Putting with back of putter (mallets)

[wilwin]

Illegal?

This is referring to mallet style putters. I know it's okay to have 2-sided putters and putt on either side, but if you have a mallet like a 2-ball where a potential hitting surface on the back is smaller than the front, is it legal to use the back of the putter to strike the ball?

I was messing around with my Rife IMO and it seemed to strike the ball well on the back. I am considering using the back of the putter for downhill putts so I could take the speed out a little bit. I like it more than putting it off the toe.

[mgranato]

I'd say legal. It's okay to use the toe and heel surfaces, why not the back?

[Speedly]

It's legal, although I'd say not the greatest idea.

[JMBZL]

it's legal but don't do it!

[Sawgrass]

You see pros tap in with the back of their putters all the time.

It gives me the creeps (imagine if you jerked one up in the air by sliding the flange under the ball as you do when you pick it up?), but I've never seen anyone miss!

(I know I'm not talking about a mallet putter, but I can't imagine that it's okay to putt with the back of one style and not another style.)

[Newby]

Regardless of the club, you may strike at the ball with any part of the clubhead.
Rule 14-1.

[mwl111006]

Yeah it's legal. But, I once had a playing partner (a stranger, not a friend) say that it was a penalty for tapping in with the toe of my putter because I was making a "mockery of the game". I handed him a rule book (which I normally keep in my bag), and asked him to find his mockery ruling in there.

[uofmrocky]

very legal..but not a good idea

[bigred90gt]

I did it in a tournament and it cost me a stroke...................because I missed the 8" putt.

[tfro]

[b][i]Decision 14-1/1 Playing Stroke with Back of Clubhead [/i][/b]

[b]Q.[/b] May a player play a left-handed stroke with the back of the head of a right-handed club?

[b]A.[/b] Yes. A player may play a stroke with any part of the clubhead, provided the ball is fairly struck at (Rule [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14280#14-1"]14-1)[/url] and the club conforms with Rule [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14260#4-1"]4-1[/url].

[msd71]

Wouldn't putting with the toe of the putter technically break the maximum 80* lie angle rule? Playing it this way, the lie is 90*.

[mwl111006]

[quote name='msd71' date='27 May 2010 - 02:23 PM' timestamp='1274984620' post='2471140']
Wouldn't putting with the toe of the putter technically break the maximum 80* lie angle rule? Playing it this way, the lie is 90*.
[/quote]

I think the 80* lie angle rule you're speaking of has to do with the manufacture of the club not the manner in which you hold it. As long as the club is manufactured (and not altered) to have a lie angle of 80* or less and you strike the ball with the clubhead, you're within the rules.

[msd71]

I can imagine designing a putter that adheres to the 80* rule but would really (secretly) be designed to be played off the toe. Imaging a perfectly square mallet putter head (front-back dimension same as side-side) with an 80* shaft entering it in the dead center. Now, angle the "toe" side 13*, and voila, you now have a putter with 3* of loft that you can play off the toe at 90*, and doesn't break any rules.

[Sawgrass]

[quote name='msd71' date='27 May 2010 - 03:07 PM' timestamp='1274987248' post='2471218']
I can imagine designing a putter that adheres to the 80* rule but would really (secretly) be designed to be played off the toe. Imaging a perfectly square mallet putter head (front-back dimension same as side-side) with an 80* shaft entering it in the dead center. Now, angle the "toe" side 13*, and voila, you now have a putter with 3* of loft that you can play off the toe at 90*, and doesn't break any rules.
[/quote]

Interesting loophole identification.

But I wonder if the ruling bodies would reject the design, even if it technically meets their existing criteria, simply because they see through the "secretly" part. Kind of like the rejection of the proposed grooves in the Callaway wedge design that Phil went on record as being so upset about earlier this year?

[Newby]

[quote name='msd71' date='27 May 2010 - 08:07 PM' timestamp='1274987248' post='2471218']
I can imagine designing a putter that adheres to the 80* rule but would really (secretly) be designed to be played off the toe. Imaging a perfectly square mallet putter head (front-back dimension same as side-side) with an 80* shaft entering it in the dead center. Now, angle the "toe" side 13*, and voila, you now have a putter with 3* of loft that you can play off the toe at 90*, and doesn't break any rules.
[/quote]

Would it be substantially different from the [i]'traditional and customary form and make[/i]'?

[grabthepin]

That depends if the manufacturer threatens to sue the USGA or not.

 

This popular putter is apparently traditional and customary form.

 

 

And how about the prohibition of holes through the head. They say some exceptions may be made for putters and cavity back irons--if this passes, what doesn't pass?

 

And what about this very popular putter?

 

 

 

How does it get past the prohibition on "facsimiles of golf balls or actual golf balls incorporated into the head" - it's even called 2-ball putter.

[Speedly]

I can imagine designing a putter that adheres to the 80* rule but would really (secretly) be designed to be played off the toe. Imaging a perfectly square mallet putter head (front-back dimension same as side-side) with an 80* shaft entering it in the dead center. Now, angle the "toe" side 13*, and voila, you now have a putter with 3* of loft that you can play off the toe at 90*, and doesn't break any rules.

 

Too late, unfortunately.

 

 

Made by THE HAMMER himself. Judging by his purported distances, he should hit this putter about 120.

 

BOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!

[Randiesel]

Can you imagine hitting that thing like a driver? I bet it would go a mile, its like taking a sledgehammer to a golf ball...

[RJRJRJ]

How does this translate with the player taking his stance and grounding the club? Do all the same rules apply or can you legally just walk over and tap it while your walking?

[Newby]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' date='06 June 2010 - 06:59 PM' timestamp='1275847153' post='2489636']
How does this translate with the player taking his stance and grounding the club? Do all the same rules apply[/quote]

Which rule(s) specifically are you thinking about ?

[quote] or can you legally just walk over and tap it while your walking?
[/quote]

There is no rule requiring a player to stand still when making any stroke.

[Newby]

 

Too late, unfortunately.

 

 

How does this fit in with

Appendix II Design of Clubs

4 Clubhead

(iii) Putters

When the clubhead is in its normal address position, the dimensions of the head must be such that:

 

· the distance from the heel to the toe is greater than the distance from the face to the back;

 

 

[Speedly]

Who cares about the rules in relation to that thing? It's not USGA compliant anyhow - just ridiculous.

Put down your rulebook and have a laugh.

[doctorphil]

It is legal... but if someone has the nerves to call you on something for tapping in a putt while you are standing on your head or whatever else.... They deserve a swift kick to their PRO V 1's

P.s - Just dont miss the tap in

[RJRJRJ]

[quote name='Newby' date='06 June 2010 - 12:22 PM' timestamp='1275855732' post='2489802']
[quote name='RJRJRJ' date='06 June 2010 - 06:59 PM' timestamp='1275847153' post='2489636']
How does this translate with the player taking his stance and grounding the club? Do all the same rules apply[/quote]

Which rule(s) specifically are you thinking about ?

[quote] or can you legally just walk over and tap it while your walking?
[/quote]

There is no rule requiring a player to stand still when making any stroke.
[/quote]

I dont know if the rule exists. I was just referring to the question of how it would be determined that there was intent hit the shot, considering that the player doesnt take a stance and the ball gets hit with the back of his club.