You’ve seen golfers using those extra-long putters and maybe heard the term anchoring discussed with a bit of controversy. This caused a major stir in the golf world, leading to a significant rule change that affected players from tour pros to weekend amateurs. Let's clear up exactly what anchoring is, why the governing bodies stepped in, and what you can legally do today to find that same rock-solid stability in your putting stroke.
In simple terms, anchoring is the act of intentionally securing the golf club, or the hand gripping the club, against any part of your body to create a fixed pivot point. Think of it like a hinge on a door. By bracing the club, you create a stable hinge that the rest of the putter can swing around, almost like a pendulum on a fixed point. This is different from a normal stroke, where the club is swung freely away from the body with the hands, arms, and shoulders moving in concert.
The most common forms of anchoring that rose to popularity involved:
The whole goal was to take the small, often unpredictable muscles in the hands and wrists out of the putting motion. For players who struggled with the "yips" or had shaky hands under pressure, this was a game-changer. It simplified the stroke by forcing the bigger, more stable muscles of the shoulders and torso to control the movement.
For a few years, anchoring wasn’t just a niche technique, it was winning major championships. Players like Keegan Bradley (2011 PGA Championship), Webb Simpson (2012 U.S. Open), and Adam Scott (2013 Masters) all claimed major victories using an anchored putting stroke. Their success brought the method into the spotlight and sparked a major debate in the golf world.
The game’s governing bodies, the USGA and The R&A, took a long look at the practice. Their concern wasn't that anchoring provided a scientifically proven unfair advantage. Instead, they concluded that it went against the traditional character of the game. They believed that freely swinging the club away from the body is a fundamental element of a golf stroke. By directly connecting the club to the body, players were creating a stroke that was fundamentally different from what golf had always been.
Consequently, Rule 10.1b (previously Rule 14-1b) was introduced and put into effect on January 1, 2016. It’s important to understand what the rule banned and what it didn’t. It did not ban long putters or belly putters. It only banned the method of anchoring them to the body.
This is where many golfers get confused. You can still buy and use a long putter, but you have to use it in a conforming way. Let’s break down the specifics of Rule 10.1b so you're perfectly clear on what to avoid and what is fair game.
Essentially, any intentional action to eliminate the free-swinging nature of the stroke by creating a fixed point is illegal.
The rules are more permissive than many people think. The key difference is the concept of intentionality and whether you're creating a fixed "hinge." Here's what's okay:
So, the shortcut of anchoring is gone. But the desire for a stable, repeatable, pendulum-like putting motion remains. Luckily, there are several outstanding, totally legal methods you can adopt to quiet your hands and get the ball rolling true.
This is the closest you can get to the feeling of anchoring without breaking any rules. It promotes a very stable stroke controlled by the shoulders.
Counter-balancing is another effective way to make your putter feel more stable and discourage a "handsy" stroke, but it works on the equipment rather than your technique.
A counter-balanced putter has extra weight added to the grip end of the club. You can achieve this by using a heavier-than-standard grip or installing a specialized weight in the butt of the shaft. This additional weight raises the club's balance point, which makes the entire putter feel heavier and more stable through the stroke. It forces you to engage your bigger, steadier muscles to move the club, quieting down any unwanted wrist action.
Often, instability in a putting stroke comes from the dominant hand (the right hand for a righty) getting too active. Alternative grips are designed specifically to neutralize this hand.
With "The Claw" grip, your non-dominant (left) hand holds the club in a traditional manner at the top of the grip. Your dominant (right) hand, however, is removed from its steering role. It is placed on the side of the grip in a "palm-out," pincer-like fashion, with the thumb underneath the grip and the index finger resting lightly on top. This hand's only job is to provide stability. It prevents the wrist from breaking down and promotes a smooth stroke powered by the shoulders.
Anchoring became a popular technique because it helped players quiet their hands and rely on a stable, repeatable putting motion. While the specific act of fixing the club to your body is now illegal, the underlying goal of achieving that stability remains. By exploring legal techniques like the arm-lock method, counter-balancing, and alternative grips, you can find that same confidence on the greens without breaking Rule 10.1b.
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