AimPoint Charts Illegal? Sorry, Geoff Mangum, they are legal.

[geoffmangum]

Hi Guys,

Not wanting to appear obstreperous, let me just be plain spoken:

Rule 14 defines "artificial device" and then says the player who uses one to assist in his play is DQ'd. No exception applies. Fairly simple.

Except as provided in the Rules , during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment (see Appendix IV for detailed specifications and interpretations), or use any equipment in an unusual manner:

a. That might assist him in making a stroke or in his play ; or

b. For the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play ;

....

Exceptions:

1. A player is not in breach of this Rule if (a) the equipment or device is designed for or has the effect of alleviating a medical condition, (b) the player has a legitimate medical reason to use the equipment or device, and (c) the Committee is satisfied that its use does not give the player any undue advantage over other players.

2. A player is not in breach of this Rule if he uses equipment in a traditionally accepted manner.

The Decisions say:

14-3/5

Booklet Providing Distances Between Various Points

Q. A booklet contains illustrations of the holes on a course, including isolated trees, bunkers, etc. Superimposed on each illustration is a yardage scale in increments of ten yards. Thus, a player using such a booklet can estimate how far his ball lies from a putting green or a tee. Is use of such a booklet during a round contrary to Rule 14-3 ?

A. No. Although such a booklet is an artificial device , its use has been traditionally accepted and Exception 2 to Rule 14-3 applies.

14-3/5.5

Electronic Device Providing Distances Between Various Points

Q. With regard to Decision 14-3/5 , may a player use an electronic device containing the same information?

A. Yes. Exception 2 to Rule 14-3 applies, but the player must not use a device with a measuring or distance calculating function . However, see also the Note to Rule 14-3 .

14-3/16

Use of Electronic Devices

As provided in the Etiquette Section, players should ensure that any electronic device taken onto the course does not distract other players.

The use of an electronic device such as a mobile phone, hand-held computer, calculator, television or radio is not of itself a breach of Rule 14-3 . For example, the following uses of an electronic device during a stipulated round are not a breach of the Rules:

• Using the device for matters unrelated to golf (e.g., to call home);
• Using the device to access information on advice-related matters that was produced prior to the start of the player's round (e.g., an electronic yardage book, swing tips);
• Using the device to access (but not interpret or process) playing information from previous rounds (e.g., driving distances, individual club yardages, etc); or
• Using the device to obtain information related to the competition being played (e.g., the leader board or projected "cut").

However, examples of uses of an electronic device during a stipulated round that are a breach of Rule 14-3 , for which the penalty is disqualification, include:

• Using the device (e.g., a television or radio) to watch or listen to a broadcast of the competition being played;
• Using the device to ask for or give advice in breach of Rule 8-1 (e.g., calling a swing coach);
• Using the device to access information on advice-related matters that was not produced prior to the start of his round (e.g., analysis of strokes made during that round); or
• Using the device to interpret or process any playing information obtained from current or previous rounds (e.g., driving distances, individual club yardages, etc) or to assist in calculating the effective distance between two points (i.e., distance after considering gradient , wind speed and/or direction, temperature or other environmental factors).

An electronic "artificial device" is just as much an artificial device as a booklet. neither a yardage book nor an electronic device may be used to gauge or determine how to play gradient or elevation change.

So what is an aimpoint booklet? Clearly is it an artificial device. Clearly it has not been traditionally accepted, since a) it's new, and b) only YARDAGE books and plumb bobbing have been traditionally accepted by the USGA.

Does the aimpoint chart assist a player in his play? Sure it does, and that's what the proponents claim it does, and that's how and why they sell it. The aimpoint chart helps the player figure out the break and the start line and the pace of the putt. Basically, the aimpoint chart calculates this for the player and then writes it down so the player can use it to figure out the break. Any dissenters on this? I didn't think so.

Anyone who has any experience or skill at reading and applying rules knows how this comes out. Unless you ignore the plain meaning of words or willfully twist meanings to suit yourself, the use of aimpoint charts in a stipulated round violates the Rules of Golf as written.

So then the question arises why Dick Rugge would approve this form of Rules violation. The answer is a) Dick Rugge is gone now, and b) people like that make goofs all the time at the USGA (i.e., the recent Masters snafu), c) Rugge was not "the Committee" that decides Rules questions, and d) Rugge was not the USGA either.

At a more fundamental level, SHOULD a golfer want to use an artificial device to read a putt? In my humble opinion, that basically means you don't want to play the game with skill, but with crutches. So what if you COULD use it, according to some goofy decision by a products-approval guy -- should you? Of course not, because it not the sport you chose to play by skill.

Analysis of the Rules isn't near as cloudy and iffy as poor analysis makes it out to be. It's just common sense. Golf is a skill sport, not a sport involving who gets the better artificial devices to tell them what to do.

I argue, because golf needs protecting from people who think using artificial devices to substitute for one golfer's lack of skills when playing against other golfers not using similar artificial devices has nothing wrong with it. Now that's just dumb.

Geoff Mangum

Glad to Discuss Anything Anytime -- if you can stand it.

[iacas]

Geoff, give it up.

You are wrong, and continue to be wrong, on this. For the same reasons that I, and John Graham, and others have pointed out time and time again.

The abridged version follows.

Originally Posted by geoffmangum

An electronic "artificial device" is just as much an artificial device as a booklet. neither a yardage book nor an electronic device may be used to gauge or determine how to play gradient or elevation change.

AimCharts do not measure anything, and reading a piece of paper is using it in the traditionally accepted manner.

Originally Posted by geoffmangum

So what is an aimpoint booklet? Clearly is it an artificial device. Clearly it has not been traditionally accepted, since a) it's new, and b) only YARDAGE books and plumb bobbing have been traditionally accepted by the USGA.

You are wrong.

An AimChart is a booklet. A piece of paper. The traditional use of reading a booklet is to read it or look at it.

The Rules of Golf allow you to take an instructional book onto the course, or notes about how you should play each hole, and you "use" those pieces of "artificial equipment" by READING or LOOKING AT them.

You cannot call your instructor mid-round, but he could prepare ten pages of notes for you if he wants, and so long as you don't slow play or use the notes OUTSIDE of the traditionally accepted manner (maybe you build paper airplanes out of them to gauge wind direction and speed? I don't know…), you're fine.

Originally Posted by geoffmangum

Basically, the aimpoint chart calculates this for the player and then writes it down so the player can use it to figure out the break. Any dissenters on this? I didn't think so.

I disagree. The charts do not "calculate" anything. They contain pre-done calculations.

The charts are just numbers on a page - just like notes someone might write down. You improperly use the words "measure" and "calculate" frequently in trying to dismiss AimCharts as illegal.

Yardage books contain calculations that account for differences in height (uphill and downhill shots), but do not "calculate" the differences on the fly. An important distinction.

Originally Posted by geoffmangum

Anyone who has any experience or skill at reading and applying rules knows how this comes out. Unless you ignore the plain meaning of words or willfully twist meanings to suit yourself, the use of aimpoint charts in a stipulated round violates the Rules of Golf as written.

Sorry, Geoff, but it's you who is twisting the words and definitions. The charts don't "calculate" or "measure" anything*, they simply provide a list of numbers that a player can use if he wishes.

* The charts do contain a basic protractor, so it is illegal to use the circles to measure the angles of anything. That is actually "measuring." Reading numbers on a piece of paper is neither "calculating" nor "measuring" anything.

I'll happily buy you a dictionary if you need one though Geoff.

Originally Posted by geoffmangum

So then the question arises why Dick Rugge would approve this form of Rules violation. The answer is a) Dick Rugge is gone now, and b) people like that make goofs all the time at the USGA (i.e., the recent Masters snafu), c) Rugge was not "the Committee" that decides Rules questions, and d) Rugge was not the USGA either.

IIRC, several members were easily able to dismiss your goofy Masters/Tiger posts. So you've not got a very good track record with understanding the logic behind what ends up being very basic rules issues.

Rugge did not make a mistake, and it has not been overturned.

Originally Posted by geoffmangum

At a more fundamental level, SHOULD a golfer want to use an artificial device to read a putt? In my humble opinion, that basically means you don't want to play the game with skill, but with crutches. So what if you COULD use it, according to some goofy decision by a products-approval guy -- should you? Of course not, because it not the sport you chose to play by skill.

You clearly don't understand AimPoint as well as someone in your position should, Geoff. I would argue that putting in general requires three skills, the last of which is "reads the green properly." AimPoint can help with that, but rather than just "lookee here and read the green" you substitute in several other sub-skills.

There's still a lot of skill. I'll tell students "AimPoint [green reading] is a skill, not a gift." I lay out a practice regimen for people to sharpen and maintain their green reading skills. And the golfer still has to hit the ball on the right line with the right speed.

You act as if AimPoint removes all skill from putting (which is a curious position to take for someone with a competing idea - if that was true, then EVERYONE should use AimPoint, it'd be a great equalizer!).

Originally Posted by geoffmangum

Analysis of the Rules isn't near as cloudy and iffy as poor analysis makes it out to be. It's just common sense. Golf is a skill sport, not a sport involving who gets the better artificial devices to tell them what to do.

Answered above - you still need skills. AimPoint simply refines them beyond "stare at it and try to guess based on your past experience."

Originally Posted by geoffmangum

I argue, because golf needs protecting from people who think using artificial devices to substitute for one golfer's lack of skills when playing against other golfers not using similar artificial devices has nothing wrong with it. Now that's just dumb.

Of course you argue that - you didn't invent AimPoint and it's hurting your market.

Odd timing of your comments, Geoff, given your recent (aborted?) attempts at producing an unwieldy (IMO) "chart" yourself:

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At the end of the day, the USGA and R&A; have both ruled the charts perfectly legal.