The decision has been made and golf's governing bodies
have decided that using a putting method that anchors the putter to the body is
not an appropriate way to putt. As I read article upon article about the
reasons for banning the anchored method, I rarely see comments about the actual
benefit of using a belly or broomstick method. Personal opinions and emotional
reactions dominate the conversation. So utilizing the data I have accumulated
over the past 8 years with my SAM PuttLab, I went back and took the time to
research the differences of conventional and anchored method. Here is what I found.
The Anchored Method creates a more stable relationship of putterface
angle to path shape and direction. In other words it is easier to keep the
putter square to the path of the putter. The drawing below shows two lines.
Black is the imaginary line to the target and the red the path produced
utilizing a Putting Arc Training aide. I used this particular example because I
consider it the average stroke path and for the sake of this discussion helps describe
the impact of the anchored stroke. Please do not consider this an optimal
stroke. The optimal stroke is the one produced by your posture and set up. It
might have a smaller arc or bigger arc, and it will definitely have a directional
bias. The arc tilts, but that is a discussion for another day. The important point is that almost all putting strokes travel on an arcing path. The true straight path is very rare. Less than 3% of our database.
In the next drawing I have added the putter position of the player
who struggles with a conventional length putter. This is the common problem that forces
unusual or extreme methods. The player attempts to keep the putter
square to the artificial target line -black- rather than the true path created
by posture and set up - red. To keep the putter square to the black line the
player must manipulate the putter by twisting in a counter clockwise direction
on the backswing ( closing )and then reversing the motion (opening) on the
forward swing. Timing the rotation so the putter returns to square to the black
line at impact.
The natural or non-manipulated action of the putter would be to remain in a
constant position to the path of the putter. This is shown in the following
illustration. Without manipulation or twisting the putter remains square to the
path -red. Visually this looks like it opens and closes during the stroke. But the appearance is only because we reference the stroke to an artificial line not connected to the motion. By staying sqaure to the mechanically purs path it eliminates the timing requirement of the stroke. When the path
matches the target line the putter is square to both. Reducing the need for perfect
timing or over controlling the putter.
You can teach yourself this twisting motion with countless repetitions
and by uses directional aides. In fact most drills and aides are built to hone
the twisting motion. The problem is that under the pressure of competition, no
matter how much you practice, structural mechanics will overcome so called
muscle memory.
So for those who lose the timing of the twisting stroke, anchoring
the putter becomes the solution. Anchoring the putter now forces the putter
swing in sync with the rest of the body maintaining the relationship of putter
to mechanics.
This is the only mechanical advantage of the anchored stroke,
and once the player understands the advantage, he has a better understanding of
the putting stroke in general. I think that is why we have seen a lack of
concern in many of the players who use the anchored stroke. The change showed
them the solution to their problems with a conventional stroke.
