Golf

Is it illegal to putt from the opposite side of the hole? Rules Guy

What do the guidelines say about placing from the different side of the gap?

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The Rules of Golf are tough! Thankfully, we’ve obtained the guru. Our Rules Guy is aware of the e-book entrance to again. Got a query? He’s obtained all the solutions.

Is it permissible to stand on the opposite side of the gap to hit or, mainly, to hook your putt? This would entail straddling the line of the putt or, to be extra exact, its by line. — Colin Mavor, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland

A query from the Home of Golf, how thrilling! And a superb one at that (although we’d have anticipated nothing much less)!

Colin, a participant’s line of play is the place he needs the ball to go after a stroke; until mentioned participant needs for the ball to transcend the gap after the tried tap-in, the line of play ends at the gap.

Ergo, the participant wouldn’t be straddling the line of play in breach of Rule 10.1c. Our solely concern: Your use of the phrase “hook.” The ball nonetheless have to be pretty struck, not pushed, scraped or scooped. So lengthy as that’s the case, reaching throughout the gap to faucet the ball in isn’t an issue.

For extra placing steerage from our guru, learn on …

putter on green

Rules Guy: Does your placing stroke *have* to embrace a backswing?

By:

Rules Guy



I used to be placing on the apply inexperienced at my membership when an thought struck: Hold my proper hand on the shaft down low — like, 10 inches from the clubhead — whereas retaining my left hand on the grip. Works for hockey slapshots, proper? Sure sufficient, I begin draining them from in all places. At this level, one other member came to visit to me and mentioned this was illegal, that each palms have to be on the grip. True? What if I didn’t need any grip on my putter? And didn’t Happy Gilmore putt this fashion? I don’t recall anybody giving him a tough time. — Joe Lahaye, Brick, N.J.

Rules Guy appears to recall that Bob Barker gave Gilmore a tough time. But we digress.

There’s nothing that RG can discover in the guidelines that requires each palms to be on the grip. You do, nevertheless, have to watch out not to (a) push the ball with this hockey stick grip, or (b) create an anchor level by anchoring the hand on the grip towards your physique and create a pendulum that manner. (In hockey phrases, a slapshot can be okay; a wrist shot wouldn’t.)

Either of these errors can be a breach of Rule 10.1, both Rule 10.1a for the push or Rule 10.1b for the anchor. Plus, two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct.

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Got a query about the Rules? Ask the Rules Guy! Send your queries, confusions and feedback to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he gained’t throw the e-book at you.

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