TheRULES
Four Major
Rules Changes
Affecting
Players In 2016
E
RULE 14-3
biggest impact. These are changes with
which golfers should become acquainted.
The first principle change, which should
come as no surprise, is the prohibition of
anchored strokes. Originally announced in
May 2013, golfers have had more than two
years to prepare and adapt. Rule 14-1b has
been adopted to prohibit anchoring the club
either “directly” or by use of an “anchor
point” when making a stroke.
The club is anchored “directly” when a
player intentionally holds either the club
or a gripping hand in contact with any part
of their body, except that the player may
hold the club or a gripping hand against
either hand or a forearm. For the purposes
of Rule 14-1b, the “forearm” is defined as
the part of the arm below the elbow joint
and includes the wrist.
An “anchor point” exists when a player
intentionally holds a forearm in contact
with any part of their body to establish
a gripping hand as a stable point around
which the other hand may swing the club.
An important point to keep in mind is
Rule 14-1b is not an equipment rule. It nar-
RULE 14-1B PERMITTED
very four years, golfers
anxiously wait to hear
what Rules changes the
USGA and The R&A have
decided upon; this year
was no exception. This
fall, the two governing bodies announced
to the world the changes that would be
implemented on January 1, 2016. While
there were numerous changes to both
the Rules of Golf and the Decisions on the
Rules of Golf, there are four principle Rules
changes that are most likely to have the
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by KATHRYN BELANGER