Moving branches to make a swing

[ChrisWelsh]

I was playing yesterday and my playing partner highlighted that nestling into a bush or tree and moving (but not breaking) the branches could be construed as improving the lie.

I said I thought it was ok as long as they didn't break a branch whilst making a practice swing.

What do you think?

 

[MadAdey]

I might be wrong, but standing back into something to enable you to address the ball is not illegal. If you start breaking branches off and pushing them back behind things to enable you to swing is.

 

[guest100718]

you cant pull out a machette and start hacking a clearing, but you are allowed to back into a bush (giggity) in order to take a swing at your ball.

 

[rulefan]

I was playing yesterday and my playing partner highlighted that nestling into a bush or tree and moving (but not breaking) the branches could be construed as improving the lie.

I said I thought it was ok as long as they didn't break a branch whilst making a practice swing.

What do you think?

See this and the following two decisions

http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Decision-13/#d13-2-0.5