Help with a rule please

[baldy]

Hi all ,I played in my first medal comp yesterday and on the green of the forth hole as i was lining up /addressing my putt my putter face touched the ball the ball didnt move , I then made the putt the two guys I was with didnt notice after we all holed out I explained what had happened and added a stroke to my score was I correct.It has no real outcome on the comp as I had a nightmare anyway its just been bugging me and I cant find anything in the rule book .

 

[CarpeDiem]

No added stroke I think, as long as the ball made less than half a rotation then it doesn't count as a stroke. I maybe wrong but that is what I have been told, so it would be nice to see if I have been playing under the correct rulings.

 

[Cernunnos]

The ball may ossilate but not move I believe. If you have grounded the club you may have deemed to have made a stroke if the ball hasnot settled into its original possition.

 

[RGuk]

I agree with Cernunnos. To the best of my knowledge, the putter face can touch the ball and no penalty is incurred as long as the ball has not moved from where it sits.

 

[backwoodsman]

I think that you've not actually addressed the ball until you've finished the process of addressing it (I hope that makes sense?). Hence you probably didn't make a stroke. Hence no penalty stroke.

In the definitions, a ball is deemed to have moved if it leaves its position and comes to rest in another postion. So if it was <u>exactly</u> where it was, then no penalty for moving it.

But the "half rotation" is nonsense I'm afraid - if it's even a tiny fraction away from its original position, then it is deemed moved and it's penalties

 

[John_Findlay]

Baldy,

There's no penalty in the circumstances you've mentioned. I've cut and paste the relevant rule from the R & A website. The ball didn't "move" as defined by the rules so no penalty. Here's the wording:-

When a player’s ball is in play, if:
(i) the player moves it, touches it purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing it) or causes it to move except as permitted by a Rule, or
(ii) equipment of the player or his partner causes the ball to move, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke.

If the ball is moved, it must be replaced, unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.
Under the Rules there is no penalty if a player accidentally causes his ball to move in the following circumstances:
• In searching for a ball in a hazard covered by loose impediments or sand, for a ball in an obstruction or abnormal ground condition or for a ball believed to be in water in a water hazard – Rule 12-1
• In repairing a hole plug or ball mark – Rule 16-1c
• In measuring – Rule 18-6
• In lifting a ball under a Rule – Rule 20-1
• In placing or replacing a ball under a Rule – Rule 20-3a
• In removing a loose impediment on the putting green – Rule 23-1
• In removing movable obstructions – Rule 24-1

b. Ball Moving After Address
If a player’s ball in play moves after he has addressed it (other than as a result of a stroke), the player is deemed to have moved the ball and incurs a penalty of one stroke. The ball must be replaced, unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.

A ball is deemed to have "moved" if it leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place.

 

[Cernunnos]

b. Ball Moving After Address
If a player’s ball in play moves after he has addressed it (other than as a result of a stroke), the player is deemed to have moved the ball and incurs a penalty of one stroke. The ball must be replaced, unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.

A ball is deemed to have "moved" if it leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place.

This is the important part of the rule as regards of addressing the ball & movement. hence why its always advisable to hover the putter without grounding, especially in windy conditions, though this is a topic in itself.

 

[baldy]

Cheers Guys .