Everytime I watch golf on TV, I am amazed at the degree to which clubs are soled in the rough multiple times. Sometimes with multiple
clubs as they decide which on to use.

I don't do this. I test a few feet away and even when I sole at address I do it lightly so I don't break the rule.

What is the deal here. I know that some of what goes on on tour I would not feel comfortable doing. But is it acceptable
to sole your club to the ground at address prior to your backswing? To me if you were to sole the club to the ground in the rough you would push down the grass for a few seconds and improve the lie.

What do you guys do?

honestly, and i mean no offense, but some people need to just calm down about these types of situations. if the ball moves then thats one thing, if you improve the lie considerably thats also against the rules, but some golfers take these situations way too serious and by the book. kenny perry soled his club behind his ball in the rough recently and on the video you could more clearly see the ball after he soled it. so of course there was a thread about this incident. long story short, it was completely within the rules what he did but some felt he cheated and others did not. its a gentlemen's game and it is up to the player to call the rules infraction in the end.

I appreciate the reply and there is no offense taken. I would like to ask you what is meant when you say "improve your lie considerably". Does that mean that improving your lie marginally is okay?

I have only been playing for 6 years and am pretty casual so I am by no means a "hall monitor" type but
I just thought that when you are in the rough, you don't mess with the grass behind your ball. If it is okay to sole your
club deeply, and clearly this would depress the grass a bit, I want to know.

Rule 13-2 expressly allows you to sole your club "lightly" behind the ball "while addressing the ball" and the ROG allow this even if it improves your lie. Lightly is not precisely defined.

My personal view is that you are allowed to push the club down hard enough to get the club behind the ball. Kenny Perry (after a well publicized 'did he improve his lie' issue) stated that he was specifically pushing the club down hard enough to find the ground.

dave

Excellent reply, thank you. I think I get the picture. I can get in my stance, "find the ground", find it again while I regrip once and
it is acceptable.

nice response davelee. bcinstinct to answer your question about marinal i would say if it improves the lie at all then no. but as davelee stated feeling the ground is ok. if you watch the kp vid of this you can see what i mean.