First Time I Have Seen a DQ for Adjusting Your Driver.

[GB72]

I was looking up the results of the medal on Saturday and saw that 2 people had been DQd from the competition. For the first time that I have seen, one was DQd for changing his adjustable driver mid round.

This immediately had me thinking. The only person who could easily have reported this infringement would have been one of his playing partners so surely the decent thing to do would be to say something when he saw the bloke reaching for the wrench to adjust it (assuming that does not count as advice).

Even after that, can someone clarify to me whether you can continue to use the club if you return it to the settings that you started with and whether there is a penalty if you change the setting then put them back without having played a shot. I suppose part of the issue would be proving what settings the club was originally on to confirm that you have undone any adjustments.

 

[rob_golf1]

Interesting point OP!

Looking forward to seeing the rules' guru's responses on this matter.........

 

[Maninblack4612]

The infringement is for altering the playing characteristics of the club so even if you do it & undo it you've done it and therefore broken the rules. Rule 4-2 says 2 shots for each hole with a maximum of 4 shots, ​provided you haven't played a stroke with it.

 

[palindromicbob]

I was looking up the results of the medal on Saturday and saw that 2 people had been DQd from the competition. For the first time that I have seen, one was DQd for changing his adjustable driver mid round.

This immediately had me thinking. The only person who could easily have reported this infringement would have been one of his playing partners so surely the decent thing to do would be to say something when he saw the bloke reaching for the wrench to adjust it (assuming that does not count as advice).

Even after that, can someone clarify to me whether you can continue to use the club if you return it to the settings that you started with and whether there is a penalty if you change the setting then put them back without having played a shot. I suppose part of the issue would be proving what settings the club was originally on to confirm that you have undone any adjustments.

The rule simply states

a. Playing Characteristics Changed
During a stipulated round, the playing characteristics of a club must not be purposely changed by adjustment or by any other means.

Therefore one would imagine that any change breechs this rule.

Decision 4-2/2 is in regards to changing lie on irons and then trying to change them back. Goes on to say that it isn't possible to exactly restor the original lie but this is due to the physical bending and tolerances in making such an adjustment. But you could argue that the adjustments offered by say a Myfly style adjustment (cobra) would be able to return pretty accuratly.

Decision 4-2/2 however also highlights the intention of rule 4-2 though and states. "Rule 4-2a is intended to ensure that, apart from damage sustained in the normal course of play, the playing characteristics of the clubs with which the player starts the stipulated round will not be altered until he has finished it."

If this is the intention of the rule then adjustments made for anything other than repair (say to reattach a adjustable weight that has fallen off) regardless of the ability to reset to exactly how things were are going against the rule and therefore are in breech.

 

[delc]

I was looking up the results of the medal on Saturday and saw that 2 people had been DQd from the competition. For the first time that I have seen, one was DQd for changing his adjustable driver mid round.

This immediately had me thinking. The only person who could easily have reported this infringement would have been one of his playing partners so surely the decent thing to do would be to say something when he saw the bloke reaching for the wrench to adjust it (assuming that does not count as advice).



Even after that, can someone clarify to me whether you can continue to use the club if you return it to the settings that you started with and whether there is a penalty if you change the setting then put them back without having played a shot. I suppose part of the issue would be proving what settings the club was originally on to confirm that you have undone any adjustments.

Covered by Rule 4-2. You are not allowed to change the playing characteristics of a club by adjustment or adding foreign material (e.g. lead tape) during a stipulated round.

P.S. Information about the rules of golf is not 'advice!

 

[woody69]

Covered by Rule 4-2. You are not allowed to change the playing characteristics of a club by adjustment or adding foreign material (e.g. lead tape) during a stipulated round.

P.S. Information about the rules of golf is not 'advice!

I assume you've had a situation with this exact breach has come up Delc?

 

[pbrown7582]

You can tightened it up again in the same settings but not alter them.

Bet this will cause some unrest between PP's as you said surely the best course of action would of been to broach the subject at the time.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Not necessarily the playing partner who dobbed him in. Could just be a casual comment back in the bar......something like "Really got my driving going on the back nine when I lowered the loft". If PP knew the rules and didn't say anything then that's just out of order like letting someone tee off then saying "oh dear you were a few inches in front of the markers". Still... seen that happen....

 

[dufferman]

Tough one - "them's the rules" vs "FYI about the rules" are two very different things. I guess if you're the sort of person who believes it's tough luck that your FC doesn't know the rule & you do, then you've got a clear conscience. However, I'd probably give them a nudge and remind them of the rule before they did it. I'd like to think that the FC would do the same for me.

But I'm a nice guy so...

 

[CMAC]

maybe he declared it himself

 

[delc]

I assume you've had a situation with this exact breach has come up Delc?

Not yet, but I checked the rules when I bought an adjustable driver!

 

[JamPal]

If his playing partner dobbed him in, it's a pretty poor show. Most people are happy to point out a potential infringement in a friendly way and move on. When I started playing I relied on the help of others to ensure I didn't infringe. I'd have been amazed if someone had watched me unwittingly make a mistake like that and then reported it after the round.

 

[palindromicbob]

You can tightened it up again in the same settings but not alter them.

Bet this will cause some unrest between PP's as you said surely the best course of action would of been to broach the subject at the time.

There should be no excuse to touch your driver with an adjustment tool during a round unless damage has caused it to loosen. If you have to tighten adjustable feature routinely during a round then I'd question if that driver is conforming or not.

 

[groundskeeperwilly]

Not the same thing but say you damaged a shaft during the round and put some duct tape or electric tape round it - would that also be a DQ?

 

[duncan mackie]

Not the same thing but say you damaged a shaft during the round and put some duct tape or electric tape round it - would that also be a DQ?

you are permitted to attempt to repair it - the relevant rule being "The term "repair" in Rule 4-3a(ii) means to restore the club, as nearly as possible, to its condition prior to the incident that caused the damage". tape isn't discussed much in this section of the rules as it's not going to hold anything together safely - possibly exception being a putter but that's not likely to get damaged in the normal course of play!

 

[duncan mackie]

If his playing partner dobbed him in, it's a pretty poor show. Most people are happy to point out a potential infringement in a friendly way and move on. When I started playing I relied on the help of others to ensure I didn't infringe. I'd have been amazed if someone had watched me unwittingly make a mistake like that and then reported it after the round.

whilst we don't know, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the issue wasn't raised and then ignored - "Are you sure you are allowed to do that?" - "yes I am/what rule specifically says I can't/ Pete did last month/etc"

 

[mikepops]

If his playing partner dobbed him in, it's a pretty poor show. Most people are happy to point out a potential infringement in a friendly way and move on. When I started playing I relied on the help of others to ensure I didn't infringe. I'd have been amazed if someone had watched me unwittingly make a mistake like that and then reported it after the round.

Playing partner could have raised it without having had the chance to intervene before the infringement occurred.

PP could have been last off the green, then strolled to the next tee to find FC putting wrench away in his bag muttering something about "hopefully lowering the loft will help my driving now".

Wouldn't have had a chance to offer helpful advice but would have been unable to ignore it if he knew the rules.

 

[BTatHome]

On a similar theme, do any of the gurus have a comment on this ....

http://golfjuice.tv/tours/pro-golfer-snaps-driver-shaft

I was wondering if it was legal to carry a replacement shaft, and install during the round (see this http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Decision-04/#d4-4a-15 ) .... I wonder if the rules have missed some of the new developments in shafts that can be installed so simply.

 

[rosecott]

On a similar theme, do any of the gurus have a comment on this ....

http://golfjuice.tv/tours/pro-golfer-snaps-driver-shaft

I was wondering if it was legal to carry a replacement shaft, and install during the round (see this http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Decision-04/#d4-4a-15 ) .... I wonder if the rules have missed some of the new developments in shafts that can be installed so simply.

I can't get the link to play, but the headline suggests it was deliberately broken and therefore not "damaged in the normal course of play".

 

[fundy]

I can't get the link to play, but the headline suggests it was deliberately broken and therefore not "damaged in the normal course of play".

Video shows him hitting a normal shot, overswinging, shaft hitting his back and snapping. Assume its a mock up but definitely implies he snapped it hitting a shot not in anger