Club alterations... is it legal?

[slugger]

I've been given a couple of drivers to try out with stiff shafts. One of them is a 907 D1 with Aldila VS Proto.

I was reading reviews of them and someone said that they recommend putting a small bit of lead tape on the trailing edge of the driver to help increase carry distance...

I don't want to do that, but, i was wondering if it's legal to do this??? Do clubs not need to be passed as legal by some kind of R&A rules committee before they're let loose on the general public? If someone did this to their club, could it lead to disqualification from club comps etc?

P

 

[Cernunnos]

Slugger, the way I understand it is if you make a change of this type pre-round, it is alright to do so. However you cannot add the lead after the round has started or move it to a different position during.

If anyone knows better... Pipe up.

 

[CrapHacker]

That's pretty much how I understand it.

 

[jammydodger]

Thats correct and youre buggered if the tape comes off unwittingly and you dont realise til later

 

[HomerJSimpson]

That is everything covered. Same with these adjustable drivers (R9 etc). YOu can adjust it as much as you like before the 1st but once you play you have to keep it in the setting it is on. Lead tape was prevalent back in the 80's especially and I know several players who started with it on and lost it somewhere during the round. No penalty but pretty annoying

 

[JollysHeld1]

The way I read the first post, it seems your asking whether it is legal to add weight to your clubs! not whether it is legal to do so mid round!

The answer to both is Yes! and Yes with conditions!

1: You can add, subtract weight and do pretty much anything you want to a club as long as it still conforms to R and A rules! although putting lead tape on the back won't necessarily add carry? it will just alter swingweight and effectively make shaft more flexible.

2: As far as I understand it if you alter a club during a competition round it is deemed as being a NEW and additional club! and would infringe the 14 club rule! so under the R and A rules
if you start with 13 clubs or less! it is legal to alter a club mid round as long as the total number of variations does not exceed 14!

May be wrong? usually am!

JollysH1

 

[Redwood]

Actually Homer, I think if you start the round with it on, and we're talking comps, and it falls off somewhere, and you take a stroke with the club, you will have been deemed to have taken a shot with an altered club. Didn't Anthony Kim get dq'd for this recently by hitting a tee marker with his driver and not realizing he'd damaged the club used it again.

Or could I be totally wrong and if you accidentally damage or change a club this ruling is not enforced?

 

[CrapHacker]

Dunno about 13 / 14 clubs.

But I think I remember someone getting DQd years back ( possibly Sandy in his heyday ? ) for changing his putter mid round.

He was getting a lot of glare of it, and the sun was reflecting off it and affecting him, so he put some tape across it. Just so he could see better - not to affect the performance.

But rools is rools ( or at least was).

( Or at least my brain says, and I can't say I've ever trusted my brain, so I dunno why you should )

 

[Cernunnos]

CrapHacker I think you're thinking of Mark James. He fell foul of that one many years ago. Its in one of his books.

Rattling good read too.

That said, I supose Sandy Might have done it too at some stage.

 

[StuartD]

Lyle was Dqd for putting a bit of tape on his putter to stop the glare.

He was playing with Faldo at the time and the story was he done it in full view of Faldo. Faldo then reported him after nine holes.

A lot of fellow pros lost respect for Faldo for not telling Lyle and it was said that Brian Barnes nearly decked him

 

[Cernunnos]

I can quite imagine Brian Barnes being handy with his fists

You certainly wouldn't want Barnsy decending on you in a fowl mood. He's the sort of guy you want as a mate.

 

[DCB]

JH1

2: As far as I understand it if you alter a club during a competition round it is deemed as being a NEW and additional club! and would infringe the 14 club rule! so under the R and A rules
if you start with 13 clubs or less! it is legal to alter a club mid round as long as the total number of variations does not exceed 14!

See Rule 4-2a

don't think 13-14 clubs scenario holds water.

 

[CrapHacker]

Lyle was Dqd for putting a bit of tape on his putter to stop the glare.

He was playing with Faldo at the time and the story was he done it in full view of Faldo. Faldo then reported him after nine holes.

A lot of fellow pros lost respect for Faldo for not telling Lyle and it was said that Brian Barnes nearly decked him

Yup that rings bells now you mention it. I knew there must have been more to it to make it stick, even a little.

 

[bobmac]

If a player adds lead tape to a club during a round and then uses that club, he or she is disqualified

 

[mono217]

Lyle was Dqd for putting a bit of tape on his putter to stop the glare.

He was playing with Faldo at the time and the story was he done it in full view of Faldo. Faldo then reported him after nine holes.

A lot of fellow pros lost respect for Faldo for not telling Lyle and it was said that Brian Barnes nearly decked him

What an **** for not saying something to lyle

 

[JollysHeld1]

Yep that Rule 4-2a says it all!

But the answer to your question Slugger! which nobody has taken the time to answer is YES! it is legal to add weight to your clubs!

JollysH1

 

[bobmac]

But the answer to your question Slugger! which nobody has taken the time to answer is YES! it is legal to add weight to your clubs!
JollysH1

Nobody has taken the time to answer?
I beg to differ

Slugger, the way I understand it is if you make a change of this type pre-round, it is alright to do so.

 

[JollysHeld1]

Oh yeah! so they did! 2nd post in fact! makes you wonder how it got to 17 doesn't it!

JollysH1

 

[Dave3498]

You're not making any friends here Jolly.

 

[CrapHacker]

Oh yeah! so they did! 2nd post in fact! makes you wonder how it got to 17 doesn't it!

JollysH1

You must be great fun down the pub !