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10Preparing for and Making a Stroke; Advice and Help; Caddies
10
Preparing for and Making a Stroke; Advice and Help; Caddies
Purpose of Rule: Rule 10 covers how to prepare for and make a stroke, including advice and other help the player may get from others (including caddies). The underlying principle is that golf is a game of skill and personal challenge.
10
Preparing for and Making a Stroke; Advice and Help; Caddies
10.1
Making a Stroke
10.1a/1
Examples of Pushing, Scraping or Scooping
These terms have overlapping meanings but can be defined through these three examples of using the club in a manner not allowed by the Rule:
- A player holes a short putt by striking the ball with the bottom of the clubhead, using a motion similar to that used in making a shot in billiards or shuffleboard. Moving the ball like this is a push.
- A player moves the club along the surface of the ground pulling it towards them. Moving the ball like this is a scrape.
- A player slides a club beneath and very close to the ball. The player then lifts and moves the ball by use of a forward and upward motion. Moving the ball like this is a scoop.
10.1a/2
Other Material May Intervene Between Ball and Clubhead During Stroke
In fairly striking a ball, it is not necessary for the clubhead to make contact with the ball. Sometimes other material may intervene.
An example of fairly striking a ball includes when a ball is lying against the base of a fence defining out of bounds and the player makes a stroke at the out-of-bounds side of the fence to make the ball move.
10.1b/1
Player Must Not Anchor the Club with Forearm Against Body
Holding a forearm against the body during a stroke is an indirect means of anchoring the club.
For an "anchor point" to exist, two things must happen: (1) the player must hold a forearm against the body; and (2) the player must grip the club so that the hands are separated and work independently from each other.
For example, in making a stroke with a long putter, the player's forearm is held against their body to establish a stable point, while the bottom hand is held down the shaft to swing the lower portion of the club.
However, a player is allowed to hold one or both forearms against their body in making a stroke, so long as doing so does not create an anchor point.
10.1b/2
Deliberate Contact with Clothing During Stroke Is a Breach
Clothing held against the body by a club or gripping hand is treated as if it is part of the player's body for the purpose of applying Rule 10.1b. The concept of a free-flowing swing may not be circumvented by having something intervene between the player's body and club or hand.
For example, if a player is wearing a rain jacket and is using a mid-length putter, and presses the club into their body, the player is in breach of Rule 10.1b.
Additionally, if the player deliberately uses a gripping hand to hold an article of clothing worn on any part of the body (such as holding the sleeve of a shirt with a hand) while making a stroke, there is a breach of Rule 4.3 (Prohibited Use of Equipment) since that is not its intended use and doing so might assist the player in making that stroke.
10.1b/3
Inadvertent Contact with Clothing During Stroke Is Not a Breach
Touching an article of clothing with the club or gripping hand and making a stroke is allowed.
This might occur in various situations where a player:
- Wears loose fitting clothes or rain gear,
- Has a physical size or build that causes the arms naturally to rest close to the body,
- Holds the club extremely close to the body, or
- For some other reason touches their clothing in making a stroke.
10.3
Caddies
10.3a/1
Player Transports Clubs on Motorized Golf Cart and Hires Individual to Perform All Other Functions of a Caddie
A player whose clubs are transported on a motorized golf cart that they are driving is allowed to hire an individual to perform all the other duties of a caddie, and this individual is considered to be a caddie.
This arrangement is allowed provided the player has not also hired someone else to drive the cart. In such a case, the cart driver is also a caddie since they are transporting the player's clubs, and the player gets a penalty under Rule 10.3a(1) for having more than one caddie.
10.3a/2
Player May Caddie for Another Player When Not Playing a Round
A player in a competition may caddie for another player in the same competition, except when the player is playing their round or when a Local Rule restricts the player from being a caddie.
For example:
- If two players are playing in the same competition but at different times on the same day, they are allowed to caddie for each other.
- In stroke play, if one player in a group withdraws during a round, they may caddie for another player in the group.