Placing a marker behind the hole before putting

[jgllghr]

Hello everyone, 

I apologize if I'm posting in an inappropriate location as this is my first post, but I have a question regarding the Rules. 

I understand a person cannot place an object on the "line of the putt" at any point to help aid in a putt, but I was wondering if it's a rule violation to place a marker behind the hole while aligning the ball markings. It's easier to line the markings up with a smaller item sometimes than with the entire hole, and it would be placed directly behind the hole just while aligning the arrows on the ball.

 

Rule 8-2b states one cannot place a mark on the "line of the putt," but "line of the putt" is defined as not extending past the hole, meaning that placing a mark behind the hole wouldn't violate this rule, as long as the mark was removed before the stroke was made. 

 

 

Thanks!

[iacas]

It's helpful to read Decisions, too:

Check out 8-2b/0.5:

8-2b/0.5 - Meaning of "Indicating Line of Putt" and "Placing of Mark for Purpose of Indicating Line of Putt" in Rule 8-2b 

Rule 8-2b allows a player to have the line of putt indicated to him by his partner or either of their caddies. However, the putting green must not be touched nor may a mark be placed anywhere for the purpose of indicating the line of putt.

For example, the following actions are not a breach of Rule 8-2b:

• Prior to a player playing from the putting green, his caddie points to but does not touch a repaired ball-mark on the line of putt that the player should use as an aiming point.
• As a player is preparing to play from the putting green, his partner tells him to aim at the edge of a sprinkler head (i.e., a fixed object) that is located behind the green.

However, the following are examples of actions that would be a breach of Rule 8-2b:

• Prior to a player playing from the putting green, his caddie touches the putting green with the flagstick behind and to the right of the hole to indicate the point where the player should aim his putt.
• As a player is lining up his putt, his caddie places a water bottle on the grass behind the green to indicate the point where the player should aim his putt and removes the bottle before the player makes his stroke. (New)

Welcome to TST.

[dennyjones]

Welcome to TST.   We're glad you've joined.  

[paperclip]

Thank you, excellent explanation.

 

[jgllghr]

Great explanation, I'll have to make sure I pay more attention to the Decisions in the future.

 

Thank you for responding so quickly as well!