Opinion: Should Arm-lock Putting be Ruled Anchoring?

[bladehunter]

I think it should be one way or another. Either reverse the anchor ban. Or put the other anchored strokes in the ban. I armlocked for 3 months. It’s absolutely locked in if done correctly. By correctly I mean with a putter that’s fitted properly to reach the elbow crease , and a forward lean so as to lock the lead arm in position. The trail arm is just the piston to the stroke. Same as broomstick when locked. Now plenty do it wrong and aren’t locked. But you can lock in and be legal as of today’s rules.

[Shilgy]

It may be what you call locked but both arms and hands are moving during the stroke.

[bladehunter]

Not the butt end. I’ve studied it closely. Fit myself very closely. And then consulted rules officials to see what they’d say. I did not get one to say illegal. If you get the larger Bryson type grip. And if you get the length perfect etc. you can get the butt end trapped between your elbow and side. Without the grip actually pressing against your side. I’d have to take pics to probably get the idea clear. When the stroke is made the butt of the club cannot move. It all pivots off the elbow. Which is tucked in. It’s deadly. But honestly. It bothers me too much to use it. Much like Adam Scott. I was gettinG cat calls Of cheating regularly. People assume that if the grip is that close to you it’s illegal. It’s not. But should be.

[Oz Max]

If it were that deadly... I would not let that bother me! Golf is already quite hard, might as well make putting a bit easier.

You still need to know how to read putts, breaks, speed, grass.

[bladehunter]

Yea. I hear that. it was that deadly . Otherwise nobody would have noticed or cared .

I just went about learning a proper stroke instead. Most of this game is mental once you get over the hump of ability. Last thing you want is a voice in your head saying “ cheat “ on each putt. It’s a path that I believe eventually would lead to a yippy disaster.

[dalehead]

Oh please!

[Oz Max]

FWIW I used to have a belly putter, which I really enjoyed, still ditched it despite not playing competitively... yet. So I can relate, as I'm planning to do competitions again, as soon as the kids grow up...couple more years I reckon.

Though I think if the belly/long putters had been such an obvious advantage, everyone on the Tour would have played them at the time, yet only a few chose to do so.

[iBanesto]

Nah.

I wish more people used the Langer grip.

[Shilgy]

I would have to see video of what you are describing. It certainly is not the arm lock system employed by any of the pros.

[MaineMariner]

It sounds like he's wedging the butt end of the grip into his left elbow and swinging the club like a pendulum with his right arm. I agree that that is not the typical arm lock style but maybe it works. It sounds more like a side saddle approach, just turned to the side.

When I was arm locking last year, all my right arm was doing was applying pressure to the club to keep it up against my arm. The putting stroke was made with the shoulders, back, and core. It worked well for a while, then I lost it, and then I gave it up. It was never a particularly comfortable putting method and I feel much more confident with a natural, traditional putting stroke.

[bladehunter]

Yes. A mm below the crease. And the outer elbow is glued to the body. Kuchar does this too. It’s just hard to catch a clear view. It’s the crouched over guy who has it figured out. You have to get down and over it. Bryson is just making a stiff triangle and rocking. He’s no more locked than anybody else trying to straight back and through. Kuchar has arc in his stroke.

 

in other words if Uou looked face on the butt of the club would not move , just allow the shaft to pivot off that point. Driven by the trail hand. Very much like a forward pressed belly putter stroke. ( which is impossible as your belly is center. Lol).

[disco111]

In the for what it's worth category, both the ban of the belly and broomstick, along with the groove fiasco was the result of the USGA caving in to the wishes of a select few prominent golfers who cried wolf. What really surprised and kind of annoyed me personally, was when they didn't have the cajones to stand behind their decision and allowed the "grandfather" offering to go into affect. The PGA made it's own ruling and banned the groves, which again in my opinion was again to appease certain big name golfers. What also surprised me with that is that Karsten didn't confront the tour on behalf of his staff players like he did against the USGA when they banned his clubs. If the ruling body(s) can back peddle because of pending litigation's, surely the tour could have been faced with the same scenario. The long and belly putters were legal for over 20 years before the bruhaha started, all because somebody won a major and several other wins on tour. But it was certainly alright to let the rest of the equipment tech go hog wild and only now there is backlash, albeit 20 years to late. The PGA IMO has stated that they really don't need the USGA as they have made their own rulings more than once. Now that' a sign of bifurcation at least to me. OK, end of rant, please continue with your normal programming..........

[Golfjack]

I would say leave it be. Where does it end? You can only hit putts with a flick of the wrist? Hold it with your teeth and swing it like a pendulum?

[ray9898]

It is silly that any putting stroke is 'banned', much less arm lock. No matter what stroke is used the player must still perform.

[msd71]

Ban the putters that stand up by themselves first. Ridiculous that that is legal.

[golfer07840]

It's the off season.

Oh and no, it shouldn't be banned.

[golfer07840]

Let's be honest, the USGA banned the anchoring because they panicked when they saw a bunch of wins in a row at Majors by guys who were using that method.

"Oh, now it's too easy! Ban that!"

SMH

[PNWGuy]

I've switched to this grip. I can do a better job of anchoring the putter to my forearm this way.

[Shilgy]

Anchoring.....as described as an illegal act in golf....is having the butt end of the putter(or any club) fixed in position against the body so that it does not move in space( it’s certainly easier for me to visualize than to put into words lol). Your version of anchoring against your forearm is no different than anchoring in a firm grip. Both hands still move in an arm lock-or the old Langer- style of grip. Basically if both hands are moving it’s not anchored.

[PNWGuy]

Agreed!. I used the word "anchor" when I should have used "pressed firmly against my forearm".