people walking in your line .. GRR.

[BigDaddy_Sean]

last 3 times I've played, twice was with a few guys I knew but never played golf with, third time I had gotten paired up. All of them were descent players, 10 - 20 handicaps and less. However, not a SINGLE one of them cared wether or not they walked in front of someone elses line.

It bugs the s**t out of me when I'm standing over a 10 - 20 foot birdie putt as they walk up and mark their ball from a chip .. walk right over my line to do it.

[ChvyKc]

I thought that was one of the first things you learn in golf etiquette (spelling???). It doesn't bug me that much because I am probably going to miss anyway but it's still common courtesy to not step on someone's line. Sounds like you need to find some better people to play with.

[LottaBalata]

My normal Sunday golf buddy brought 2 of his drinking buddies with him yesterday. One of the guys used to have a +1 handicap on my home course, but the other guy spent the first 14 holes warming up, duffing shots to 30 yards, and stood and walked on my line. He kicked my ball once because he wasn't watching what he was doing. . .It kinda sucked. He was a nice guy but. . .

[Grogger31]

I guess as a 3-handicap it would bother me, too. As it is, I have as good a chance at a spike mark helping me as hurting me.

As a 3, don't you know a bunch of good golfers who know better?

[traviswise]

I don't get too bent about it considering how many people that have walked my line that day before I even got out to the course.

[Aetsh]

It bothers me..I'm not the best golfer, but I like to think I have good etiquette

[GolferWolf]

why is it such a big deal? I dont think foot prints or cleat (sp?) tracks would alter the ball enough to make or break a shot.. but im fairly new.

[rubbery]

He kicked my ball once because he wasn't watching what he was doing. . .It kinda sucked.

I was caddying for my buddy in his junior club tournament and I accidentally stepped on his ball while we were rummaging around looking for it. Thankfully he had already lost the match so it wasn't that big of a deal.

Anyway, just ask them politely if they could try not to walk in your line. Don't be a dbag about it, but let them know that it can make a difference.

[Dent]

It really doesn't bother me at all. I mean of course its etiquette and all, but if they do it accidently it won't bug me a bit. It doesn't effect my put either.

I did a test and went on my knees in my line, putted, and then made the putt. If my knees cant put a dip in the green, shoes won't do much harm either.

[obsessedgolfer]

I had no clue people took stepping in other peoples line so seriously, do you guys get mad because it affects your consentration when you are reading your line and someone stepps on it or is it because you are affraid if someone walks on your line it will affect the roll of the ball. I have no idea why people would be woried about it affecting the putt because most of the greens people play it doesnt matter because there are so many spike marks to begin with.

[Craig Mac]

I had no clue people took stepping in other peoples line so seriously, do you guys get mad because it affects your consentration when you are reading your line and someone stepps on it or is it because you are affraid if someone walks on your line it will affect the roll of the ball. I have no idea why people would be woried about it affecting the putt because most of the greens people play it doesnt matter because there are so many spike marks to begin with.

I think it is more a matter that people feel it will have an effect on the putt, sure the greens get walked on all day, but someone walking on your line in your group is considered bad etiquite, and that is why it bothers people. Personally, I don't get too upset if someone walks on my line as long as they aren't doing it on purpose. If someone I am playing with doesn't know any better, I'll tell him. Whether or not it will hurt/help a putt is debatable but it is generally considered bad etiquite.

[GaijinGolfer]

IMO, people need to chill out about the whole, "walking on my line" thing. People walk all over the green all day long and you dont give it a second thought, so why fuss when someone walks over your line?
I know its ettiquite and all that, but I think people get way too worked up over someone walking on their line.

[davechen]

I doesn't really bother me. It's not the like old days of metal spikes. I don't think softspikes really affect a putt.

[Billiam]

Walking in someone's line makes no difference... it's just an excuse people use as to why they missed a putt.

[firstcut]

I doesn't really bother me. It's not the like old days of metal spikes. I don't think softspikes really affect a putt.

Exactly. I believe that the etiquette started because the old metal spikes could affect a balls path. The new soft spikes have done a good job of solving the issue.

But, it's still mentally distracting for me when someone walks all over my line. That said, because I need to play early I spend a lot of time as a walk on and can't think of the last time I got stuck with someone who made a habit of it..

[ChvyKc]

Walking in someone's line makes no difference... it's just an excuse people use as to why they missed a putt.

Well put, I think that's exactly it. I did notice that my shows tore the green up a little when I first got them just by walking. After my first round they stopped. I would just watch what you are doing right after you change your cleats but after that it's no big deal. I still try to avoid stepping on people's lines though, it's just a mental thing

[CG031]

Yeah, I'm a believer that softspikes won't hurt your putting line. Just think about it : Unless your playing country club like greens, or your playing on the Tour, these public greens are always beat up, at least the ones I play. Ballmarks make more of a difference than softspikes.

[Fourputt]

Whether or not it bothers YOU, it is still a point of etiquette, and beyond that it's just common courtesy. I'm not particularly bothered by someone talking while I play, but that doesn't give the whole world carte blanche chatter as they like. SOME people are quite bothered by it.

Why not just show your fellow competitors some respect and follow proper etiquette? They didn't put etiquette as Section I in the rule book for no reason. Some of you guys are displaying fairly respectable handicaps... don't you ever play tournaments? I know I do, and players just take the game that little bit more seriously in competition, even when paired with good friends. I try to not even step over another player's line. I usually walk around his ball or marker to get to mine.