removing lose impediments on the green

[patricks148]

in a match the other day an issue came up ref removing lose impediments from on the green, with the back of the putter.

These were not strictly on the intended line of putt, but the opposition felt is was not allowed?

 

[Spuddy]

You can use any means to remove loose impediments provided you don't push anything down.

 

[guest100718]

Just another myth.

 

[patricks148]

You can use any means to remove loose impediments provided you don't push anything down.

I thought you couldn't touch your intended line of put with the putter

 

[palindromicbob]

I thought you couldn't touch your intended line of put with the putter

You can't touch the line of with anything but there are some exceptions to the rule and this includes removal of loose impediments. Removing loose impediments using your putter is fine, as is using a towel, glove or even a broom if you had one as long as you don't press anything down.

Two rules apply to this situation. 16-1 and 23-1.

 

[patricks148]

You can't touch the line of with anything but there are some exceptions to the rule and this includes removal of loose impediments. Removing loose impediments using your putter is fine, as is using a towel, glove or even a broom if you had one as long as you don't press anything down.

Two rules apply to this situation. 16-1 and 23-1.

Thanks they were adamant you could not touch the line of putt with the putter and said i could do it with my hand.

no bearing on the game in the end

 

[chrisd]

There are quite a few golfers, amateur and professional, who line up their putt by placing their putter in front of the ball and then move it to behind for the stroke, if you couldn't touch the line of the putt that would be an illegal move, which it isn't.

 

[patricks148]

There are quite a few golfers, amateur and professional, who line up their putt by placing their putter in front of the ball and then move it to behind for the stroke, if you couldn't touch the line of the putt that would be an illegal move, which it isn't.

but you also see Pro's practice putting from a certain break point in a long putt and they make sure never to touch the line, thats what these guys quoted as the reason

 

[Fyldewhite]

but you also see Pro's practice putting from a certain break point in a long putt and they make sure never to touch the line, thats what these guys quoted as the reason

They are quoting the rule (and the example they quote is valid) but are ignoring the exceptions to the rule. Just tell them to give the whole rule a good read next time you see them. They won't do that of course because they believe they already know but at least you will have tried!!

 

[delc]

You should not touch the line of your or your partner's putt, except to repair pitch marks or remove loose impediments. I personally wouldn't use a putter to do the latter as it might invite suspicion that you are improving your line in some way.

 

[Spuddy]

You should not touch the line of your or your partner's putt, except to repair pitch marks or remove loose impediments. I personally wouldn't use a putter to do the latter as it might invite suspicion that you are improving your line in some way.

There are 7 exceptions to the rule, not just 2

 

[Colin L]

You should not touch the line of your or your partner's putt, except to repair pitch marks or remove loose impediments. I personally wouldn't use a putter to do the latter as it might invite suspicion that you are improving your line in some way.

Well, you are improving your line of putt in some way - legitimately by removing loose impediments. In what way do you envisage you might improve it improperly by, say, brushing a leaf aside with your putter?

 

[delc]

Well, you are improving your line of putt in some way - legitimately by removing loose impediments. In what way do you envisage you might improve it improperly by, say, brushing a leaf aside with your putter?

Could be changing the direction of the nap on the green, or pressing down a spike mark (not allowed).

 

[Colin L]

Would you not allow a player to brush away some sand or a worm cast with his hand, then, because he could be changing the direction of the nap? I'm not a good enough putter to know, but would you really want to change the nap of the green in one little area across the line of putt?

There is a big difference between brushing a leaf aside with your putter and pressing a spike mark down. I doubt I would have difficulty in distinguishing between them.

 

[chrisd]

I almost always brush sand or leaves aside with my putter given that bending down is more difficult with two replaced hips and a reconstructed knee. I have never had anyone suggest that I've pressed anything down when doing this, as the action is clearly a side to side movement of the club head and could never, IMO, be confused with a tapping down action.

 

[Colin L]

I almost always brush sand or leaves aside with my putter given that bending down is more difficult with two replaced hips and a reconstructed knee. I have never had anyone suggest that I've pressed anything down when doing this, as the action is clearly a side to side movement of the club head and could never, IMO, be confused with a tapping down action.

Exactly - except that for me it's the two hips needing replacement.

 

[chrisd]

Exactly - except that for me it's the two hips needing replacement.

Get them done Colin it's a new lease of life!

 

[Colin L]

Get them done Colin it's a new lease of life!

I'm in a queue for the queue i.e., waiting for an appointment with the orthopaedic wizard in the hope of then getting them done. :thup:

I watched the operation on YouTube (an astonishing visual encyclopaedia). It seems a remarkable mixture of extreme surgical delicacy with scalpel and vicious metal workshop brutality with hammer and saw.

 

[Foliage Finder]

I watched the operation on YouTube (an astonishing visual encyclopaedia). It seems a remarkable mixture of extreme surgical delicacy with scalpel and vicious metal workshop brutality with hammer and saw.

That about sums it up! But as an observing medical student often all you do is hold the leg whilst it is cleaned/draped prior to the procedure. Anaesthetised legs are incredibly heavy!