Xander Schauffele Switches To Arm-Lock Putter But Wants Them Banned
The American is the latest player to put an arm-lock putter in the bag, but he isn't happy about it
The American is the latest player to put an arm-lock putter in the bag, but he isn't happy about it
Xander Schauffele Switches To Arm-Lock Putter But Wants Them Banned
Xander Schauffele is the latest big-name golfer to adopt the arm-lock putting method and it’s so far so good as the 27-year-old fired an impressive four-under 68 in the first round of the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament.
It’s been one of the many contentious topics in the world of golf lately and there is no shortage of players, pundits and fans who believe the technique should be banned as it takes an element of skill out of the game.
Even Schauffele himself feels it should be outlawed, but while it remains legal, the American doesn’t want to be disadvantaged, especially when the margins at the business end of the game are so small.
“I am for banning the arm-lock putters,” Schauffele said in the wake of his first round at Jack Nicklaus’ redesigned Muirfield Village layout. “But if everyone else is going to use it and I feel like they have a bigger advantage, I may as well do the same.”
Related: Justin Thomas explains incredible Mike Visacki gesture
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
What makes this admission all the more interesting - and perhaps worrying - is that putting has become a real strength of Schauffele’s game of late. But despite feeling “funny” about making the switch, he is adamant that it offers players “a distinct advantage” compared to the more traditional models.
“It’s just better, it’s easier,” he continued, when asked what prompted the decision. “It’s more consistent.
“My coach [Derek Uyeda] and I work a lot in San Diego on start lines and making sure the ball’s doing what we think it’s doing. And the fact that it’s anchored to your arm, there isn’t a whole lot of -- you can flinch in your hands but you can’t flinch your entire left arm, so that’s the process behind that.
“I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t think it was better. If I was No. 1 in putting with a short stick it wouldn’t have been a thought.
“But I just feel like at times I can make more putts and, obviously I am in the top-10, like I looked when I was switching, and I felt like it was -- I’m in a position where I have nothing to lose and if I can get better at something, then I can.”
Related: PGA Tour to show Whoop heart-rate data live during Memorial
For the round, Schauffele ranked 29th in strokes gained: putting, picking up 0.73 strokes against the field, which is slightly less than his average for the season so far as he trails Collin Morikawa, who recently adopted the claw grip, by two.
However, having spent less than a week wielding his new wand, it’s very early days in the experiment for the four-time PGA Tour winner. And how long that experiment will last is anyone’s guess. Certainly if Schauffele had his way, it would be over in a hurry.
“It takes the stress of putting out of the game,” the World No. 5 explained. “Putting is so stressful in golf, obviously hitting shots and chipping and all kinds of stuff are difficult, but your putts are what give you the score on the card.
“It’s ruined people’s careers and it’s helped people’s careers. And so I think putting is an art in our game and when you can lock it into your arm or anchor it to your body, it kind of gets rid of that.”
Calls to ban this style of putting are nothing new in golf, of course. In May 2013, the governing bodies announced that anchoring of any kind, no matter the club, would be illegal as of January 1, 2016, and that was thought to be that.
However, as all top sportsmen and women do, a way was found to push the newly instated rule to the limit, which has led to the position we are in today.
Arm-lock putting has ensured the saga rolls on for now, but with increasing pressure from all angles, some form of clarity one way or the other can't be far away.
A lifelong golf fan, Andy graduated in 2019 with a degree in Sports Journalism and got his first role in the industry as the Instruction Editor for National Club Golfer. From there, he decided to go freelance and now covers a variety of topics for Golf Monthly.
Andy took up the game at the age of seven and even harboured ambitions of a career in the professional ranks for a spell. That didn’t pan out, but he still enjoys his weekend golf at Royal Troon and holds a scratch handicap. As a side note, he's made five holes-in-one and could quite possibly be Retief Goosen’s biggest fan.
As well as the above, some of Andy's work has featured on websites such as goal.com, dailyrecord.co.uk, and theopen.com.
What's in Andy's bag?
Driver: Callaway Mavrik Sub-Zero (9°)
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (15°)
Driving iron: Titleist U500 (17°)
Irons: Mizuno mp32 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9 (50°, 54° and 58°)
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron Newport 2.5
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
-
Wenyi Ding Facts: 13 Things To Know About Chinese Golfer
After a stellar college career Wenyi Ding is set to join the pros, get to know him more with our 12 facts
By Paul Higham Published
-
Tyrrell Hatton's Golf Tips: 10 Steps To Help You Shoot Your Best Ever Score
Tyrrell Hatton, winner of the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, shares 10 of his expert golf tips in a bid to help amateur golfers shoot lower scores...
By Kit Alexander Published
-
Rory McIlroy Gym Routine... Revealed!
In this Rory McIlroy Gym Routine article we discover how the Northern Irishman keeps himself so fit
By Neil Tappin Published
-
What Is Tiger Woods' Net Worth?
Tiger Woods became the first billion dollar athlete in 2009
By Elliott Heath Last updated
-
The Masters Live Stream: How To Watch The Major
Here are all the details on how you can watch the Major wherever you are in the world.
By Sam Tremlett Published
-
Five Outsiders Who Could Win The Masters
We consider five players who might surprise the favourites and claim victory at Augusta
By Fergus Bisset Published
-
Who Is Tiger Woods’ Girlfriend?
Find out more on who the American professional golfer is going out with here.
By Matt Cradock Last updated
-
Bermuda Championship Golf Betting Tips 2021
Who is the GM Tipster backing to win this week in Bermuda?
By Jeremy Chapman Published
-
Jeff Winther Claims Maiden European Tour Title
Jeff Winther Claims Maiden European Tour Title
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Fredrik Andersson Hed Passes Away Following Battle With Cancer
Fredrik Andersson Hed Passes Away Following Battle With Cancer
By Matt Cradock Published