The New Anchoring Rule – What you need to Know

Article from the February 2013 issue of Compleat Golfer Magazine.

The R&A, together with the USGA, recently announced a rules change prohibiting the anchoring of putters. Here’s what you need to know about it.

The proposed Rule 14-1 b would prohibit strokes made with the club or a hand gripping the club held directly against the player’s body, or with a forearm held against the body to establish an anchor point that indirectly anchors the club.

A stroke is a fundamental element that defines the game of golf and is meant to involve the player freely swinging the entire club at the ball. Anchoring the club relieves the player of making a free swing by restricting the movement of the club as if it were physically attached to the player’s body, thereby providing extra support and stability for the stroke.

The proposed new rule would not alter current equipment rules and would allow the continued use of all conforming golf clubs, including belly-length and long putters, provided such clubs are not anchored during a stroke.

The proposed rule narrowly targets only a few types of strokes, while preserving a golfer’s ability to play a wide variety of strokes in his or her individual style.

The proposed rule change would take effect on 1 January 2016, in accordance with the regular four-year cycle for changes to the Rules of Golf. This timetable would also provide an extended period in which golfers may, if necessary, adapt their method of stroke to the requirements of the rule.

In proposing the new rule, the R&A and the USGA concluded that the long-term interests of the game would be served by confirming a stroke as the swinging of the entire club at the ball.

“Throughout the 600-year history of golf, the essence of playing the game has been to grip the club with the hands and swing it freely at the ball,” said USGA executive director Mike Davis. “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.”

If you would like to submit any comments or suggestions on the proposed Rule, you may do so by emailing anchoring@randa.org before 28 February 2013.