We have a player in our group that does the following:
When putting he will mark his ball, then replace it, then put
his putter on the green in front of his ball, then lift it up and place it
behind his ball to play his shot.
The question is: Should he be penalized for testing the
surface?
Kind Regards,
Lou from Yorkshire in the United Kingdom
Dear Lou,
A player is permitted to place his putter in front of the
ball when he addresses it, provided he does not press anything down [Rule 16-1a
(ii)]. I would not recommend this practice, but it is not against the Rules of
Golf unless you improve your line.
As a related issue, be aware that a player is considered to
have addressed his ball when he grounds the club immediately in front of the
ball [Definition of “Addressing the Ball”]. If the ball should happen to move
after he grounds the club in front, he will incur a one-stroke penalty and must
replace his ball unless there is an observable cause (e.g., wind, water,
outside agency) [Rule 18-2b].
Linda
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