Belly putter is different to the broomhandle and authorities should consider outlawing it
AS SOMEONE who pioneered the use of the broomhandle putter over 20 years ago I realise I’m leaving myself open to accusations of hypocrisy, but I welcomed the news last week that the R&A, as well as the US Golf Association, are planning to take a closer look at the increasing use of the controversial belly putter among top professionals.
Without getting overly technical, in order to hit the perfect putt you want the head of the club to finish where it started. If you’ve got the top part of the club wedged into your belly, as long as you can keep your hands steady, the putter head is automatically going come down in the same line it went up in.
That might sound similar to what I was attempting to do, but the reality was and is very different. I put the handle on my chin but that was to make sure the club hung up and down in a straight line and it was easier to get my eyes over the ball.
The technique I employed was very different to what the likes of USPGA winner Keegan Bradley (right) are up to and I think it’s got to the stage whereby the authorities need to restrict players from anchoring the top of the club to your body.
LEFTY BACK IN THE SWING
On the course it was an interesting weekend for four of the world’s top players with Phil Mickelson’s victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am particularly impressive.
Lefty was at a bit of a loss a fortnight ago to explain his poor early season form but a slight swing change has reversed his fortunes. Mickelson has shortened his swing by keeping his left leg much firmer on the backswing which creates a nice little coil, and when you get that right it works really well. It may have taken him a bit of time to break it in but it’s certainly working now.
Tiger Woods, despite a sloppy final round, had an encouraging week, while on the European Tour as delighted as I was for Rafael Cabrera-Bello, who won the Dubai Desert Classic, both Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy would have been disappointed not to have claimed that title, especially the Northern Irishman after his splendid first two rounds.
Sam Torrance OBE won 21 European Tour titles and is a former Ryder Cup captain.
Follow Sam on twitter @torrancesam