relief

[fly47]

As a right hand player, if I can't take relief, but can if I take a left hander stance, can I then play my normal right hand shot or do I have to play as a lefty because of the left hand stance allowing relief?

[tatertot]

You can't take relief from a left handed stance as a right handed player ... Unless i'm misunderstanding your question.

[DaveLeeNC]

I believe that if your only legitimate play on the ball is left handed and that is the play that you would make, then you can play from either side after taking relief.  dave

[davep043]

In order to get free relief under rule 16 for Abnormal Course Conditions, the shot you're using must not be "clearly unreasonable".  If the only swing you have is left handed, and you have interference from an ACC with that shot, then you get relief.  You must take complete relief for that left-handed shot, reference point is the nearest point of complete relief.  Once you've taken relief, its a brand new situation, you may play any kind of shot you want.  Refer to Rule 16 for the details.

[sui generis]

The nerd version of what Dave just said:

 

16.1a(3)/2 – Player May Not Use Clearly Unreasonable Stroke to Get Relief from Condition

A player may not use a clearly unreasonable stroke to get relief from an abnormal course condition. If the player’s stroke is clearly unreasonable given the circumstances, relief under Rule 16.1 is not allowed, and they must either play the ball as it lies or take unplayable ball relief.

 

For example, in the general area, a right-handed player’s ball is in a bad lie. A nearby immovable obstruction would not interfere with the player’s normal right-handed stroke, but would interfere with a left-handed stroke. The player states that they are going to make the next stroke left-handed and believes that, since the obstruction would interfere with such a stroke, Rule 16.1b allows relief.

However, since the only reason for the player to use a left-handed stroke is to escape a bad lie by taking relief, use of the left-handed stroke is clearly unreasonable and the player is not allowed to take relief under Rule 16.1b (Rule 16.1a(3)).

 

The same principles would apply to the use of a clearly unreasonable stance, direction of play or the choice of a club.

 

https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-clarifications/rules-and-clarifications.html#!ruletype=interp&section=rule&rulenum=16&subrulenum=8

[LeoLeo99]

5 hours ago, tatertot said:

You can't take relief from a left handed stance as a right handed player ... Unless i'm misunderstanding your question.

You can if it's reasonable.  

[rogolf]

If the abnormal course condition were not there, would you make the stroke left-handed?  If no, then likely no free relief.