Swing Aids

[JPsuff]

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In another thread, the practice of using a golf glove or a small cloth tucked under one's armpit as a swing aid was discussed. In that thread it was also mentioned that the same effect of the glove under the arm can be achieved by grabbing a bit of cloth from one's shirt and folding it under the armpit, thus eliminating the need to use a glove or other cloth for the same purpose.

During a round of golf, is it legal to do such a thing as tuck the extra cloth from one's shirt under one's armpit to act as a reminder to keep that arm close to the body, or is that considered a swing aid?


Thoughts?



-JP

[coralpro]

Originally Posted by JPsuff

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In another thread, the practice of using a golf glove or a small cloth tucked under one's armpit as a swing aid was discussed. In that thread it was also mentioned that the same effect of the glove under the arm can be achieved by grabbing a bit of cloth from one's shirt and folding it under the armpit, thus eliminating the need to use a glove or other cloth for the same purpose.

During a round of golf, is it legal to do such a thing as tuck the extra cloth from one's shirt under one's armpit to act as a reminder to keep that arm close to the body, or is that considered a swing aid?


Thoughts?



-JP

Yes, it is illegal. Anything that constitutes an aid is not permissable. I've seen a similar question asked in the Q & A section but too lazy right now to find it. You might escape with rolling a loose sleeve and tucking it to hold stating it bothered your swing but if it was found that you were using that as an aid you would be disqualified in a tournement.

[coralpro]

14-3 Artificial Devices and Unusual Equipment
The United States Golf Association (USGA) reserves the right, at any time, to change the Rules relating to artificial devices and unusual equipment and make or change the interpretations relating to these Rules.
A player in doubt as to whether use of an item would constitute a breach of Rule 14-3 should consult the USGA.
A manufacturer may submit to the USGA a sample of an item to be manufactured for a ruling as to whether its use during a stipulated round would cause a player to be in breach of Rule 14-3. The sample becomes the property of the USGA for reference purposes. If a manufacturer fails to submit a sample before manufacturing and/or marketing the item, the manufacturer assumes the risk of a ruling that use of the item would be contrary to the Rules.
Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment:
(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; or(c) That might assist him in gripping the club, except thati) plain gloves may be worn;(ii) resin, powder and drying or moisturizing agents may be used; and(iii) a towel or handkerchief may be wrapped around the grip.

I think that qualifies as artificial device.

[JPsuff]

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Not so fast.

A player's shirt is neither a device nor is it equipment. It is a garment. It's designed purpose is not to act as a swing aid, but rather to simply cover the upper portion of one's body.


Now, as far as it being used in the manner which I described, the only portion of that rule which might seem to apply is where it states: "A player in doubt as to whether use of an item would constitute a breach of Rule 14-3 should consult the USGA."


But even that is vague because the phrase, "use of an item" implies first that whatever someone wishes to use as a swing aid is a separate thing, an object unto itself and that if it were ruled that this "item" or this "object" were illegal, it could not be used.

A shirt cannot be declared illegal nor is it worn for any other purpose than to cover the upper portion of one's body as a garment. Therefore, a shirt cannot be deemed to be anything other than that which it is - a garment.

The rule again doen't specifically address the issue where it states: " Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment:
(a) That might assist him in making a stroke or in his play;..."

Again, a shirt cannot be described as an artificial device or as unusual equipment.

Tucking one's shirt under one's arm to act as a reminder to keep that arm close to one's body during a stipulated round may be a subject of debate from an ethical standpoint, but based upon Rule 14-3, as it is written, it's not illegal to do so.



I'll tell ya', I've never seen a game in which more rules are open to interpretation than the game of golf. I guess I'll just add this one to the list as well.



-JP

[Wazmankg]

I agree with JP. Though it would certainly violate the spirit of the rule, how can a shirt, when worn as intended, constitute an artificial aid or device ? Anyone pushing the envelope on this would certainly take a lot of grief at the very least. I'd be interested to hear fourputt's & atticus' take on this one.

[Bigvivec]

It's a tough one...I don't have an answer...but my feeling is that in the spirit of gentlemanly competition where players are asked to police themselves, should you feel that what you were doing was assisting your swing rather than wearing the shirt so that you have a shirt that you are wearing, it would be a violation, but again, just my feeling...would be interested in the opinions from the two rules scholars already mentioned...

[Bigvivec]

Along similar lines, what about grips that have markings on them? I am not talking about training grips that look like hybridized motorcycle grips, but plain golfpride grips that have guidlines printed on the grip, presumably so that a player may use it for reference in building their grip...wouldn't this be leaning towards the violation line?

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by Wazmankg

I agree with JP. Though it would certainly violate the spirit of the rule, how can a shirt, when worn as intended, constitute an artificial aid or device ? Anyone pushing the envelope on this would certainly take a lot of grief at the very least. I'd be interested to hear fourputt's & atticus' take on this one.

If the intent was to aid in making a stroke, the it would be illegal under Rule 14-3. It would come under the heading of using an item in an unusual manner for the purpose of aiding in making a stroke. The following is the most closely related decision I could find in a hasty search. There are several prohibitions about using a normal item in an abnormal way.

14-3/7 Player with Injured Right Wrist Inserts Left Thumb Under Elastic Bandage on Right Wrist and Hand


Q. A player, who wore an elastic bandage around his right wrist and hand because of an injury, inserted his left thumb under the bandage where it crosses his right palm, and played a number of strokes with his left thumb so located. Is this permissible?

A. No. Because of the injury, the player was entitled to wear the elastic bandage. However, when he inserted his left thumb under the bandage, he was in breach of Rule 14-3.

[atticusfinch]

Originally Posted by Wazmankg

I agree with JP. Though it would certainly violate the spirit of the rule, how can a shirt, when worn as intended, constitute an artificial aid or device ? Anyone pushing the envelope on this would certainly take a lot of grief at the very least. I'd be interested to hear fourputt's & atticus' take on this one.

I agree with fourputt it is against the rules but next week it will be more clearly so.

A shirt is not an artificial device but it is equipment. Equipment includes "anything worn."

In about a week what is being suggested will be against the rules. the new rule 14-3 states:

Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the
player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment,
or use any equipment in an unusual manner

[Bigvivec]

Originally Posted by atticusfinch

I agree with fourputt it is against the rules but next week it will be more clearly so.

A shirt is not an artificial device but it is equipment. Equipment includes "anything worn."

In about a week what is being suggested will be against the rules. the new rule 14-3 states:

Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the
player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment,
or use any equipment in an unusual manner

It's good having the two of you around...like having our own legal department for consultation!

[90civicracer]

I'm with you Big, some of these guys act as our own legal council, I've learned so many things on here, rules wise, its wonderful.

[JPsuff]

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Well, rewriting the rules to include such things may be all well and good, but you'd be hard-pressed to prove someone was doing it.

I usually use the "shirt" method while at a driving range because it eliminates having to position a glove under my arm each time before I swing and then have to pick up the glove after each swing. I can tell you from experience that it takes literally one-tenth of a second to "adjust" the cloth of my shirt so that I get the desired effect of "holding" something under my armpit and it would be virtually impossible to detect (much less prove) that I was doing this.

So, even though the rule might become more explicit in addressing such things, there'd be no way to enforce it. Picture trying to accuse someone of this. All the "suspect" would have to say id that his shirt is bunching up or sticking to his skin and he's simply moving it so that it isn't. How could anyone prove otherwise?

Or perhaps touching various parts of his body is simply a nervous affectation not unlike a pitcher touching his ear and the brim of his cap before beginning his windup. There could be no rule written to prevent such things and since that's true, who would know for sure if such "nervousness" was merely a subterfuge for something more sinister?

Believe me, I've watched pro's set ups very closely over the years and I've seen more than a few do "something" with the cloth around their armpits before striking the ball, but what I suspect they're doing as opposed to what can be proven are two vastly different things.

Personally, I don't see it as a big deal. I liken it to Jack Nicklaus' advice to "kick" the right knee towards the ball to trigger the backswing. Couldn't that be interpreted as a "swing aid"? I know his knee is not artificial (or maybe it is by now), nor is it equipment, but using it to help in swinging the club could be construed as an "aid", in my opinion.

At any rate, it's an interesting discussion.


-JP

[atticusfinch]

Originally Posted by JPsuff

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Well, rewriting the rules to include such things may be all well and good, but you'd be hard-pressed to prove someone was doing it.

I usually use the "shirt" method while at a driving range because it eliminates having to position a glove under my arm each time before I swing and then have to pick up the glove after each swing. I can tell you from experience that it takes literally one-tenth of a second to "adjust" the cloth of my shirt so that I get the desired effect of "holding" something under my armpit and it would be virtually impossible to detect (much less prove) that I was doing this.

So, even though the rule might become more explicit in addressing such things, there'd be no way to enforce it. Picture trying to accuse someone of this. All the "suspect" would have to say id that his shirt is bunching up or sticking to his skin and he's simply moving it so that it isn't. How could anyone prove otherwise?

Or perhaps touching various parts of his body is simply a nervous affectation not unlike a pitcher touching his ear and the brim of his cap before beginning his windup. There could be no rule written to prevent such things and since that's true, who would know for sure if such "nervousness" was merely a subterfuge for something more sinister?

Believe me, I've watched pro's set ups very closely over the years and I've seen more than a few do "something" with the cloth around their armpits before striking the ball, but what I suspect they're doing as opposed to what can be proven are two vastly different things.

Personally, I don't see it as a big deal. I liken it to Jack Nicklaus' advice to "kick" the right knee towards the ball to trigger the backswing. Couldn't that be interpreted as a "swing aid"? I know his knee is not artificial (or maybe it is by now), nor is it equipment, but using it to help in swinging the club could be construed as an "aid", in my opinion.

At any rate, it's an interesting discussion.


-JP

I do not play with people who try to knowingly "get away" with a rules breach and consider no breach to have occurred because they are not called on it or it cannot be proven. That is not how it is supposed to work.

using it to help in swinging the club could be construed as an "aid", in my opinion.

Now you're just being silly.

[JPsuff]

Originally Posted by atticusfinch

I do not play with people who try to knowingly "get away" with a rules breach and consider no breach to have occurred because they are not called on it or it cannot be proven.

If it can't be proven, then how would you know they're doing it?


Did you know it can be done simply by stretching? I can hold my arm up in the air to stretch it and as I bring it down I can trap enough cloth beneath my armpit to create the desired effect (and I've seen more than a few pro's "stretch" in this manner just prior to taking their stance as well... Hmmm...). Now, how would you know if one of us was "doing it"? Or should stretching be a rules violation as well?


What gets me is that in this rule, is it states that: "a towel or handkerchief may be wrapped around the grip." to assist in gripping the club, yet THAT is not considered a swing aid. (But put that same towel or handkerchief under your pant leg to keep it from getting soiled and "Look out Charlie!" [or Craig, as the case may be]).

So if someone practices all the time by manipulating their shirt in such a way as to remind themselves to keep their left arm tight to their body, then what harm is there? They're not gaining any advantage. They're simply reminding themselves to keep their arm tucked in. And speaking of "reminders", how is it that the ribbed golf grip got past the rules police? It's actually referred to as a "reminder grip" by some manufacturers. Still not a swing aid, right?
Or how about the caddies on the LPGA tour who set behind their player on the green and visually align their putters for them? That's not "aiding a swing" either?

See, this is what I mean when I say that many golf rules are capricious in nature. They often seem as if someone made them up for no other reason than to simply add some excitement to a slow Thursday. I still think that these rules people have waaaaay too much time on their hands.




Merry Christmas!


-JP

[atticusfinch]

Originally Posted by JPsuff

If it can't be proven, then how would you know they're doing it?

I think you missed my point.

[Bigvivec]

I'm with Atticus...like I stated in my original post, golf isn't supposed to be about what you can get away with...I suppose as an amateur non gambler playing friendly games you could fudge around the edges of the rules all you want...but as soon as your score matters to someone else besides yourself, you are in breach even if the only person who knows is the one looking back at you in the mirror...not worth tarnishing my character over...

[Wazmankg]

Originally Posted by JPsuff

And speaking of "reminders", how is it that the ribbed golf grip got past the rules police? It's actually referred to as a "reminder grip" by some manufacturers. Still not a swing aid, right?
-JP

I asked about this one in another thread recently. I'm not familiar with these reminder rib grips, but they don't sound quite kosher to me.

[Bigvivec]

Every mizuno club I have picked up has these installed from the factory...could this be part of the zuno mistique? I dunno...what I do know is that my iron play has improved just by using clubs with these grips, and I have since sent all those plus several others to the shop to be regripped with the rib...the legal corps declared them legal, as did the shop owner and apparently mizuno with this as a factory standard spec...solidrock also confirmed...I just feel like I have been missing out and am glad to jump on the rib boat...

[90civicracer]

My CCi Forged's also have the rib on the back side, they actually feel pretty nice, even though I do like the feel of my Tour Wraps on my other clubs.