[excivaamome]

I watched Lucas Glover miss a putt just to left of the cup today. The ball was only a few inches away from the cup so he went to backhand it in (which he did).

Since he was using the back of the putter to hit the ball, just before he tapped the ball, he paused and raised the putter up to make sure that the flange struck the ball cleanly, and that got me wondering.
What if he didn't raise the putter and when he went to brush the ball into the hole, the flange slid under the ball and the ball rolled up onto the flange of the putter and stayed there as the club swung upward?

I know it's not likely to have something like that happen but since many people pick up a ball from the green this way, it could happen, so if it did, what would be the ruling?


-JP

[jhfsdhf]

I watched Lucas Glover miss a putt just to left of the cup today. The ball was only a few inches away from the cup so he went to backhand it in (which he did).

Since he was using the back of the putter to hit the ball, just before he tapped the ball, he paused and raised the putter up to make sure that the flange struck the ball cleanly, and that got me wondering.
What if he didn't raise the putter and when he went to brush the ball into the hole, the flange slid under the ball and the ball rolled up onto the flange of the putter and stayed there as the club swung upward?

I know it's not likely to have something like that happen but since many people pick up a ball from the green this way, it could happen, so if it did, what would be the ruling?


-JP

These 2 decisions are the closest to what you describe. The first one is the most appropriate to this question.

1-4/2 Ball Adhering to Face of Club After Stroke

Q. A player plays a stroke from wet sand or soil and the ball adheres to the face of the club. What is the ruling?

A. In equity (Rule 1-4), the ball should be dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where the club was when the ball stuck to it. But see also Decision 14-4/1. 14-4/1 Ball Falls on Club Face After Stroke and Sticks to Mud Thereon

Q. A player, making a stroke at his ball on the bank of a bunker, hit the ball straight up. The ball came down and adhered to mud on the face of the club. Was the player in breach of Rule 14-4?

A. No. However, the player stopped his ball and was in breach of Rule 19-2.

In match play and stroke play, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke and must drop the ball as near as possible to the spot where the ball adhered to the club (Rule 19-2).

But see Decision 1-4/2. (Revised) It appears that if the ball loses contact with the club, then somehow gets stuck on or lodged in it, then it's a penalty under Rule 19-2 for stopping or deflecting your ball while it's in motion.

If the ball never loses contact with the club then it seems that it would be no penalty.

However, in the situation you describe, the player might be penalized under 14-1 for pushing or spooning the ball rather than fairly striking it. It would depend on how the situation actually came to occur.

[excivaamome]

These 2 decisions are the closest to what you describe. The first one is the most appropriate to this question.





It appears that if the ball loses contact with the club, then somehow gets stuck on or lodged in it, then it's a penalty under Rule 19-2 for stopping or deflecting your ball while it's in motion.

If the ball never loses contact with the club then it seems that it would be no penalty.

However, in the situation you describe, the player might be penalized under 14-1 for pushing or spooning the ball rather than fairly striking it. It would depend on how the situation actually came to occur.

The "spooning" aspect is what I was wondering about. I suppose that it would have to fall against the player because he should know that such a thing might happen and he should have taken the time to walk around the ball and strike it properly. On the other hand, since it's just a tap in, no one could really blame him for just trying knock the ball in and move on.

Watch, now it'll happen for real and it'll be my fault for bringing it up.


-JP

[mas-dkt-sive]

A few years ago, Fred Couples attempted to backhand his ball into the cup and it got lifted up and over the hole, leaving him with a couple of inch "comebacker". He looked totally stunned, but it only cost him the stroke since it did not "adhere" to his club, just dropped off on the other side.

[surefireinvest]

I watched Lucas Glover miss a putt just to left of the cup today. The ball was only a few inches away from the cup so he went to backhand it in (which he did).

Since he was using the back of the putter to hit the ball, just before he tapped the ball, he paused and raised the putter up to make sure that the flange struck the ball cleanly, and that got me wondering.
What if he didn't raise the putter and when he went to brush the ball into the hole, the flange slid under the ball and the ball rolled up onto the flange of the putter and stayed there as the club swung upward?

I know it's not likely to have something like that happen but since many people pick up a ball from the green this way, it could happen, so if it did, what would be the ruling?


-JP

You should email the USGA with that one. I would be interested to know what the official ruling would be.