The Rules of Golf are tricky! Thankfully, we’ve got the guru. Our Rules Guy knows the book front to back. Got a question? He’s got all the answers.
I frequently putt with a big, fat stogie in my mouth. Could this be considered a putting aid? If I’m being honest, it helps me not move my head when I think about it, but I don’t purposely use it for that reason. —David Fatula, via email
David, Rules Guy sees this as an offshoot of the ever-popular “cigar smoke for wind direction” query.
Why are you putting with that big, fat cigar in your mouth? (Paging Swing Doctor Freud….)
If it is to smoke the cigar, not a problem. If you were doing it specifically to keep your head still, then we venture into Rule 4.3 territory. But is it a breach in and of itself? No, of course not. Unless it’s a Cuban cigar, in which case…kidding!
For more putting guidance from our guru, read on …
Rules Guy: Is it legal to tap down grass around the hole before putting?
When putting, after I finish my backswing can I let the clubhead rest on the ground for a split-second before making the forward stroke? Can I eliminate the backswing altogether and begin my forward stroke after placing the clubhead behind the ball either on the ground or hovering in the air? My buddies say they’ve never seen anyone do it, so it must be illegal. — Ed Chapman, via email
Ed, we got yippy just reading your question. Rules Guy is of the belief that if you’ve never seen anyone do something on Tour, there’s a reason for it, namely, IT. DOES. NOT. WORK.
Of course, that is a separate issue from legality. The rules require that you do not push, scrape or scoop the ball. Strokes such as the ones you describe, without a traditional backswing, are not automatically doing one of these illegal acts but do increase the chances. The key is that you must fairly strike the ball with the head of the club such that there’s only momentary contact between the club and the ball.
If that’s what you’re doing, you’re in the clear. If not, you’d get the general penalty of two strokes in stroke play and loss of hole in match play for breaching Rule 10.1a (and the stroke itself counts, whatever the outcome).
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Got a question about the Rules? Ask the Rules Guy! Send your queries, confusions and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he won’t throw the book at you.
