I notice in a social game I had last week that I’m setting up wrong.

I found I’m pointing right of my intended target line.

I found this out while wanting for the group ahead to get out of range.

What I do as part on my normal pre-shot routine is

1) Walk behind the ball.
2) Pick out a point on the ground to form a target line.
3) Walk round to square of the ball
4) Etc…….

When I put a club along the line of my feet, walk back behind the ball and compare the target line vs the feet line, I found my feet point to the right.

Am I allowed to put a club along my feet like this?

I lift the club off the ground before I hit the ball as it’s usually the club I use to hit the ball.

Provided you remove the club prior to making a shot you can do it.

I wouldn’t recommend it as part of your pre shot routine as it would be very time consuming doing it every time.

If you watch any of the Ladies Tours it is a common sight to see the caddies standing behined the player just before they hit, checking their alignment.

A few of the old guys I sometimes play with have adopted the habit of puting a club across their hips for alignment when they set up. I don’t think this really achieves anything as they would be better off learning proper alignment from a coach or reading some of Paul’s articles. And some coaches will tell you that alignment starts with the shoulders, not the feet.

Leen, I’m 99% sure you can’t. I read it a few years ago though some I’m sketchy on the detail.

Radar, I think you’ll find your statement is incorrect. You cannot use an alignment tool to set your feet up. (tree limb/club/rake/whatever). I’d guess it’s a 2 stroke penalty. I think its some sort of oustide agency assistance rule.

I’m not a a passionate rule Nazi, so I don’t have the exact rule, but there are plenty around who thrive on this sort of thing.

Also – in your caddy example – the caddy uses his naked eye, not a guiding tool, and he walks away before the stroke is made. If he doesn’t walk away ….penalty.

Whitednj – club across the hips is fine – you are still holding it.

Liz

Liz, time to abdicate.

Dec. 8-2a/1 Club Placed on Ground to Align Feet
Q. A player places a club on the ground parallel to the line of play to assist him in aligning his feet properly. Is this permissible?
A. Yes, provided the player removes the club before playing his stroke. Otherwise, a breach of Rule 8-2a would occur.

Thanks Belligerant

I should have posted the reference with my answer.

I am at work and didn’t have time to find the ruling.
I went to get the wording and found you had already posted it.

Liz event though the Caddies are lining up by sight, in effect it is the same as laying a club on the ground stepping back and looking, you are sighting down the line of your feet effectively. The caddie is lining up the players feet, shoulders or hips, then moves out of the way, just as you would remove the Club before the stroke. Failure to remove the club or the caddie not getting out of the way would be a penalty.

A rare , but welcomed appearance by your majesty. And i do believe she may be correct

Your maj, clubs, I regret that on this occasion the venerable Messrs Radar and Beligerant rule the waves. The key is to remove it first.

http://www.golflink.com.au/...

A rare , but welcomed appearance by your majesty. And i do believe she may be correct

How are we mere mortals to disagree?
If we do, we know what will happen to our heads :O(

There’s some about Lizzy and her avatar that really makes me laugh.

NWABP

Her majesty not only rules the waves, she sometimes waives the rules.

now THAT is clever…I at least raised my glass!

http://www.golflink.com.au/...

We are not amused.

Want to bet??

Her majesty not only rules the waves, she sometimes waives the rules.

Pay that.

Belligerant is correct. My apologies, you can do it. Lucky I said I was only 99% sure.

The R&A website is quite user friendly for such rules questions.

As for why I’m not around much anymore – too many dickheads. I pop in from time to time, but inevitably get driven away by bogan post whores.