[dream_team]

When a friend of mine has a similar putting line to me, he always crouches about 5-10 feet behind the ball while I'm putting to read the break. This doesn't bother me too much, so I let him do it without saying anything.

But I was wondering, what's the rule on that? I know your caddie isn't allowed to stay behind the ball... and I figure an opponent doing it is either illegal or simply bad etiquette. Which is it?

[phillypete]

I believe the rule is that any players are supposed to stand clear of your line, which goes through your ball through the hole and all the way back around the world to the other side of your ball. So yeah he's not supposed to stand directly behind you.

I also believe that after you strike the putt, the player may move to get a good view of the break.

[jonnyb03]

Im pritty sure he cant do that. i mean if your just out haveing fun then its up to u if you want to tell him he cant. But in a Tourney he is not allowed to crouch behind you and watch the putt. Some one correct me if i am wrong. well i researched it and you can not stand on the line. and the line starts at the ball and runs to the hole. So it is not a rule violation. It is bad etiquette if he stands behind you while you make the stroke though. he can watch u putt then step behind you (he should satnd on your blind side and out of view). But it is not against the rules to do it. I read that the pros will stand to the side and behind while the player makes the stroke and then step behind the line to watch the roll of the ball. But he can not cast a shadow on your line by standing behind you.

hope this helps and i hope im right. if not some one correct me.

JonnyB

[freelanceterry]

Phil did it on his putt to win the masters.
Blind side and behind - putt struck - move in line with the putt. No biggie.

I wouldn't want to crouch behind my buddies putt because I don't want to look like an idiot....I don't care what the rule says.

If it doesn't bother you - then whatever.
Personally though, if my friend and playing buddy is doing something that makes him look stupid - I'd tell him.
I'd expect the same from him.

[dream_team]

thanks guys... i think we all agree, we wouldn't do it ourselves. it doesn't bother me, and we usually just play for fun, so i don't say anything.

but i still wonder... is it against the rules? or simply bad etiquette?

[jonnyb03]

Its not against the rules since the definition of a line is from the ball to the hole. Just bad etiquette.

JonnyB

[Lavisking]

definitely not allowed, a fellow competitor or caddie is not allowed to stand on the extension of the line of your put regardless if it is behind you or on the other side of the hole.

[Lefty44]

can you name the rule? I don't think it's against the laws of the game, only an etiquette matter.

[Oscar]

Once the ball is struck, though, nothing wrong to watch the break and speed closely. One of the advantages of being closer to the hole.

[AirTime23]

Didn't find anything in the rules.
It's not allowed to stand in the line of the putt, but that line is only between the ball and the cup.
Otherwise the etiquette part doesn't explicitly state anything to that nature, but it does state not to impede the play of any other player, which could be interpreted to mean just that.

[Lefty44]

I don't think it's against the rules but it would definitely be considered very poor etiquette to stand or crouch directly behind a player to get a read on his ball. That's why you see professionals stand off to the side and then walk in after the putt is struck.

[larrybud]

dream_team, on Apr 18 2007, 01:00 AM, said:

When a friend of mine has a similar putting line to me, he always crouches about 5-10 feet behind the ball while I'm putting to read the break. This doesn't bother me too much, so I let him do it without saying anything.

But I was wondering, what's the rule on that? I know your caddie isn't allowed to stay behind the ball... and I figure an opponent doing it is either illegal or simply bad etiquette. Which is it?

He's legally allowed, but it's VERY poor etiquette. Just ask him to move.

[misters3]

The R&A Rule 14-2 only relates to your playing partner and your and their caddy.

And the question here is covered in Section I -Etiquette section of the R&A rules. see page 20.

http://www.randa.org...PDF/RoG2004.pdf

I guess the USGA rules are the same?