Should Swing Putter Be Banned

Sam Snead once said: “Of all the hazards, fear is the worst.” In golf, when someone becomes afraid of hitting a club, they lose confidence in that club, which results in either not using that club, or getting a new one. Over the past three or four years, the most controversial club to use was an anchored putter, commonly referred to as a belly putter: “The club is anchored ‘directly’ when the player intentionally holds the club or a gripping hand in contact with any part of his body, except that the player may hold the club or a gripping hand against a hand or forearm” (USGA). Some players saw a major improvement in their game, while others disagreed with the use of an anchored putter completely. When the anchored putter ban was enacted on January 1, 2016, the game of golf changed completely. During the mid-to-late 1900’s, anchored putters began to make a scene in professional golf. The first time the belly putter came on to the scene of golf was in 1966, when Phil Rodgers won twice on the PGA Tour using a belly putter. After Rodgers, many golfers started to use one, like Johnny Miller and Orville Moody. Since then, more players began to win with a belly putter, consequently debates started to arise. On August 1989,

The result of the ban on anchored putters brought controversy to the golfing world. Before the ban became official, debates about anchored putters were already around in the 1980’s. Since then, more players have used an anchored putter of some sorts, like a belly putter or any other style. There are many different opinions about the use of an anchored putter, some for the use of it due to becoming a better player, and others for the ban of anchored putters for taking out the nerves in the game, which was proven after the ban was enacted. In the end, the ban was officially enacted and now everyone must abide by the new rule. If a player loses confidence, they can no longer use an anchored putter to become a better putter, they must find