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New Club - Legal or Illegal?

blnc2007

By blnc2007,
in Rules of Golf

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blnc2007 Newbie

blnc2007

I purchased a Snake Eyes putting wedge 3500SL from Golfsmith a few days ago. During a round of golf last week my buddy said it was an illegal club not recognized by the USGA. I searched the USGA's Informational Data Base and received a "not found" reply. I've got a couple of tournament's coming up and need to know if this club is compliant and if not why does Golfsmith sell it?

Thanks.

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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Why would it be illegal?

http://www.golfsmith.com/product/30076171/snake-eyes-3500-sl-wedge

Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • Author, Lowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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Okay.

So if it's illegal it violates something here: http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Appendix-II/ .

Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • Author, Lowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

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Zeph Incredible Member

Zeph

I haven't heard anything about it being illegal. Can't find anything on Google either. Ask your buddy why it's illegal.

Ogio Grom | Callaway X Hot Pro | Callaway X-Utility 3i | Mizuno MX-700 23º | Titleist Vokey SM 52.08, 58.12 | Mizuno MX-700 15º | Titleist 910 D2 9,5º | Scotty Cameron Newport 2 | Titleist Pro V1x and Taylormade Penta | Leupold GX-1

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Mordan Dedicated Member

Mordan

Putting wedges or chippers as they're sometimes called are illegal when they have two faces so that they can be used right or left handed. Your mate might be confused by this and think that they're all illegal but that isn't true.
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rogolf Well Established Member

rogolf

From the USGA site (Rules FAQ),

Rule 4-1

Chippers

Q. Do chippers conform to the Rules of Golf?

A. Yes, chippers are iron clubs not putters, and therefore must conform with the requirements for woods and irons. For example, chippers may not have a putter grip, two striking faces or appendages for aiming purposes. Additionally, the USGA considers the long chipper to be not traditional and customary in form and make. Essentially, an otherwise conforming chipper must be approximately the same length as a club of similar loft in the player's bag. (Decision 4-1/3 and Rules 1 through 5 in Appendix II)

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saevel25 Incredible Member

saevel25

If you want a chipper, get a putter with the biggest head you can find and have it bent to like 10 degrees loft. There you go, just tote it around as a 2nd putter :p

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: :titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

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MyrtleBeachGolf Great Member

MyrtleBeachGolf

If you want a chipper, get a putter with the biggest head you can find and have it bent to like 10 degrees loft. There you go, just tote it around as a 2nd putter :p

I know this is just sarcasm, but there's no way any of that would be legal. Also, those chippers are more close to 8 iron loft (38*). I'm not sure 10* would help all that much even if it were legal to do that.

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  • 1 year later...
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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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Putting wedges or chippers as they're sometimes called are illegal when they have two faces so that they can be used right or left handed. Your mate might be confused by this and think that they're all illegal but that isn't true.


@cedrictheo and I played with a guy at The Berk who had a two-faced chipper he'd just bought. I had to tell him that yes, despite me being in the PGA, and despite the fact that he bought it from a PGA Tour SuperStore, it was in fact an illegal club.

I think he planned to return it or exchange it as they never told him it was illegal.

Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • Author, Lowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

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Fourputt Incredible Member

Fourputt

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordan

Putting wedges or chippers as they're sometimes called are illegal when they have two faces so that they can be used right or left handed. Your mate might be confused by this and think that they're all illegal but that isn't true.

@cedrictheo  and I played with a guy at The Berk who had a two-faced chipper he'd just bought. I had to tell him that yes, despite me being in the PGA, and despite the fact that he bought it from a PGA Tour SuperStore, it was in fact an illegal club.

I think he planned to return it or exchange it as they never told him it was illegal.

I've been in a similar situation.  These clubs should be marketed with a big red flag to warn off players who are concerned with playing by the rules.  I really don't care if someone owns and uses them when not in competition, but to have one and not even realize that it's nonconforming is just wrong.

I'm joining a little club out here in the Colorado wheatfields, and I'd be willing to bet that I see guys here unknowingly using clubs in competition that are illegal, and I won't even consider mentioning it, because I want this to remain a friendly environment.  I'm the new guy and I'm not about to make waves.  As usual, I won't counsel anyone on the rules unless he expresses an interest in it.

Rick

"He who has the fastest cart will never have a bad lie."

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ghalfaire Great Member

ghalfaire

I decided a few years ago the rules associated with "chippers" was too numerous to keep track of so I just eliminated it from the bag and learned to chip with a 5 hybrid.  I just take a putting grip and stance and putt with it off the green.  Works great but does take a little practice when you start as the club is longer than the typical chipper and the face/ball reaction is different.  But I like it and no ever says it is an illegal club.

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Butch

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