Touching the line of the put.

[Dave3498]

I notice in many professional tournaments, including the recent Masters, that it is quite common for players to tap something down on their putting line. I thought that it was against the rules to touch the putting line unless you had previously agreed with your marker that you were tapping down an old pitch mark. I remember the trouble Simon Dyson got into for touching something on his line. Can anyone enlighten me on this new habit?

 

[ADB]

Old pitch marks every time

 

[snell]

What constitutes as the line of the putt...is it a straight line from ball to hole? Or is it the line the pro will set the ball off on?

Just the two differ massively sometimes...none more so than the masters!

 

[ADB]

What constitutes as the line of the putt...is it a straight line from ball to hole? Or is it the line the pro will set the ball off on?

Just the two differ massively sometimes...none more so than the masters!

The latter - it's the line your putt takes rather than a arbitrary straight line between hole and ball.

 

[the_coach]

stuff within the rules regarding the line of a putt

1. You can remove loose impediments. Things such as sand, soil, stones, twigs, insects, and goose droppings. You can remove these things any way you want, provided you don't press anything down into the turf or test the surface.
2. You can repair those little craters created when a ball hits the green.
3. You can repair old hole plugs created when the superintendent's staff move the cup from location to another.
4. You can place your putter down in front of your ball when you address it (remember, don't press down).
5. You can touch the line in the process of measuring, lifting or replacing your ball or to remove a moveable obstruction such as a coin left on the green by the group in front of you.
6. Once you putt out, provided you aren't aiding a fellow competitor with his or her putt, you can tap down spike marks, fix a damaged hole (sometimes a part of the circumference caves in) or push the hole liner back down (they sometimes get pulled up when the flagstick is removed)

stuff not within the rules

1. Repair any damage other than hole plugs or ball marks. This includes any indentations created by the 275-pound guy playing in the group in front of you.
2. Touch your line of putt for any other reason than the ones listed above.
3. Test the surface by rolling a ball, scraping or roughening the grass.
4. Sweep away casual water, dew or frost.

 

[Dave3498]

stuff within the rules regarding the line of a putt

1. You can remove loose impediments. Things such as sand, soil, stones, twigs, insects, and goose droppings. You can remove these things any way you want, provided you don't press anything down into the turf or test the surface.
2. You can repair those little craters created when a ball hits the green.
3. You can repair old hole plugs created when the superintendent's staff move the cup from location to another.
4. You can place your putter down in front of your ball when you address it (remember, don't press down).
5. You can touch the line in the process of measuring, lifting or replacing your ball or to remove a moveable obstruction such as a coin left on the green by the group in front of you.
6. Once you putt out, provided you aren't aiding a fellow competitor with his or her putt, you can tap down spike marks, fix a damaged hole (sometimes a part of the circumference caves in) or push the hole liner back down (they sometimes get pulled up when the flagstick is removed)

stuff not within the rules

1. Repair any damage other than hole plugs or ball marks. This includes any indentations created by the 275-pound guy playing in the group in front of you.
2. Touch your line of putt for any other reason than the ones listed above.
3. Test the surface by rolling a ball, scraping or roughening the grass.
4. Sweep away casual water, dew or frost.

All that is true Coach, but it is normal to get your marker's agreement about the damage form pitch marks etc. The players just go and tap things down without reference to anyone.

 

[the_coach]

All that is true Coach, but it is normal to get your marker's agreement about the damage form pitch marks etc. The players just go and tap things down without reference to anyone.

maybes the look to confirm or the ask something not shown over transmitted pictures
'usually' ball indentations are pretty obvious as opposed to say footprint indents, spikes etc

golf still is, and is looked at as a game of integrity between fellow competitors - though every now and then some 'stuff' (Dyson) tips up but usually as in that case it gets dealt with

 

[palindromicbob]

All that is true Coach, but it is normal to get your marker's agreement about the damage form pitch marks etc. The players just go and tap things down without reference to anyone.

No requirement to check but if you thought there would be a question or it might be challenged then it is wise to do so. Even if the pitch mark (ball mark within the rules) has been repaired you can go over it again if sure that it's definitely identifiable as such.

 

[mikejohnchapman]

I think the phrase they use is "good practice" to ask but not mandatory.

 

[chrisd]

No requirement to check but if you thought there would be a question or it might be challenged then it is wise to do so. Even if the pitch mark (ball mark within the rules) has been repaired you can go over it again if sure that it's definitely identifiable as such.

This subject was done to death some while back with a lot of posters saying that you don't have to say anything to your fellow competitors and for that reason they don't - for the avoidance of doubt though, I always offer the chance to look and confirm my view