Caught flat-footed by Rule 10.1b? You're not alone. The anchor ban in golf caused a stir when it was announced, and there's still confusion on the course about what it actually means. This article will clear it all up. We'll break down precisely what the anchor ban is, the history behind it, and most importantly, give you practical, coach-approved ways to adapt your putting stroke if the ban affects you.
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So, What Exactly IS the Anchor Ban?
First things first: The anchor ban is not a ban on long or belly putters. You can still own one, carry one in your bag, and use it in your round. The rule, officially known as Rule 10.1b (formerly 14-1b) by the USGA and R&,A, is about the method of the stroke, not the equipment itself.
In simple terms, the rule bans players from creating an "anchor point" by holding the club or agripping handdirectly against their body. The whole point of a golf stroke, according to the governing bodies, is to swing the club freely, with the hands and arms moving independently of a fixed pivot. Anchoring was seen as a way to unfairly eliminate the difficulty of controlling that free-swinging motion.
Specifically, an anchored stroke is one where you do any of these things:
Press the butt end of the putter into your stomach (the "belly putter" technique).
Press the top of the grip against your sternum or chest.
Press the butt of the club shaft under your chin.
Intentionally hold a forearm against your body to create a stable point for your gripping hand to pivot around.
Think of it like being the fulcrum of a seesaw. By pressing the club into your body, you were turning your torso into a fixed point and just rocking the putter back and forth. The governing bodies decided that removed a fundamental skill from the art of putting.
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A Little History: Why "Anchoring" Became a Big Deal
The anchor ban, which took effect on January 1, 2016, wasn't a snap decision. It was the result of a debate that had been simmering for years, heating up as more and more players won major championships using the technique.
Players like Keegan Bradley (2011 PGA Championship), Webb Simpson (2012 U.S. Open), and Adam Scott (2013 Masters) all hoisted major trophies using an anchored putting style. They, along with pioneers of the technique like Bernhard Langer, argued that it helped create a more consistent, pendulum-like motion, particularly under pressure.
And that was the very source of the controversy. Opponents, including players like Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer, felt it wasn't a "stroke" at all. They argued that anchoring took the nerves and the fine motor skills of the hands and wrists out of the equation. It looked different, and to many, it felt different from the traditional spirit of the game. The argument wasn't that long putters were illegal, but that fixing one end to your body was. After years of discussion and observation, the USGA and R&,A agreed, giving players a two-year heads-up before the rule was officially implemented.
Allowed vs. Banned: Making Sense of the Nuances
This is where golfers often get tripped up. Because long putters aren't banned, you see players on tour using them effectively without breaking any rules. So what's the difference? Let's clarify what is and what isn't okay.
What's BANNED
Imagine a clear no-go zone running down your torso, from your chin to your belly button. As we covered, intentionally pressing any part of the club or your gripping hand against this zone to act as a pivot point is not allowed. If you're using anything on your chest, stomach, or chin to secure the putter, you're making an anchored stroke. It doesn't matter if it's over or under your shirt - contact that creates a fixed pivot is illegal.
What's ALLOWED (and this is important!)
You have plenty of options that achieve a stable feeling without technically "anchoring."
Holding the club away from your body: This is the simplest way. Players like Adam Scott now use their long putters by holding the grip away from their chest. His top hand steadies the club, but there is clear separation between his hand/forearm and his torso. This requires more control but is completely legal.
The "Arm-Lock" Method: This is the most popular adaptation. Players like Matt Kuchar, Bryson DeChambeau, and Will Zalatoris have mastered this. With an arm-lock putter (which has extra loft and a longer grip), you press the grip against the inside of your lead forearm. This is legal because the forearm is not considered part of the "body" for the purposes of the anchoring rule. It creates a stable connection between the putter and your arm, but the entire arm-and-club unit must still swing freely from the shoulder, detached from your torso.
Incidental Contact: The rules are not so strict as to penalize you if your arm brushes against your shirt or side during the putting stroke. The key word is intentionality. If you’re not actively pinning your arm to your side to create an anchor, you’re fine.
The Bernhard Langer Method: The putting wizard himself found a clever way to adapt. He still holds a long putter, with his top (left) hand steadying the split grip. His bottom (right) hand then holds the club lower down and presses lightly against his left forearm. He effectively "anchors" the club to his own hand and forearm, but not his body, keeping it legal.
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You Used to Anchor... Now What? A Coach's Game Plan
If you were a committed anchorer, the rule change likely felt personal and frustrating. It’s tough when a method that brought you confidence is suddenly taken away. But as a coach, I can tell you that there are excellent paths forward. This is an opportunity to rebuild your putting with a technique that’s just as, if not more, effective.
Option 1: Adapt Your Long Putter (The Adam Scott Route)
If you love the feel of a long putter, you don't have to abandon it. The new challenge is creating stability without the anchor point.
The Fix: Focus on your top hand as a "stabilizer," not an anchor. Practice holding it just an inch or two away from your chest. Your goal is to engage your bigger muscles - your shoulders and upper back - to create the pendulum motion. A great drill is to feel like your lead arm and the putter shaft form a single, solid "Y" that rocks back and through from your shoulder sockets. It will feel less stable at first, but with practice, it builds a repeatable, big-muscle stroke.
Option 2: Master the Arm-Lock (The Matt Kuchar Route)
This is perhaps the best option for players who want to take their wrists entirely out of the stroke. It feels the most "locked-in" of any legal method.
The Fix: You'll likely need a putter specifically designed for arm-locking, which will have more loft (usually 5-7 degrees) to counteract the forward press you need. The setup is key: stand with the ball slightly forward of center, and lean the shaft forward until the grip rests firmly against the inside of your lead forearm. From there, you just rock your shoulders. There is zero wrist hinge. The putter and lead arm move as one solid piece. It's a very different feel, but for players fighting the yips, it can be a total game-changer.
Option 3: Go Back to Conventional Putting (with a Modern Twist)
Maybe it's time to go back to a standard-length putter. But you don't have to go back to the same old problems. Modern equipment offers help.
The Fix: Consider a counter-balanced putter. These putters have extra weight in the grip end to quiet the hands and encourage a smoother, more rhythmic stroke. Also, experiment with different grips. The "claw" or "pencil" grip is excellent for minimizing the influence of your dominant hand.
The most important thing for any conventional putter is finding your rhythm. Practice with a metronome app on your phone. Find a beat that feels comfortable (a 70-80 bpm tempo is a great starting point) and try to match your backswing and forward swing to the ticks. This internal rhythm will replace the artificial stability you once got from anchoring.
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The anchor ban reshaped putting for a small but notable group of golfers, closing a perceived loophole to preserve the "free swing" nature of the game. Rather than a ban on equipment, it was a ban on a specific method, and the years since have shown that players can adapt and thrive with legal alternatives like the arm-lock style or a non-anchored long putter technique.
Navigating the rules and finding the right putting solution for your game can be a process of trial and error. That's where we believe asking simple questions should get you simple, direct answers. If you're standing over a putt wondering if your arm-lock setup is correct, or just need clarification on any rule, you should have an expert on call. Our goal with Caddie AI is to provide that support, giving you the confidence that you're using a legal technique and the coaching insight to make that technique effective.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
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