Training Device???

gxer · 08-24-2010, 11:54 AM

IMO, this action by Paula's caddy, using a club touched to the bill of her cap as she makes practice swings to help her sense head movement, causes him, along with the club he uses, to become an actual living breathing training device.

Buzzer · 08-24-2010, 11:59 AM

Maybe, but it's not attached to the club! And it's not artificial, either!
IMO, it's about the same as a caddy lining up his player.

Viva Annika

gxer · 08-24-2010, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Buzzer

Maybe, but it's not attached to the club! And it's not artificial, either!
IMO, it's about the same as a caddy lining up his player.

Viva Annika

I don't like the caddy lining up the player either.

Anyway, I would say that Paula's caddy is violating 14-3 this way.

"use any equipment in an unusual manner:"

USGA: Rules and Decisions

heddwyn · 08-24-2010, 12:45 PM

When was the pic taken, gxer? During a tournament, a pro am or practice day?

gxer · 08-24-2010, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by heddwyn

When was the pic taken, gxer? During a tournament, a pro am or practice day?

I am not sure when that particular photo was taken but I have seen Paula's caddy do that hat trick during a round of tournament golf on TV.

xman5 · 08-24-2010, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by gxer

I am not sure when that particular photo was taken but I have seen Paula's caddy do that hat trick during a round of tournament golf on TV.

If seen it too, but never during an actual shot. Obviously it is OK. The main reason most likely because it is a club. If seen others do it too.

Blue · 08-24-2010, 03:03 PM

The difference is that clubs are regulated. There are very strict rules on what clubs you can use, how big the heads can be, even how deep the grooves the be. There are no rules for training aids. I'm sure somewhere someone has invented a training aid that's a club with a computer inside it that tells you when you're swinging correctly. There is no way the USGA can regulate every one of these contraptions.

gxer · 08-24-2010, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by xman5

If seen it too, but never during an actual shot. Obviously it is OK. The main reason most likely because it is a club. If seen others do it too.

It's not obvious to me that it's OK under the rules.

What's obvious to me is that the USGA continues to avoid getting involved in the player/caddy relationship which is why they won't rule that caddies lining up players is a rule violation, except that for TV purposes, they did rule that caddies have to move from behind a player before the player actually hits the shot.

heddwyn · 08-24-2010, 04:01 PM

It may be an unusual use of the club, but as it doesn't contravene the other two points it's not going to be penalised. It probably contravenes a) but not b) or c).

xman5 · 08-24-2010, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by gxer

It's not obvious to me that it's OK under the rules.

I said obvious because if it was not OK I would think that she would have already been call out on it since we have all seen her do it.

Or maybe we need to go back and check the tapes and take away all of her victories.

Anyway it could have been "Winter Rules".

08-24-2010, 11:54 AM	#1
gxer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,049	Training Device??? IMO, this action by Paula's caddy, using a club touched to the bill of her cap as she makes practice swings to help her sense head movement, causes him, along with the club he uses, to become an actual living breathing training device. __________________ *My "dream" girl: LPGA seasonal tour stats <=65.50 & >=270*

08-24-2010, 11:59 AM	#2
Buzzer Moderator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hilton Head, SC Posts: 2,831 Images: 13	Maybe, but it's not attached to the club! And it's not artificial, either! IMO, it's about the same as a caddy lining up his player. Viva Annika Last edited by Buzzer; 08-24-2010 at 12:16 PM.

08-24-2010, 12:23 PM	#3
gxer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,049	Originally Posted by Buzzer Maybe, but it's not attached to the club! And it's not artificial, either! IMO, it's about the same as a caddy lining up his player. Viva Annika I don't like the caddy lining up the player either. Anyway, I would say that Paula's caddy is violating 14-3 this way. "use any equipment in an unusual manner:" USGA: Rules and Decisions __________________ *My "dream" girl: LPGA seasonal tour stats <=65.50 & >=270*

08-24-2010, 01:03 PM	#5
gxer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,049	Originally Posted by heddwyn When was the pic taken, gxer? During a tournament, a pro am or practice day? I am not sure when that particular photo was taken but I have seen Paula's caddy do that hat trick during a round of tournament golf on TV. __________________ *My "dream" girl: LPGA seasonal tour stats <=65.50 & >=270*

08-24-2010, 02:51 PM	#6
xman5 Contest Statistician Join Date: May 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 3,902	Originally Posted by gxer I am not sure when that particular photo was taken but I have seen Paula's caddy do that hat trick during a round of tournament golf on TV. If seen it too, but never during an actual shot. Obviously it is OK. The main reason most likely because it is a club. If seen others do it too.

08-24-2010, 12:45 PM	#4
heddwyn Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,380	When was the pic taken, gxer? During a tournament, a pro am or practice day?

08-24-2010, 03:03 PM	#7
Blue Forum Moderator Contests: Joint 3rd place overall winner 2009. Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7,650 Images: 6	The difference is that clubs are regulated. There are very strict rules on what clubs you can use, how big the heads can be, even how deep the grooves the be. There are no rules for training aids. I'm sure somewhere someone has invented a training aid that's a club with a computer inside it that tells you when you're swinging correctly. There is no way the USGA can regulate every one of these contraptions.

08-24-2010, 03:12 PM	#8
gxer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,049	Originally Posted by xman5 If seen it too, but never during an actual shot. Obviously it is OK. The main reason most likely because it is a club. If seen others do it too. It's not obvious to me that it's OK under the rules. What's obvious to me is that the USGA continues to avoid getting involved in the player/caddy relationship which is why they won't rule that caddies lining up players is a rule violation, except that for TV purposes, they did rule that caddies have to move from behind a player before the player actually hits the shot. __________________ *My "dream" girl: LPGA seasonal tour stats <=65.50 & >=270*

08-24-2010, 04:01 PM	#9
heddwyn Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,380	It may be an unusual use of the club, but as it doesn't contravene the other two points it's not going to be penalised. It probably contravenes a) but not b) or c).

08-24-2010, 04:15 PM	#10
xman5 Contest Statistician Join Date: May 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 3,902	Originally Posted by gxer It's not obvious to me that it's OK under the rules. I said obvious because if it was not OK I would think that she would have already been call out on it since we have all seen her do it. Or maybe we need to go back and check the tapes and take away all of her victories. Anyway it could have been "Winter Rules".

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