Of D.A. Points and Practice Aids

As you possibly heard, D.A. Points got DQ'ed at Pebble Beach for the usage of a foam ball -- a training aid -- to stay free at some point of the sluggish play on Friday. There turned into quite a few communicate about it on Saturday, but this type of factor occurs once in a while. You may bear in mind Julie Inkster got DQ'ed final 12 months for the usage of a weighted club to live unfastened all through a put off.

The rule that deals with this problem is Rule 14, Striking the Ball. Here is the complete rule, copied from the USGA's Rules of Golf website; I'll go over the main "points" that affected D.A. Points after you read it:

14-3. Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment and Unusual Use of Equipment

The USGA reserves the right, at any time, to change the Rules relating to artificial devices, unusual device and the unusual use of device , and to make or change the interpretations relating to these Rules .

A player unsure as to whether or not use of an object would constitute a breach of Rule 14-3 need to consult the USGA.

A manufacturer should submit to the USGA a sample of an item to be manufactured for a ruling as to whether its use during a stipulated round would cause a player to be in breach of Rule 14-3. The sample becomes the property of the USGA for reference purposes. If a manufacturer fails to submit a sample or, having submitted a sample, fails to await a ruling before manufacturing and/or marketing the item, the manufacturer assumes the risk of a ruling that use of the item would be contrary to the Rules .

Except as provided in the Rules , during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual device (see Appendix IV for detailed specifications and interpretations), or use any device 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)  gloves may be worn provided that they are plain gloves;
• (ii)  resin, powder and drying or moisturizing 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 device 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 device 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 device in a traditionally accepted manner.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-3:

Disqualification.

Note: The Committee may make a Local Rule allowing players to use devices that measure or gauge distance only. Basically, the rule says you can't use any "artificial device or unusual device" during the round that might help you make a stroke (that's the line marked "c"); if you do, you get DQ'ed. In different words, NO schooling aids on the course. And #2 under "Exceptions" says you can use your regular device in a normal manner as long as it doesn't help you make the stroke.

BTW, this is why I do not suggest or put it on the market any education aids on my website. It's now not that I actually have some thing against them, but I want you to study approaches to accurate swing issues that are criminal even as you are gambling. After all, that is when you want help the most!

The question becomes... what constitutes "using device in a traditionally accepted manner?"

Here are some examples:

• If you need to stay loose while you're on the course, you can swing two clubs at once rather than using a weighted club. The clubs are standard device and that's an accepted way of using them to loosen up. That's what Julie should have done.
• In fact, you can use your clubs to help you stretch in many different ways during your round, like putting one behind your back and using it to stretch your torso by turning from side to side. Again, that's "a traditionally accepted manner."
• You can stick a club cover under your arm during practice swings to help you work on your swing, but you CAN'T do it when you hit the ball. This is what D.A. should have done. (This one sounds questionable to me, but I found a Decision that explains the logic behind it. We'll get to it in a moment.)
• You can lay clubs on the ground to check your alignment during the round. This is an accepted way of using clubs. Again, the trick here is that you CAN'T leave them down while you actually make the stroke, as this would "assist you in making a stroke or in your play." (I know, this one also sounds questionable. But it's one of the things that was specifically mentioned during the discussions on TV.)

It may help you to know how the Decisions clarify this question concerning the stranger things I just mentioned that are allowed by the Rules. Decisions 14-3/6 and 14-3/6.5 deal with a player holding a golf ball in his or her left hand against the grip during a putting stroke. (Some of the Decisions deal with strange stuff!) The first decision says a player may not do this during the actual putting stroke, while the second decision says it's okay during a practice stroke. That second decision includes this paragraph:

The prohibition in Rule 14-3 against using device in an unusual manner applies to strokes that count in the player's score and not to practice swings or practice strokes.

That may help you to identify potential rule infractions before you "infract" them. Trust me, you don't want to break Rule 14-3 because This rule does not examine stroke consequences -- you simply get DQ'ed, length.

And with any luck that clears up a number of the confusion you may have skilled this weekend.