Conference 7.286::golf

    
    	Thanks for the info Tom. I had started using a regular putter
    	again last week in anticipation of their banning the long
    	putters, now I atleast still have the choice...
    
    
    	Gene

    Gene and Others,
    I felt that both the USGA and the R & A would ban the longer putter
    since it made contact with spots other than the golfers hands(i.e.
    chin and/or chest).
    Are they becoming more logical in their decisions??????
    Tom

    
    	Tom,
    
    	Is there a rule about a club not being able to make contact with any 
    	part of your body except your hands....? BTW, the putter does not
    	make contact with my chest, but my left hand does...
    
    	Gene
    

    
        I had heard that the president of the R & A uses the long putter.
      And everyone knows by now that the ol' president of the USofA
      uses one too.  With two endorsements like that, I'm not suprised
      it won't be banned.
    
    -rick

    to gene at .3
    
    There is no rule on the "body contact" with a putter, but I thought
    they might use that for there decision.
    Otherwise, whats to prevent someone from further "modification"
    to clubs and they already demonstrated their lack of tolerance with
    the "square groove" ruling.
    
    to rick @ .4
    
    Bush's father and his grandfather were USGA presidents, but was
    he really one and when?
    
    Tom

    
    I heard that the USGA figured on the Royal and Ancient not backing them
    up on the long putter ban due to the fact of the pres of RA using one.
    
    I also heard they may try and get around it by passing a rule that says
    you may not take a swing unless your hands are touching each other.
    
    
    Don't remember where I read this.
    
    --Bob
    

I'd like to see them try to pass a rule that says you cannot make a swing unless
your hands are touching each other.  We all take full swings with our hands
close together for control but who's to say that's the right way?

Next thing you know, you'll have to keep both feet on the ground in order to
make a swing too :-).

Mike

    
    Re. .5 Tom     Um,  USofA   United States of America. 
    
    -rick

    While we're on the subject of putters, did anyone read or hear of the
    proposed change by the USGA to ban the flat-sided putter grips (as
    opposed to the round grips on the other clubs)? 
    
    Someone told me this about three weeks ago and I forgot about it
    until I read this note.
    
    
    					Mike

    re .3 and .9
    
    No the USGA is not becoming more logical in their decisions, please
    see the new Golf Digest article on "the great grip cotroversy" in
    the "equipment" section (it's continuity is cleverly destroyed by
    a special advertising section on the Bahamas)

Re: .9

The changes in the grip ruling haven't gotten much attention because of all
the controversy over square grooves.  Putter grips can have a flat spot, but
they can't have a bulge or waist.  Also the profile of the grip has to be
largely a straight line.  Some Ping Putter grips may not conform.

Grips for other clubs have to be circular in cross section except there can
be a reminder ridge running along one side of the grip.

Larry

    Sorry about not seeing/reading USofA and assuming USGA,Rick!!!!!
    Tom

    Do many of the guys on your US tour use the long putter??
    
    There are two noteable players on the European Tour who have 
    switched over to them: Peter Senior (AUS) and Sam Torrance.
    Sam is 8th in the money list and Peter is 12th, so I guess they
    must work for them at least!!
    
    You'll all get a chance to see Sam with his 48" putter at the 
    Belfry. By the way he rests his chin on the putter with his hands
    about 18" apart.
    
    
    Phil.
   

    RE: NOTE .13
    
    I am not aware of any PGA (non-senior) golfers who use the long
    putter.  Johnny Miller won the Crosby/AT&T a couple of years ago
    using an extremely short putter.  (I sometimes take my ten year
    old's mini-putter onto the practice green and am deadly with it.
    Only foolish pride prevents me from making a permanent switch.)
    I think it may be a similar pride which prevents more folks from
    making the switch to the long putter.  They sure do work....
    
    

    I think Sam Torrance is trying to file a patent on his particular
    version of the long putter - aren't some of the other folks who
    use them also trying to patent their versions?
    
    Paul