Sand paper your grips during a round???

[Jay-Bird]

Can a golfer wipe his grips with sand paper during a round?

Is it a violation of Rule 4-2(a)?

Quote:

a. Playing Characteristics Changed

During a stipulated round , the playing characteristics of a club must not be purposely changed by adjustment or by any other means.

[Danattherock]

I can't figure out what kind of idiot would be sanding his grips during a round to start with.

[tristanhilton85]

I can't figure out what kind of idiot would be sanding his grips during a round to start with.

This really answers the question... I mean really who uses a training aid waiting on a tee box, people do dumb things... The question was does this violate the rules? My best guess is that it does violate the rules and even if it doesn't it's too close to risk it...

[Danattherock]

Curious how this thread got started in the first place.

What made the OP ask about sanding grips?

Did something happen? Someone do this during your round?

Curious to hear ...

[jamo]

The fact that it doesn't alter the clubface (as groove sharpening would) makes me think it's legal, but I'll be the first one to admit that I'm no groove expert.

[tristanhilton85]

Originally Posted by jamo

The fact that it doesn't alter the clubface (as groove sharpening would) makes me think it's legal, but I'll be the first one to admit that I'm no groove expert.

The majority of the groove sharpeners out there say that they will only sharpen the grooves back to USGA standards and not make them larger than they are suppose to be; if thats the case then even that may be legal to do but is WAY to close to risk... Sandpapering your grips is along the same lines to me, still only brings them back to where they were but why risk it.  Sandpaper them BEFORE the round and then just wipe them down during that way you risk nothing.

[iacas]

14-3c tells you what you do to assist yourself in gripping the club. Basically:

1. you can wear gloves
2. you can use a resin, powder, or drying/moisturizing agents
3. you can wrap a towel or handkerchief around the grip.

Nothing about sanding your grips.

Between that rule (the rest of 14-3 too) and rule 4-2a ("Playing Characteristics") I can see no way it'd be considered legal. By definition, sandpaper removes material - it doesn't simply "dry" the grip or anything like that, and that change is permanent.

Contrast that to a towel, or a groove cleaner, or a brush, which simply removes material that is not part of the club. You cannot, of course, use a re-grooving tool even if the re-grooved club conforms to the Rules of Golf. The playing characteristics are changed.

[Ignorant]

Originally Posted by jamo

The fact that it doesn't alter the clubface (as groove sharpening would) makes me think it's legal, but I'll be the first one to admit that I'm no groove expert.

Well, there are other parts forming the club than a clubface, such as shaft and grip. It is not allowed to purposely bend the shaft, either.

[walk18]

I'm just wondering if it helps?

[wrx_junki]

Why not sand it before the round if it needs sanding. If it needs constant sanding I think its a sign that you should get new grips...

[canadianpro]

Well, I'm in a betting mode....we will probably have to ask the USGA but I think that it is legal. A wire brush (used to remove dirt from grooves) would effectivelty remove a thin layer of rubber from a grip the same as sandpaper would. It is not altering the shape of the grip and one could argue that applying resin or a cloth is changing the shape (slightly)...and these options are legal

I'm voting that sandpaper is legal!

[iacas]

Originally Posted by canadianpro

Well, I'm in a betting mode....we will probably have to ask the USGA but I think that it is legal. A wire brush (used to remove dirt from grooves) would effectivelty remove a thin layer of rubber from a grip the same as sandpaper would. It is not altering the shape of the grip and one could argue that applying resin or a cloth is changing the shape (slightly)...and these options are legal

I'm voting that sandpaper is legal!

It's not. And using a brush to alter the characteristics of your grip is illegal too. Brushes are legal for removing dirt from the clubface because they don't alter clubfaces.

Per an email to a USGA rules official I know...