Fourputt

You can be my partner anytime.

But it's only unfair if they can use it and you can't. It's available to everyone, so by definition it can't be unfair. However, for those who choose to use it, it has the potential to be an advantage. Only potential, as I feel that I'm at least as good a putter as anyone I've ever seen with one, although I haven't seen very many use a long putter. One of the pros at my home course used one, and I was as good a putter as he was. If I only had a full swing to go with it.

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Rick

"Your proper place on the course is directly behind the group in front of you, not directly ahead of the group behind you."

Callaway Diablo Edge 11° Driver
Mizuno F-60 15° 3W
Bridgestone J36 22° & 25° hybrid
Titleist AP-2 5I-GW
Titleist Vokey 54.11 SW
Cleveland CG15 56.10 SW
Golfsmith Enterprise putter

broken tee

I hear ya on that one

__________________


"The best game I ever swore at. "


The Bag:
Adams Tightlies
Tom Watson 52 Gap and 60 Wedge
Adams Putter

DennisM

When I watched the press conference, my initial reaction was, they really got this right.

Since then, I've watched so much television about it that I now wonder if there couldn't have been a little more leeway. The most interesting question I heard asked was whether it would later be made legal for the senior tours.

Personally, I feel a lot of people will simply ignore the new rule. If they only play golf for fun and if they don't even have a little wager on the game, they're going to feel like it makes no difference. I'm guessing they'd rather enjoy themselves and if putting a little better because they use a now prohibited putting style, they are going to choose to have fun.

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I’ve had a good day when I don’t fall out of the cart.

Fourputt

Those people were most likely ignoring the rules before this ruling, so why change? Players who do believe in playing by the rules will make the change.

I also don't see a special consideration for the senior tour either. The PGA Tour and the Champions Tour both play by the Rules of Golf. There is nothing written into the rules that allows them to ignore such a rule. What constitutes a stroke is such a basic part of the game that I can't see any leeway for such condition for their competitions. They didn't make any allowance for Snead's croquet stroke, and they won't weaken this one either.

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Rick

"Your proper place on the course is directly behind the group in front of you, not directly ahead of the group behind you."

Callaway Diablo Edge 11° Driver
Mizuno F-60 15° 3W
Bridgestone J36 22° & 25° hybrid
Titleist AP-2 5I-GW
Titleist Vokey 54.11 SW
Cleveland CG15 56.10 SW
Golfsmith Enterprise putter

DennisM

You may be right about the senior tour into the future, but I think it's meant so much more to prolonging senior games that it will have a more wide ranging effect there.

As for whether people who ignore the rule and keep using long putters ignore other rules, I won't necessarily disagree with you, but I think you sound sort of hard edged there. There is such a small part of us who play in tournaments. The vast majority of golfers only play for fun. If golf stops being fun because they suffer the yips with a short putter, are we suggesting they give up the game in frustration?

Don't misunderstand, I'm not asking there be leeway for them in any competition, whether at a club or obviously under USGA control, but I simply believe to keep enjoying the game, many people who have found a reborn life on the greens will prefer to stay with the long putter that still lets them enjoy golf.

Isn't that what it's all about to so many people who support the game?

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I’ve had a good day when I don’t fall out of the cart.

DennisM

By the way, I thought you were coming through Miami about now. When are we supposed to get together?

__________________
I’ve had a good day when I don’t fall out of the cart.

Fourputt

Unless things are a lot different in your area, I just don't see it as an issue for the typical amateur. I know exactly one guy who uses a long putter, and that is the head pro at my home course in Colorado. Golf had it's biggest boom in the 80's and 90's with nobody using long putters, and I just can't see it being a factor now. In my opinion, and in my experience, putts are missed more often by misreading break and speed, not by miss hits. For that reason, most casual golfers won't improve by using the belly or the broomstick putter.

As far as the pros are concerned, they are supposed to be the best players in the world, not just the best players who can't putt. If that's harsh, well, I guess it's just how I feel. I've hated the anchored stroke since I first saw it 20 odd years ago, and that hasn't changed.

I don't know if it's going to happen now. We've had some unexpected expenses this year, and on a fixed income, it means cutting somewhere else. If I do make it, it won't be until February now.

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Rick

"Your proper place on the course is directly behind the group in front of you, not directly ahead of the group behind you."

Callaway Diablo Edge 11° Driver
Mizuno F-60 15° 3W
Bridgestone J36 22° & 25° hybrid
Titleist AP-2 5I-GW
Titleist Vokey 54.11 SW
Cleveland CG15 56.10 SW
Golfsmith Enterprise putter

DennisM

Gotcha... Since I retired, I've learned more about living on a fixed income than I ever wanted to.

And yes, it's very different here. A lot, maybe 1/3rd of everyone I see, uses a long putter.

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I’ve had a good day when I don’t fall out of the cart.