Electrical tape on putter shaft

[davemc1]

So the latest trend on the tours is to have a black putter shaft. Are there any rules against blacking out the shaft with tape before blowing another £200 on a new putter?

i can't see how, but...

cheers as normal :thup:

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Can I ask why you would want to do that? Different putter head colours look the business so I get that but I'm not sure taping the shaft would look great. Spraying the shaft perhaps but not tape.

I know this doesn't answer your question, apologies for taking it off track. As a non expert I don't see how it would impact rules wise.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Didn't you used to be able to get shaft covers or a wrap type thing?
I seem to remember lots of silly colours on offer to do it.
Cant see how using electrical tape would be illegal, as long as you don't remove it half way round.

 

[chrisd]

Cant see how using electrical tape would be illegal, as long as you don't remove it half way round.

It would look revolting ! 🤣

 

[garyinderry]

I bought an old Scotty on ebay and the guy before had taped the shaft up. looks awful I might add. :rofl:

 

[One Planer]

Giving it a dusting with a tin of spray paint would look neater!

 

[garyinderry]

So the latest trend on the tours is to have a black putter shaft. Are there any rules against blacking out the shaft with tape before blowing another £200 on a new putter?

i can't see how, but...

cheers as normal :thup:

Pretty sure you can pick up a black shaft for about £30 . I could be wrong.

 

[jim8flog]

From the Rule book

[h=2]4-1/5[/h] [h=4]Adhesive Bandage or Tape Applied to Clubhead to Reduce Glare or for Protection[/h] Q.May a player put an adhesive bandage or tape on the clubhead to reduce glare or to protect the club from being damaged?


A.An adhesive bandage or tape added to the clubhead is considered an external attachment, rendering the club non-conforming (see Appendix II, Rule 1a but see also Decision 4-1/4). However, material attached to the clubhead that does not affect the performance of the club and is semi-permanent, durable, not easily removable and conforms to the shape of the clubhead may be permitted by exception, but an adhesive bandage or tape does not fall under that exception because such items are temporary in nature and easily removable. See "A Guide to the Rules on Clubs and Balls," Section 1a, for detailed criteria regarding permissible external attachments, such as alignment markings, protective coverings or decorative decals

Although this says clubhead it would apply to the shaft 'in equity'.

 

[drdel]

What about the numerous labels etc. put on the shaft at manufacture?

Do they need to be removed to make the club conform: or if removed is the club now non-conforming!

I try and keep my clubs as pristine as possible for future potential value. So I applied clear tap to my graphite shafts to protect then from the scuffs that can be caused by frequently sliding them in and out of the bag's dividers. Never considered that they became non-conforming! - tis clear so not visible - I might keep quiet!

 

[garyinderry]

You can get a shaft wrap which is legal and do the job nicely. Loads of patterns available too of you want to go really out there.

 

[Colin L]

....Although this says clubhead it would apply to the shaft 'in equity'.

That's quite a leap! On what basis are you making it?

 

[davemc1]

No definitive answers then?

Id had a few, watched the pros make put after put then remembered the inso tape id wrapped a parcel in earlier on. Is the answer to why.

However if this non permitting, can/should I try and dq myself from last weeks stableford where I buffered

 

[clubchamp98]

What about lead tape that is allowed?
Cant see why shaft can't be covered or every graphite shaft would be black.

 

[Colin L]

Provided the playing characteristics are not changed, I see nothing to prohibit this. All the restrictions are to do with the clubhead, club face and grip.
But a health warning with that - this is not an area I'm particularly familiar with.

 

[atticusfinch]

Equity is only to be used when a rule does not cover the situation at issue. In this case the applicable rule addresses clubs and limits the rule to putter heads putter heads. If they intended it to apply to shafts they would have said so. This does not mean the rule fails to address shafts, the legal maxim applies: expressio unius est exclusio alterius. when one or more things of a class are expressly mentioned others of the same class are excluded the exclusion is presumed intentional.

 

[rulie]

No definitive answers then?

Id had a few, watched the pros make put after put then remembered the inso tape id wrapped a parcel in earlier on. Is the answer to why.

However if this non permitting, can/should I try and dq myself from last weeks stableford where I buffered

An excerpt from the Guide to the Rules on Clubs and Balls:

Examples of attachments that could now be permitted include:[FONT=&quot]
• Temporary, non-permanent attachments to the shaft such as decals
for identifcation or tape to protect the shaft. Such attachments, for
identifcation only, may also be permitted on the clubhead (other
than the face). However, these attachments must not be usable for
any other purpose (e.g. alignment) or, in the case of driving clubs,
must not serve to cause any confusion with the correct identifcation
of a club on the Conforming Driver List. Such attachments should,
therefore, be subtle, plain in appearance and discreetly positioned.
• Temporary, non-permanent attachments to the shaft (e.g. “clip-on”
devices), provided such items do not excessively protrude from the
shaft, their cross-section conforms to the shape of the shaft and they
are suffciently fxed. Other “clip-on” devices that do not conform to
the shape of the shaft (e.g. a club “prop” for use in wet weather) may
be attached to the shaft between shots, but must be removed prior
to making a stroke.
• Other material added to the shaft, for example for alignment
purposes, provided it is considered semi-permanent. However, such
applications must not be in breach of Rule 14-3. “Semi-permanent” is
interpreted to mean durable and not easily removable. Additionally,
it must not be re-usable and/or must be essentially destroyed
upon removal.[/FONT]

 

[jim8flog]

What about lead tape that is allowed?
Cant see why shaft can't be covered or every graphite shaft would be black.

Lead tape is specifically allowed as it is standard practice to use it to alter swing weight etc.