It shouldn’t be a big surprise to learn the USGA is going to stick with their decision to ban the anchored putting stroke effective January 1, 2016.  Despite a plea from PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem and PGA of America President, Ted Bishop at the recent USGA Annual Meeting, the United States Golf Association has determined that it’s time to put this issue to bed.

For the sake of the game they’re right. At the end of the day, the non-competitive amateur golfer is going to play the game however they deem appropriate to ensure they enjoy their time on the golf course.  The competitive amateur (a small percentage of the 26 million or so golfers) will be forced to adapt to the rule change, along with those that play this game for a living.

Equipment manufacturers have already adapted with the roll out of more counter balanced (weighted) putters. Designed to replicate the feeling of the anchored stroke, these counter balanced putters are likely to be the solution for many players who consider the anchored stroke the only way they can get the ball in the hole.

If you are in the group of players forced to shift your putting technique, you’ll want to check out these counter balanced designs.  Odyssey Golf came out with a line of putters called the TANK – http://www.odysseygolf.com/putter/tank-putter,en_US,sc.html?mcid2=21 featuring the counter balanced design.

Player – Dustin Ashby

Home Course – WingHaven Country Club

Driver – Tour Edge (Exotics CB4)

3wd – King Cobra (14 degree)

Hybrids – Bridgestone J33 (2 and 3 hybrids)

Irons – Bridgestone J40 Dual Pocket Cavity (4-PW)

Wedges – Bridgestone WC (54 and 60)

Putter – Boccieri EL Series

I’ve used a standard length, 34″, putter for most of my golfing life. As a youth I preferred the Ping Anser look and feel. As I advanced into my collegiate days it was an Odyssey putter with a similar design to the Anser club head. Most recently it’s been the Odyssey Two-Ball or SeeMore in the bag.

About a year ago I had the pleasure of sampling a SeeMore Belly Putter. I figured if everyone’s doing it, it’s likely for a good reason so I should give it a shot. I made a point to get the same clubhead design on my belly putter that I was using with my traditional length SeeMore putter, trying to reduce the variables. In general, I really liked the feel of the belly putter with the heavier weight and free swinging motion I could make when anchored properly.

In light of the USGA’s decision to remove the anchored putting stroke from the game of golf, effective January 1, 2016, I intentionally didn’t let myself fall in love with the feel of the belly putter. Sure, I liked the weight of the putter and how my golf ball rolled off the putter face, but why learn a technique that I’ll be forced to change in only a few short years? So I stuck with my traditional length Odyssey Two-Ball and only used the belly putter for practice every now and then.

Last week, I had a “golfing moment”.  I had the opportunity to visit with Steve Boccieri of Boccieri Golf on The Back Nine Radio Show.  Boccieri is best known for his work with the Heavy Putter or recently the Secret Grip. But it may be Steve’s latest innovation that he’s best remembered for 50 years from now.

Enter the EL Series of Putters made by Boccieri Golf. The EL stands for “Extended Length” and features the innovation of Counter Balancing which you may have heard about recently with Justin Rose winning the United States Open using a Counter Balanced Putter from Taylor-Made. While the major manufacturers may claim to have first introduced the concept of Counter Balancing, Steve Boccieri’s been doing it for over a decade.

By strategically placing weight in varying places throughout the golf club, most notably near the grip, Boccieri is able to move the balance point of the golf club closer to the golfer’s core muscles (bigger muscles). In doing so, the golfer is better able to manage the putter head and make more consistent contact.

Always looking to improve, I put the Boccieri EL Series Putter in play this week and can personally attest to the benefit of the technology. The EL Putter felt very similar, actually better, than the belly putter and I found myself able to consistently swing the putter just as I had with the belly model. I also found myself able to  manage putts of varying distance with much more ease by merely moving my hands up and down the grip. For longer putts, I could slide my grip just a inch or so towards the top of the club and put forth the same effort or shoulder movement and produce a consistent roll. For shorter putts I would slide my grip down the club. My lag putting is going to be far better as a result of having the EL Series Putter in the bag.

More information about the EL Series Putter I put into play:

This high MOI mallet design incorporates the tour proven patented weighting technology in a new MID-WEIGHT category. The H1-M is face balanced and has a center shaft orientation. A unique parabola channel with a long site line aids in alignment. The putter is constructed of Stainless Steel and has a CNC milled face and is offered in a Black PVD or Bronze Black Nickel finish. Each MID-WEIGHT uses a proprietary shaft with a 200 gram weight inserted in the butt end of the shaft; this creates the necessary weight to give the golfer more control of the stroke and also produces a balance point 75% higher than conventional putters that eliminates the wristy action in the stroke. Heavy Putter uses a newly developed Winn Mid-size grip with a V17 Super Soft compound with a cord base material which produces an extremely tacky but firm feel, preferred by better golfers.

Would you like to learn more about the benefits of Counter Balancing your putter?  If so, Go HERE and visit the Boccieri Golf Website.

Listen to my conversation with Steve Boccieri – HERE.

Steve Boccieri joined Dustin Ashby on The Back Nine Radio Show to discuss the latest in putter technology offered from Boccieri Golf.  Boccieri made a name in the world of putters with the introduction the Heavy Putter in 2005.

Boccieri discussed the new EL Series Putter available to golfers, especially those negatively affected by the recent USGA Decision to ban the anchored putting stroke.

Jim Mason of Bridgestone Golf joined Dustin Ashby, Adam Frillman and Dr. Tobin Lingafelter to talk about last week’s Masters Tournament and the latest and greatest in the world of Bridgestone Golf.

Jeff Field of Fox Run Golf Club made a recent to the Callaway Plant and Fujikura. He joined Dustin Ashby, Dr. Tobin Lingafelter and Adam Frillman on Saturday to discuss the new product golfers may want to learn more about.