Ball interfering with play - procedure?

ApexGrind · July 29, 2007

Must hold ball with 2 fingers????

This came up today. I'm going to browse the online rules and decisions but thought I'd throw it up here as well.

I'm on the fringe in front of my match play opponent's ball. He elects to putt and asks me to mark my ball. No problem, and I don't want to go first to give him a read. I mark and am holding my ball. My friend in the foursome say "you have to hold the ball like this" holding his ball with his thumb and index finger. I was dumbfounded and thought that completely absurd. I used to be able to quote many of the decisions but it's been a few years since I even looked at the rules. After the round we asked the pro in the club house (always hit and miss). Pro says "Absolutely right. I know that because it was on my PGA exam". I know you can't clean the ball and couldn't find anything in my 3 year old rules book about this. Is this a PGA Tour rule only?

Diesel · July 29, 2007

i guess i can see the point of that, cause you can't clean that ball, but i never read anything that said you had to pick it up like a stinky diaper...

so did you win...?

mat562 · July 29, 2007

You can't clean it.

But the way you hold it is immaterial.

ApexGrind · July 29, 2007

i guess i can see the point of that, cause you can't clean that ball, but i never read anything that said you had to pick it up like a stinky diaper...

so did you win...?

I lost the hole (penalty or not) but won the match :cheesy:

Joe Schmoe · July 30, 2007

I'm nearly positive it doesn't matter how you hold it, you just can't clean it. I think i saw a telecast where a pro had to mark his ball and to make clear that he wasn't cleaning it he placed it on the ground nearby (not in the way). As long as they don't call a penalty on you, I would hold it in that manner to remove doubt of cleaning the ball.

hbear · July 30, 2007

Yeah you don't HAVE to hold it like that, but the onus is on you to ensure you do not touch the ball in a way which you might inadvertantly clean it. (hence the 2 finger hold and why you will never see a guy put the ball in his pocket.

As was said, hold it in a way to remove any doubt that you are cleaning the ball (unintentional cleaning or not)