A new rule outlawing anchoring long putters has been proposed by the Royal and Ancient and the United States Golf Association.
While the proposed Rule 14-b, slated for introduction in January 2016, would not outlaw long or belly putters, it will mean players would be forbidden from holding them or any other club directly against their body.
Golf's ruling bodies, the R&A and the USGA, have been under pressure to outlaw long and belly putters, which are considered by critics to give an unfair advantage by providing greater control of the putting stroke.
R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said the ruling had been considered long and hard and was to be implemented largely due to the growing number of players adopting the practice.
"This is controversial and we didn't enter into this decision lightly," Dawson said.
"What's caused anchoring to come back onto our radar is the increasing number of players who have been moving to this sort of putting method over the last couple of years.
"It's gone from a very small percentage of professional players and now it's up to 15-16 percent and growing. That's what brought the subject back onto the radar.
"Is anchoring the club and playing that way a proper golf stroke? And we've taken the view that it is not.
"We believe we have considered this issue from every angle but given the wide ranging interest in this subject we would like to give stakeholders in the game the opportunity to put forward any new matters for consideration."
USGA executive director Mike Davis said that the proposed rule effectively reiterated one of the long-standing tenets of the game.
"Throughout the 600-year history of golf, the essence of playing the game has been to grip the club with the hands and swing it freely at the ball," Davis said.
"The player's challenge is to control the movement of the entire club in striking the ball, and anchoring the club alters the nature of that challenge.
"Our conclusion is that the Rules of Golf should be amended to preserve the traditional character of the golf swing by eliminating the growing practice of anchoring the club."
While the two bodies believe they have found a solution, critics will no doubt be frustrated by the rule's delayed introduction and the decision to avoid outlawing longer putters altogether.
The proposal is still subject to final approval from the R&A and USGA, who say they will consider feedback from the sport's stakeholders before a binding decision is made.
Three of the past five majors have been won by players using long putters.