Golf's Major Championships

[mimurray]

I do understand it, completely. In Snead's case it was deemed to be unfair because he was straddling the line while he made his putt. At the time, there wasn't a rule one way or the other as to whether or not everyone was allowed to use that stroke because Snead was the first one to ever try it. The powers that be deemed it unfair because he was being allowed to look directly down the line while he putted. I feel that was a proper decision.

Now, with the long putters everyone is allowed to use those as of right now. From everything that I have read, those that are speaking up and saying it is unfair is because the player is allowed to anchor the handle to their body. In my opinion I think they have a valid point but I only see it as an advantage on the shorter putts. I don't think it's an advantage on long putts. Let's face it, Pro's hit it closer to the hole for the most part. So this is why their is a stink about it being an unfair advantage.

Even though right now all Pro's can use a long putter if they choose to, there can't be an advantage, but they are speaking out about it because they have the tradition and the integrity of the game in mind. I believe that this is what the R&A and the USGA will be looking at when they discuss long putters. One of the biggest topics of debate will most likely be are the players that use long putters making a swing, or a stroke at the ball when they are being allowed to anchor the handle end of the club to their body giving them the advantage of being able to stabilize the club. It won't matter that they can ALL do it if they choose to, they will be determining should guys that are allowed to anchor the putter to their body, which stabilizes the club, be allowed to be considered pro's. Anchoring the club takes an element of skill out of the stroke, and being a Pro is all about having superior skills. The guys that have developed the yips switched to long putters because they were having great difficulty controlling the putter when making a conventional stroke at the ball. In other words, their skills were diminishing so they found a way around their problem.