tapping in putt with toe of putter

[mtsalmela80]

Is it legal to tap the ball in the cup using the toe of your putter?

[iacas]

Originally Posted by mtsalmela80

Is it legal to tap the ball in the cup using the toe of your putter?

Yep. Just watch where you're standing when you do it. You can use the back of the putter, too. Or the heel.

[Golfingdad]

I am pretty certain that is fine.  On occasion, I will hit a shot with the toe of the putter when there is a fairly high fringe and the ball nestles right up against it.  I wouldn't be able to get the face of the putter through the grass, but the toe slices right through.

As far as I know, there is nothing wrong with either of those shots.  Similar to flipping a short iron upside down to play it opposite-handed, I would say.

[Shorty]

The point that Iacas is making is that it can leave you open to an illegal stance because you're going to be approaching the ball from an odd angle.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Shorty

The point that Iacas is making is that it can leave you open to an illegal stance because you're going to be approaching the ball from an odd angle.

Yes. I think some people thought Tiger might have been standing astride the line of his putt when he tapped in at Augusta or something six years ago or so.

You can hit a ball with the back of an iron, too. You don't have to turn it over. Clubs can't be designed with multiple striking faces, though (putters can, but that's it - that's what makes some of those old-fashioned chippers illegal).

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by iacas

Yes. I think some people thought Tiger might have been standing astride the line of his putt when he tapped in at Augusta or something six years ago or so.

You can hit a ball with the back of an iron, too. You don't have to turn it over. Clubs can't be designed with multi

In 2007, John Daly straddled a putt in a silly season cashfest and Nick faldo, who was commentating, wasn't impressed.

[mtsalmela80]

So you can design a putter with a flat surface on the toe designed to strike the ball?

I'm just curious because we have all probably heard about the Dr. feelgood putter, and that it is illegal. Its illegal supposedly because its longer front to back than it is side to side.

Then why not just redesign the thing and have a impact surface running along the side of it, along with the hammer-style tip at the end.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by mtsalmela80

Then why not just redesign the thing and have a impact surface running along the side of it, along with the hammer-style tip at the end.

Because the shaft would be inserted at the wrong angle for the long flat side to be considered the "face" of the putter.

[Dormie1360]

Originally Posted by mtsalmela80

So you can design a putter with a flat surface on the toe designed to strike the ball?

I'm just curious because we have all probably heard about the Dr. feelgood putter, and that it is illegal. Its illegal supposedly because its longer front to back than it is side to side.

Then why not just redesign the thing and have a impact surface running along the side of it, along with the hammer-style tip at the end.

Appendix ll in the Rules of Golf covers design of clubs.  As far as your suggestion, clubs may only have one striking face, however putters may have two striking faces only if their characteristics are the same and they are opposite of each other.

As far as striking the ball, as long as you use the head of the club, you are ok.  Doesn't matter if it's front, back, or toe.

As far as the rule that prohibits standing astride or on the line of putt or on an extension of that line behind the ball, (Rule 16-1d) it's the Sam Snead rule.  The rule was put in specifically to prohibit croquet style putting.  An exception to the rule allows you to inadvertently stand on or across the line as well as purposely doing it for reasons of etiquette.  In other words to avoid standing on someones line.

So as long as you are not purposely doing it, or are doing it to avoid standing on someone elses line there is no penalty.

Regards,

John

[Golfingdad]

Let's say you just miss a putt a couple of inches long, so when you walk up to the hole its directly opposite the hole from you.  If you tap it in from that point, is that illegal?

[iacas]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

Let's say you just miss a putt a couple of inches long, so when you walk up to the hole its directly opposite the hole from you.  If you tap it in from that point, is that illegal?

Nope. Not only is it inadvertent but the line of the putt doesn't extend beyond the hole:

Quote:

The “ line of putt ’’ is the line that the player wishes his ball to take after a stroke on the putting green . Except with respect to Rule 16-1e , the line of putt includes a reasonable distance on either side of the intended line. The line of putt does not extend beyond the hole .

[Dormie1360]

Erik covered that very well.  The only possible infraction I've seen with that type of put is a tendency to "drag" the putt toward you.  You have to make sure it's still a momentary strike.

Regards,

John

[Golfingdad]

Great thanks.  It's one of the many little things that I just don't really pay attention to or care about in a casual round, but are going to come up and bite me when I start playing competitively.

[Dormie1360]

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

Great thanks.  It's one of the many little things that I just don't really pay attention to or care about in a casual round, but are going to come up and bite me when I start playing competitively.

I could do a short list of some of the most common myths regarding golf rules if anyone's insterested.  I'm new, so it may have been done already.

Regards,

John

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by mtsalmela80

So you can design a putter with a flat surface on the toe designed to strike the ball?

I'm just curious because we have all probably heard about the Dr. feelgood putter, and that it is illegal. Its illegal supposedly because its longer front to back than it is side to side.

Then why not just redesign the thing and have a impact surface running along the side of it, along with the hammer-style tip at the end.

The short answer is no, you can't design a putter in that fashion, and for the reason that you mention about the Feelgood putter.  If it is designed to be used with the toe (meaning that there is a purposely made striking face set at 90 degrees from the conventional face), then it would be nonconforming.

[mtsalmela80]

so who is to say that a flat toe side is a "striking face" vs just a design feature. i mean if i took a typical anser putter and grinded a small flat toe, is it then nonconforming?

Originally Posted by Fourputt

The short answer is no, you can't design a putter in that fashion, and for the reason that you mention about the Feelgood putter.  If it is designed to be used with the toe (meaning that there is a purposely made striking face set at 90 degrees from the conventional face), then it would be nonconforming.

[zeg]

I imagine it'd be up to the committee and perhaps eventually the USGA (or appropriate local agency).  The rules on this are necessarily a bit vague, but if you can't point out a plausible reason why you ground off that toe other than to use it as a striking face, you might have a problem.

Note one other concern when using the toe (or anywhere other than the face) of the putter is that many designs open up the possibility of hitting with two parts of the club and incurring a double-hit penalty.

I'd just use the face of the putter, I can't imagine any reason to do otherwise.

[Dormie1360]

Originally Posted by mtsalmela80

so who is to say that a flat toe side is a "striking face" vs just a design feature. i mean if i took a typical anser putter and grinded a small flat toe, is it then nonconforming?

Hey mtsalmela80,

With your example I would say you would be in breach of Rule 4-1b.  A club that conforms to the rules when new must not be altered, other than in the normal course of play, where the club in it's altered state would not confirm with the Rules.  As mentioned before, striking surfaces must be opposing on a putter.  I wouldn't think that you could create a new striking face on the toe, and at the same time declare the front of the Anser to be a non striking face when that's how it was originally designed.  Also, you now have a putter that has a much longer body front to back than it's striking surface, which is illegal.

Having said that, if a company designed a putter that just so happended to have a flat toe, I think, as long as the toe isn't identified as a striking surface, the club would probably be legal.

You're making my head hurt.

Do you really want to make a club like this?

Regards,

John