It is a common drill to hit balls with a towel or whatever under your armpit to “keep your arms connected to your body ” I hit the ball much better when I hit balls with a towel in my armpit. Of course,it is illegal to do this while hitting balls during a round.

I have found that I can produce the same effect by wrapping the loose top part of my sleeve around the front of my bicept and tucking it into my armpit. When I swing , I concentrate on holding this part of my sleeve in my armpit as I hit the ball .,My swing is much better when I adjust my shirt sleeve in such a way.

Is it legal for me to hit balls during a round by adjusting my shirt sleeve in such a way ???

I may be proved wrong by the rules Gurus but I can think of no rule that would forbid this action with the shirt sleeve.See what Rules Doc. &AAA have to say.

Although Pom has referred the matter to the mavins (hey Publish anyone can use it now!), I will have a dig at this with the chance of being mavin bashed.
“Equipment” is anything used, worn or carried by the player…..

R.14-3 states that during a stip. round the player must not…... use any equipment in an unusual manner:
a. That might assist him in making s stroke…
There are exceptions:
2. A player is not in breach of this rule if he uses equipment in a traditionally accepted manner.

IMO a shirt is worn in such a manner that it hangs on the body, doesn’t matter where it is, even on catwalks no one shoves the loose part of their sleeve up under their armpit, to so so is unusual and not in the accepted manner. Kerry you have admitted that you only do this to assist you in making a stroke. IMO it is a breach.
By way of analogy see Dec. 14-3/6 & 14-3/7.

Waiting to hear explanations as to how shoving the loose part of the sleeve into your armpit is the accepted way of wearing a shirt.

Belligerant

I would agree with your conclusions.

As an aside – not directed to anyone in particular – if, for example, your house was about to fall down, would you obtain the advice from
a) a structural engineer, or:
b) your mate (who built a small retaining wall around his fishpond)

I hope you said a. There are some knowledgeable rules experts on this site and on the whole they offer sound advice. It maybe not be in the simplest terms on all ocassions but they are only trying to answer the questions and share their knowledge and experience. Be nice!

Belligerant
Good analysis. I go along with it.

Beligerant , that does make perfect sense.

I guess, therefore, if I was a very superstitios person and I believed that I hit my best shots with one trouser leg rolled up above the knee and one hanging normaly at my ankles , that would be illegal during a round also ????

Kerry, the Cancer Council would advise against that unless you apply 30+ to the uncovered leg. Personally I always gut a chicken on the first tee – possibly bad etiquette and frankly it has never helped my game.
DEC I’m always nice, especially to mavins (gotta find another word!). BTW how did you know about my mate and his fishpond?;)

Actually I have seen numerous golfers adjust thier shirtsleeve before hitting a shot, I have done it myself if the sleeve is a little tight round the arm.I have also wrapped a towel round a wet grip so I could hit the ball. I guess it depends on what you define as unusual. In the decisions book, dec 14-3/1states that you cannot use any device used as a training aid during a stipulated round. Is a tucked up shirtsleeve a training aid device.

You wanted AAA’s assessment and you got it, now you disagree?

If you’ve gotta dodge the rules to keep your left elbow in place sew something inside your golf shirt so it can’t be detected or stick a piece of wadding to your armpit. If someone sees it say you’ve had recent cancer surgery and they’ll feel sorry for you.

I gotta agree it sounds like a serious rule bend.

Just seeking peoples opinions. I find learning the rules more interesting that way.

Pom – Rule14-3c(iii) says you can use a towel in the way you state. Not sure from your post if you knew that or not.

Yes I knew that rule at the time I tried it . Was quite suprised how well I hit the ball as well. Just not totally convinced that tucking your loose sleeve into your armpit should be considered a swing aid. Don,t think any of my shirts have sleeves big enough to do it either. Can,t see myself trying it or trying to police against it out on the course.

Can,t see myself trying it or trying to police against it out on the course.

A bad day on the golf course is better than no golf at all. :(

No one who ever had a lesson would have a swing like mine

Lee Trevino

Yeah, it happens a lot. Just watch Kerry if he plays your course or people with tuck shop arms. :)

I will have a dig at this

Belligerant. Good analysis. I go along with it.

If AAA approves, consider yourself promoted to Mavin! :-)

publish it is an honour that I must decline, I don’t do Leith speak – not that there is anything wrong with that (does that sound like a Seinfeld episode??);).

But Rules Doc hasn’t spoke yet.

mmmm -

If I saw a player tuck his shirt up into his armpits; (or roll up his trousers; or put on heavy rainwear on a hot day before he entered an area with gorse…) I wouldn’t give it a second thought.

If the player said he did the arm-pit-stuffing to help his game, 14-3 would kick in, and the shower would be waiting. IMO

I find it hard to believe anyone could be found in breach of the rules for tucking a sleeve under his armpit , its taking the rules to extremes in my view

He may be running foul of them if it was causing undue delay , but thats doubtful too

Although Pom has referred the matter to the mavins (hey Publish anyone can use it now!), I will have a dig at this with the chance of being mavin bashed.
“Equipment” is anything used, worn or carried by the player…..

R.14-3 states that during a stip. round the player must not…… use any equipment in an unusual manner:
a. That might assist him in making s stroke…
There are exceptions:
2. A player is not in breach of this rule if he uses equipment in a traditionally accepted manner.

IMO a shirt is worn in such a manner that it hangs on the body, doesn’t matter where it is, even on catwalks no one shoves the loose part of their sleeve up under their armpit, to so so is unusual and not in the accepted manner. Kerry you have admitted that you only do this to assist you in making a stroke. IMO it is a breach.
By way of analogy see Dec. 14-3/6 & 14-3/7.

Waiting to hear explanations as to how shoving the loose part of the sleeve into your armpit is the accepted way of wearing a shirt.

That should keep the blokes who wear their caps backwards off the course and dont tuck your pants in your socks on a wet day.
We all know the remedy you find today doesn’t work tomorrow

I find it hard to believe anyone could be found in breach of the rules for tucking a sleeve under his armpit , its taking the rules to extremes in my view

He may be running foul of them if it was causing undue delay , but thats doubtful too

” .... or use any equipment in an unusual manner:

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

That’s what the rule says.

Saw a pro did exactly that last month on fox sports. Can’t remember the event or player name but he was leading coming to final round. The commentator even commented that he was using his sleeve like a towel under arm-pit to help him with his swing. No mention of it being illegal or him being criticised for doing it.

Shame you can’t remember Genki. The TV audience picks up and reports many rules indiscretions. It would be interesting to know the name of the pro concerned. If he keeps doing it I would think that he will be called at some stage.
Aaron Baddeley is another pro who adjusts his sleeve before almost every shot, but it is obvious that he is not shoving it unnaturally under his armpit.

Arnie used to hitch up his pants before taking a swing do you think we could take his majors off him retrospectively, C’mon guy’s a shirt cannot be considered equipment surely that rule is for gloves or shoes. Just my opinion fellas

are shoes that prevent overpronation against the rules also?