Anchored putting ban comes into effect

Anchored putting is no longer legal, as a rule change proposed several years ago came into effect from the start of 2016.

The rule change to ban anchoring was proposed by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club and U.S. Golf Association more than three years ago and was approved within months and written into the Rules of Golf for the upcoming year and beyond. Rule 14-1b states: “In making a stroke, the player must not anchor the club, either ‘directly’ or by use of an ‘anchor point.'”

Anchored putting has helped amateurs and professionals alike – three major winners have used this type of putting – but it wasn’t considered to be in the spirit of the game. The long (or belly) putter can still be used in competition as long as it is not directly braced against an anchor point.