Rules question

[Tiger]

Littl'un has woken me up and can't get back to sleep so thought I'd pop on the forum. After today's playing I have a quick rules question. I am sure this illegal but clarification would be helpful. When approaching a chip shot I place a pencil in my glove with the tip pointing upwards. In doing so the pencil will remind me on my practice swings not to hinge my wrist. I remove the pencil then play my shot. Have I broken any rules?

 

[Smiffy]

Your little 'un is bloody noisy. He woke me up too...

Don't think you have broken any rules whatsoever.

 

[Tiger]

LMAO!!! Yes he is a noisy little bugger. I'll be worried if he's awoken the Scottish conitingent as well though Suffolk to Sussex us not a bad carry!

 

[CrapHacker]

Yup he made it to Eastbourne.

Either that or it was HID snoring.

And we all know that's impossible

And I see nothing wrong either.

 

[Swinger]

Not sure myself. Will have to check the rules at some point but think it would be classed as a training aid. Doubt you'll be able to use it in competitive play but not a bad idea for practise.

 

[backwoodsman]

So it was <u>your</u> young un - what with London being on route from Suffolk to Sussex

Am fairly sure you're ok. The rules say you can't use anything "unusual" to assist you in making a stroke - and practice swings are not strokes. Only doubt would be that if something assists a practice swing, does it in a roundabout fashion assist a stroke? Since the rules tend to be pedantically (??) precise, I tend to think not.

 

[SharkAttack]

All the way to Scotland too!!!!!!

I would say you have not broken any rules as long as you remove it before you play your chip. You could have a caddy or partner standing behind you lining you up and telling you not to hinge your wrist and that would be okay. There is no set place for keeping a pencil in the rules of golf.

Shark

 

[Smiffy]

Whether it was "against the rules or not" if you did it during a match with me I wouldn't call it.....

unless you had just gone one up with only a couple of holes to play

 

[Parmo]

damn it, anyone else here a baby crying last night?

ooh just read thread.

I don't think you have broken any rules, you might look a tad odd though.

 

[backwoodsman]

... There is no set place for keeping a pencil in the rules of golf...

Really? 'Cos on occasion, I've been told where I should put mine...

 

[Smiffy]

... There is no set place for keeping a pencil in the rules of golf...

Really? 'Cos on occasion, I've been told where I should put mine...

That happens with me a lot...but we are normally discussing my putter at the time

 

[Tiger]

Clear as mud then. Joyous. I'll use it on my rounds with friends but unless someone like Jezz confirms it's alright in competition I'll err on the side of caution.

As for the noise my humblest apologies, we've locked him in the coal shed with some stale bread and water until he understands what he has done.

 

[Parmo]

As for the noise my humblest apologies, we've locked him in the coal shed with some stale bread and water until he understands what he has done.

If more parents did this the country wouldn't be in the state its in!!! Good on you.

 

[drawboy]

As for the noise my humblest apologies, we've locked him in the coal shed with some stale bread and water until he understands what he has done.

If more parents did this the country wouldn't be in the state its in!!! Good on you.

You are too soft on him, stale bread and water, I'd have given him nowt, we had it hard in our day.

 

[Imurg]

As for the noise my humblest apologies, we've locked him in the coal shed with some stale bread and water until he understands what he has done.

If more parents did this the country wouldn't be in the state its in!!! Good on you.

You are too soft on him, stale bread and water, I'd have given him nowt, we had it hard in our day.

You were lucky!

Hole in't ground for us!!

 

[Tiger]

Right that's it. I'll not have my boy pampered and living in the lap of luxury. Thought I'd be lenient as it was a first offence, but perhaps you are right. Kids these days get it far too easy. Giving him a taste of the old school with a bowl of hot tar and coarse manure sack for shelter.

 

[roccokj]

funny enough, i woke up around 4 o'clock too
I dont think that you can do that during around as i know you are not able to use an alignment stick during a round

 

[Imurg]

Found this


14-3.Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment and Unusual Use of Equipment
Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment, or use any equipment in an unusual manner:
a. That might assist him in making a stroke or in his play;
or
b. For the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play;
or
c. That might assist him in gripping the club, except that:
(i) plain gloves may be worn;
(ii) resin, powder and drying or moisturising agents may be
used; and
(iii) a towel or handkerchief may be wrapped around the grip.
Exceptions:
1. A player is not in breach of this Rule if
(a) the equipment or device is designed for or has the effect of alleviating a medical condition,
(b) the player has a legitimate medical reason to use the equipment or device, and
(c) the Committee is satisfied that its use does not give the player any undue advantage over other players.
2. A player is not in breach of this Rule if he uses equipment in a traditionally accepted manner.

So using the pencil in a way that it is not designed to be used could be construed as breaching this rule even if you take it out before you play the shot.

More digging needed!

 

[Tiger]

Thanks imurg. That's a shame but kind if what I expected. You could argue that the practice stroke is part of your preparation to play and therefore the pencil would aid your ability to play the stroke. I'll just use it when I'm practicing for now. To be honest I'm hoping that before long the wrist hinge will be a thing of the past. Thanks for looking it up for me.

 

[Sailor]

Here are two decisions from the “bible” which will answer yours and anyone else’s doubts. All you need to do is substitute pencil for golf ball. Hope that it helps.

14-3/6 Holding Ball in Hand Against Grip When Putting
Q. A player putts with a golf ball held in his left hand against the grip. He claims the pressure transmitted to the grip through the ball assists him in putting. Is such use of a ball permissible?
A. No. The player is using equipment in an unusual manner to assist him in making a stroke and is in breach of Rule 14-3. (Revised)

14-3/6.5 Holding Ball in Hand Against Grip for Practice Swings or Practice Strokes
Q. Decision 14-3/6 clarifies that a player may not make a stroke while holding a golf ball in his hand against the grip to assist him. May the player make a practice swing or practice stroke (when permitted by Rule 7-2) while holding a golf ball in the same manner?
A. Yes. The prohibition in Rule 14-3 against using equipment in an unusual manner applies to strokes that count in the player's score and not to practice swings or practice strokes. (New)