Cracked driver face still conforming?

[Imp]

3M open. Just saw this....

Fritelli has a cracked driver face. Official says "can't replace, because of crack, not covered under rule, must be significantly damaged". Fritelli said "OK".

 

WHUT?

4.a.1... "But if the performance characteristics of a conforming club change because of wear through normal use, it is still a conforming club."

 

Pardon my ignorance, but isn't a cracked driver face no longer conforming (and not just because of "wear", but actual damage"), was broken during play, and can be replaced under 4.a.2? Or was the official leaning on 4.a.1 saying "playing characteristics changed but still legal" (and where Fritelli said "OK")? 

 

I'm dumfounded, so help me understand this one. 

 

--kC

Edited July 23, 2021 by Imp

[ThinkingPlus]

Disregard my post in the tourney thread.  You were way ahead of me.

[Augster]

This changed in 2019 also and comes up a lot less, so you don’t see it as often. 
 

If the club was conforming at the start of the round, and the damage is due to normal usage, the club is still deemed conforming until the end of the round. Because the club is still a conforming club, it can be fixed back to it’s original state (not possible with a cracked driver) or it can continue to be played as it’s still conforming. 
 

But it can’t be replaced until after the round. 

[ThinkingPlus]

The club may be deemed conforming, but I wouldn’t use it.  It might play OK or it might have lost distance or it might spray the ball all over the place.  Uncertainty is exactly what a pro needs introduced to their game mid-round... or maybe not.

[Imp]

32 minutes ago, Augster said:

This changed in 2019 also and comes up a lot less, so you don’t see it as often. 
 

If the club was conforming at the start of the round, and the damage is due to normal usage, the club is still deemed conforming until the end of the round. Because the club is still a conforming club, it can be fixed back to it’s original state (not possible with a cracked driver) or it can continue to be played as it’s still conforming. 
 

But it can’t be replaced until after the round. 

Is "Through normal usage" the same as "because of wear through normal use"? I believe that to be a large distinction. A scuffed face, a discolored face, scratches in the face, yes, thinning of the face. That is wear. A sudden crack in a driver face that has had very little use (i.e. days/months instead of years)... doesn't exhibit signs of gradual deterioration?

"Examples of wear through normal use include when:

Material inside a clubhead has broken loose and may rattle during the stroke or when the head is shaken.

A wear mark has formed on the club’s grip where the thumbs are placed.

A depression is formed on the club face through repeated use.

The grooves on the club’s face are worn."

All of the above, happen over time.  A crack is a sudden deformation, not a "depression" or something that appeared through time. But from swing A to swing B.... not gradual.

Edited July 23, 2021 by Imp

[Isaac_Newton]

40 minutes ago, Imp said:

Is "Through normal usage" the same as "because of wear through normal use"? I believe that to be a large distinction. A scuffed face, a discolored face, scratches in the face, yes, thinning of the face. That is wear. A sudden crack in a driver face that has had very little use (i.e. days/months instead of years)... doesn't exhibit signs of gradual deterioration?

"Examples of wear through normal use include when:

Material inside a clubhead has broken loose and may rattle during the stroke or when the head is shaken.

A wear mark has formed on the club’s grip where the thumbs are placed.

A depression is formed on the club face through repeated use.

The grooves on the club’s face are worn."

All of the above, happen over time.  A crack is a sudden deformation, not a "depression" or something that appeared through time. But from swing A to swing B.... not gradual.

I think you are misinterpreting "through normal usage". It simply means if the club was damaged during the normal course of play (hitting a golf ball for example) then the club is still conforming. If the player cracked the face by hitting a tee marker out of anger then this is not considered normal usage and the club is now non-conforming. So through normal usage refers to the circumstances under which the club became damaged, not any type of deterioration over time. 

[TerpFangolfer]

Pretty sure PGA Tour uses MLR G-9, correct - note the "exception" at the very end...so that is why he cannot replace

 

G-9 Replacing Club that is Broken or Significantly Damaged

Model Local Rule G-9

“Rule 4.1b(3) is modified in this way:

If a player’s club is “broken or significantly damaged” during the round by the player or caddie, except in cases of abuse, the player may replace the club with any club under Rule 4.1b(4).

When replacing a club, the player must immediately take the broken or significantly damaged club out of play, using the procedure in Rule 4.1c(1).

For the purposes of this Local Rule:

• A club is “broken or significantly damaged” when:

  • the shaft breaks into pieces, splinters or is bent (but not when the shaft is only dented)

  • the club face impact area is visibly deformed (but not when the club face is only scratched)

  • the clubhead is visibly and significantly deformed

  • the clubhead is detached or loose from the shaft, or

  • the grip is loose.

Exception: A club face or clubhead is not “broken or significantly damaged” solely because it is cracked.

[Imp]

Gracias! Thank you. I couldn't find that.

 

--kC

[Mr. Bean]

2 hours ago, TerpFangolfer said:

Pretty sure PGA Tour uses MLR G-9, correct - note the "exception" at the very end...so that is why he cannot replace

 

 

The final clause is the same in the actual Rule, so G-9 makes no difference in this respect.

[jimbo123]

4 hours ago, TerpFangolfer said:

Pretty sure PGA Tour uses MLR G-9, 

Thanks, official’s wording made no sense without that context