has the yips? No one. Who cares if a golfer cheats for an extra 12 inches of relief once or twice a round? Everyone should!!!
The strength of the long putter is to take out the fine motor twitches of stress and anxiety- in the same way that PROS HAVE USED BETA BLOCKERS FOR YEARS. See Greg Norman’s comments.There have been examples of anchoring in putting for 100 years. Our game is changing with technology and course design. Much is new and if we insist on old integrity we should return to hickory golf and fly in biplanes. BTW hickory golf is expanding and is much more fun for many of us than modern golf. Let technology and innovation in the clubs and strokes alone. We are in the 21st century and we have a game that is amenable to change and change that encourages new and older players. It is fun and why restrict..
The game is way too hard anyway. The hole size is arbitrary. The standard way of swinging is too difficult. If golf is so concerned about getting more people to play, make it easier. Let people play the way they want.
This is exactly the same as the recent groove rule. Although there is no evidence that anchoring gives a player an advantage, the USGA & R&A THINK it does. In fact for me I find anchoring to be detrimental to my putting. And they’ve been used for decades now and yet EVERYONE doesn’t own one; hmmm?
Your echo of Tiger’s suggestion to make the putter the shortest club could take some folks, including me, out of the game. I have played for 65 years and for the past 12 years have suffered from essential tremor, the most common form of tremor in adults. This is not the yips or nerves, and it doesn’t affect me on full shots. I now putt face forward (side saddle) with a 45 inch putter. I’m not a great putter, but it keeps me in the game without anchoring. Using this style with a short putter is not only awkward but is brutal on the back. I don’t agree with today’s decision, because it can take some of the fun out of the game, but at least it gives us some options to continue usine a long putter.
Exactly. Why make a rule that drives people either 1) from the game, or 2) encourages player to NOT play by the rules? And to do it after SO long of it being legal. What is benefit?
Exactly. The USGA doesn’t care a hoot for we recreational golfers, except to paydues.
Maybe Tiger could prove his point by playing against Rory using a belly putter ,and see if it gives him a meaningful advantage.I am certain that Rory could not care less what piece of equipment any opponent uses against him to put with!
I agree, horses long gone from their barns … but as I have cringed with every sighting of a long putter, I believe the new rule should be extremely clear and simple: a) putter is shortest club in the bag by at least 1/2 inch (measured in the grounded “address” position, sole to butt end of grip) compared to the next-shortest club that person has with them outside the parking lot, and b) the putter touches the player only in the hand area that could, would be, or is, covered by a regulation-sized golf glove. This approach addresses both the length and “anchoring” issues succintly.
If back pain from bending over to use a “standard” putter is the excuse given for using one as long as a fairway metal or driver, how then does the player justify using short irons and wedges of conventional length? I manage just fine with 2 Tylenols when I leave the house for the 30-minute ride to my home course, 2 more at the turn, and 2 more when about to leave so I can get out of the car at home unassisted. (Having heated front seats in the new ride sure helps, too – thanks to the wife for that suggestion!)
I’ve said on many boards before this that, while I dislike long and belly putters, the rule is a little late. What I would like to see is a rule that disallows their use when taking a drop for relief. If there is no concrete evidence that using a long putter provides a benefit, there is CERTAINLY evidence that the use of this club when taking a drop provides a benefit. I hate it when somebody pulls out a broomstick putter when taking a drop, and getting away with being far enough away from a hazard to get a much better lie than they had before.
I believe that the Champions Tour (Seniors) got around this by agreeing amongst themselves to not use the entire length of the long putter to take relief. That is what we agreed upon at my club and no one has an issue with this rule.
Having played on the Champion’s Tour, I don’t think that is true. But the amount of a club length of relief that you take is SUCH a small issue.,,,,,,,,the issue is attracting/driving people from the game.
From what I have read, they(rules gurus) are not banning belly or long putters. You can putt side saddle which I do with a long putter. As long as you do not anchor certain body part to the handle you are golden.. Where the anchor point becomes evil is the be determined. I think this whole reaction to use of certain technology is utter rubbish. At my age it does not matter a hoot, but will my grandchildren need to wear plus fours, ascots and swing hickory sticks like Bobby Jones?
USGA is a modern Luddite seeking to ban technology. At least the royal and ancient is appropriately named. Let them make the rules for their championships. It’s time for us recreational golfers to develop our own governing body. I understand their reasoning but anchoring putters has been a boon to many, especially seniors. I see many offensive things in our changing mores but long putters aren’t one of them.
Once again the golf gurus at USGA make a rule change for no good reason. If they are truly concerned about golf, their rules should be for the average golfer, not the top 0.001%. Their elitist attitude was one of the reasons I have not renewed my membership in the USGA in several years, and do not plan to enroll again. Let the PGA control the the 350 yard hitters, and the 62 shooters, let us 80-90 golfers have fun.
Agree 100%..when was the last time anybody outside of competitive play.took a stroke and distance penalty. Can I still have a legitimaye handicap if I play my golf at move up holes so that I can save 40 to 50 yards on a par 5 to be competetive. I can now lose by 5 strokes not ten. BobP
So, you can keep the same doctor and medical insurance coverage you now have – I mean, your long putter or belly putter. Nobody is going to take your equipment away from you. Except that you can’t anchor the putter to your chin, sternum or torso, but it’s okay to anchor it to your forearm or putt sidesaddle. Since this is not an equipment rule (really, it’s not) but merely defines what constitutes a stroke, Odyssey, TaylorMade, Scotty and the rest of you guys in the putter business should continue to enjoy 15% of your putter sales being comprised of long and mid-length putters. Your inventory and manufacturing equipment is not being made obsolete. “Shame on us,” says Mr. Davis, if the threat of litigation should influence a rules proposal. Now, as to the “intent” language in the proposed rule, I’ll leave that to all the self-appointed rules officials who will be calling in from their armchairs as they watch the tournaments on TV. By the way, they got it only half right when they say that three major championships were won with an anchored stroke. I count six, including the 1959 and 1966 U.S. Open and the 1970 Masters. Finally, a comment emanating from the plethora of photographs that were shown on the Golf Channel teleconference in attempts to clarify what is and is not allowed (not to mention the confusion of defining and enforcing “intent”). Would not – gosh, I can’t believe I’m saying this – would not Tiger Woods’ suggestion that the putter not be longer than the shortest club in the bag be the way to go on this issue? What simplicity!
Right on Bruce. I saw Billy Casper in person win the 1959 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. He anchored his regular length half mallet putter into the left side of his crotch. Nobody cared how he putted, nor the intent of his stroke. Casper, of course won again at Olympic in 1966; and he used the same intent to stroke his putts during his entire playing carrer.
Now, how about Arnie. He also used to anchor his putter in the same region.
But, how about us human beings that suffer from a neurological syndrome that causes us to have tremors. This condition is amplified when one tries to use a spoon to drink soup, as well as when we try to putt with both hands together. I have suffered from this condition since I was 36. It wasn´t until 1986, when I was 46 that I started putting with a long putter, anchoring it to my chest with my hands split. What is the difference between anchoring the short putter to your crotch from that of anchoring the long putter to your chest or chin???
I think both the USGA and the R&A should dedicate their efforts to better causes. Let us PLAY and enjoy this wonderful game according to the 34 Rules of Golf. Is there any logic to stating that the putter should not be longer than the shortest club in the bag?? I think not.
The USGA and the R&A moved at a snails pace in proposing to eliminate anchoring a putter. Although I support the move, the technique has been around in some form for 30 years and should have been ruled upon decades ago. Now it will not be prior to 2016 before a new rule is in place. If anchoring the putter is to be made illegal do it now, not 2016.
Anchored putter rule change is based completely on ‘appearance’, not performance advantage. No data supports this rule change.
USGA same group that thinks denim on a golf course is a criminal offense. No wonder the game is not growing with this type of governance.
And what a difficult rule to write/enforce. If my long putter touches my shirt, but doesn’t touch my body is that anchoring?
I see a lot of local rules allowing these putters being legal…..and maybe even on the PGA Tour. So what if I don’t play in the US OPEN, but play in other Tour events with my long/belly putter?
I don’t feel the proposed rule is vague at all. I think it’s very simple and straight forward. I also think that allowing the long putter without anchoring is a good idea. This will allow people who are unable to use a coventional lenght putter because of physical limitation to still enjoy the game.
The problem I have is that they made the change because of the jump in numbers of people anchoring the putter. If anchoring a putter is not good for the game, it’s not good for the game no matter how many people are doing it. As usual, the USGA acted after the horse was out of the barn.
Also, just because the top players in the strokes gained stat don’t use an anchored stroke should be of little consequence. What matters is how much better the individual putts with an anchored stroke compared to how he does with a conventional putter
In my opinion, the “proposed” change is just plain silly. It is unnecessary and is being implemented long after the horses have left the barn. Protecting the so called traditional stroke is a mindless, emotionally based exercise. IT DOES NOT MATTER how one strokes the ball. I have a friend who uses a severely split grip on a “normal” putter and is VERY successful. That is his way of putting and I am OK with that even though it is not even close to a normal stroke. I use a belly putter, using a combination of Kuchar’s and Micklesons techniques. As a result, I pin the putter shaft to my forearm. That is apparently OK, although I do not think it is fair if one follows the traditional putting stroke concept to the letter. I have also use the sidesaddle stroke with a short putter very successfully, especially for short putts, but abandoned it because it caused some pain issues.