Is this shot legal?

[Captainron]

I had a go on the range and I kept shanking it. Would never use that on a course (even if it were legal).

 

[stevelev]

I am pretty sure this is the guy from the recent series of 'Big Break' on the golf channel... think this guy was runner up .... He used this shot on a number of the challenges and the match play etc....... they never said it was illegal !!

But the R&A have, so I would go with there decision; 'Big Break' may allow some eccentricity if borderline legal to keep viewing up and interest in the game.

 

[spawn_ukuk]

Gotta be the most stupid training drill ive seen online

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Gotta be the most stupid training drill ive seen online

Sadly, I don't think it is a trining drill, I think he actually expects people to chip like that on the course.

 

[rulefan]

Just to add to the confusion.

http://www.golfcanada.ca/blogs/rcga-rules-of-golf/article2840.ece

 

[ProAmDuffer]

Under rule 14-1 scraping is not allowed, this shot appears to be scaping in the back swing. Will be interesting to see if this aspect of the shot and the rule will come into effect in the future.

 

[DappaDonDave]

Under rule 14-1 scraping is not allowed, this shot appears to be scaping in the back swing. Will be interesting to see if this aspect of the shot and the rule will come into effect in the future.

It actually says the ball must not be scraped, to me, the club head is being dragged across the ground prior to striking the ball. The ball is not scraped up, it is struck by a club head which has been scraped.

If the R & A gave a definition of scrape but to me that would be like a hockey style push pass from directly behind the ball, not a slap type shot.

 

[Matty]

Well, I can tell you when they first appeared in the rules - 1888 R&A rules (rule 4 The ball must be fairly struck at, not pushed, scraped, or spooned, under penalty of the loss of the hole. Any movement of the club which is intended to strike the ball is a stroke... and the term was believed coined by Royal Wimbledon Golf Club in 1883.

... snip ...

I hope this helps.

Duncan, It certainly does. Thanks for that, I'll keep doing what I'm doing without fear of inadvertently breaking the rules now.

To a simpleton like mean I think it summarises to this:

1/ You have to hit the ball with the club head, no other part of the club should be used.
2/ The club head needs to move away from the ball before returning to it.
3/ The club head needs to break contact with the ground on the move away from the ball.

This shot does not satisfy 3 and perhaps 2 as well so the R&A probably called this one right.

 

[JezzE]

Looks a bit dodgy to me. There must be a reason why you never see people play a shot in this way.

Just had a quick look at the Decisions for Rule 14 and Decision 14-1/4 - Striking Ball with Half an Inch Backswing, says in part

"In order to strike the ball fairly, it must be swung at with the clubhead. If the ball is moved by any other method, it has been pushed, scraped or spooned."

"If a ball is fairly struck at, there is only momentary contact between the clubhead and the ball or whatever intervenes between the clubhead and the ball."

I don't think in this case the club head has been swung at the ball. On the other hand he seems to flick at the ball at the end rather than push it and contact does seem only momentary.

Decision 14-1/2 Striking Ball with Billiard-Type Motion indicates however that a billiards style shot even with the bottom of the clubhead is in itself considered a push.

Would love to see an opinion from the R&A though. Wonder if JezzE or someone at GM could arranage that.

I would be staggered if that was legal - if that doesn't constitute scraping, pushing or spooning (or even all three!) then I'm not sure what would.

Will endeavour to doublecheck though