Opinion & Analysis

A Closer Look At Decision 18/4

Published

10 years ago

Nov 21, 2013

The United States Golf Association and R&A Rules Ltd.– the rule-making bodies of the PGA Tour — announced on Tuesday that players would no longer be penalized when a ball’s movement could only be detected through the use of enhanced technology. In other words, a player will not be penalized if the movement of the ball was not immediately discernible by the naked eye at the time — regardless of video evidence. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the USGA provided:

“New Decision 18/4 will provide that, where enhanced technological evidence shows that a ball has left its position and come to rest in another location, the ball will not be deemed to have moved if that movement was not reasonably discernible to the naked eye at the time. The Decision ensures that a player is not penalized under Rule 18-2 in circumstances where the fact that the ball had changed location could not reasonably have been seen without the use of enhanced technology.”

Decision 18/4 will take effect on Jan. 1, 2014 and significantly reduces the effect of the “call-in rule enforcement” controversy that garnered headlines for much of the summer. One of the highest profile examples occurred during this year’s BMW Championship when a videographer spotted a potential violation involving Tiger Woods and alerted officials. Officials reviewed replays of video and assessed a two-stroke penalty to Woods after his ball was deemed to have moved as he attempted to clear loose impediments around it.

The USGA and the R&A previously adopted rules to minimize a golfer’s risk of being blindsided by disqualification after he had turned in a scorecard due to a video replay showing a violation. In April 2011, the USGA and R&A adopted Decision 33-7/4.5, which authorized committees to waive the disqualification penalty for a breach of Rule 6-6d in narrow circumstances in which the player could not reasonably have been aware of a breach of the rules that later was identified solely through video evidence.

What Does This Mean?

Until the official rollout of Decision 18/4 in January, golf is the only sport where a viewer is able to challenge a ruling. This begs the old “tree in the forest with no one around” question — rather, if a golfer commits a rules violation and nobody notices, including the golfer and the rule enforcers, is it still a rules violation? Decision 18/4 makes it clear that the answer is now an unequivocal “no.”

Ultimately, Decision 18/4 is good for the game of golf. The game of golf is founded on the inherent cornerstone of self-policing and reporting when it comes to rules enforcement. The majority of the time, players will gladly call an infraction on themselves if they realize they have violated the rules. The ruling in Decision 18/4 ensures that the spirit of the game stays intact and players are not penalized for mistakes made in good faith; mistakes that could not have personally observed but for video review. Decision 18/4 also ensures that a golfer will not be blindsided by incurring a two-stroke penalty for an after-the-fact violation ruling through video review after signing his scorecard.

Furthermore, Decision 18/4 ensures fair and equal enforcement of the Rules of Golf throughout the entire playing field. While all of the players are governed by the same rules, the cameras are not on every golfer all of the time. Thus, the players with cameras surrounding them will be under a higher level of scrutiny and review simply for being themselves. Decision 18/4 signals a return to a more uniform review and enforcement process.

What is the Next Step?

The Rules of Golf are quite complicated and even the best good-faith effort by a golfer to police himself may still result in a violation of the rules. If the USGA truly wants the enforcement of the Rules of Golf to be uniform for the entire playing field, it will need to seriously examine adding more rules officials to events. For example, there needs to be a rules official with every group during major tournaments and playoff events. Not only would this provide players with a neutral outside observer that can provide rules positions and bring any violations immediately to the forefront, but would likely minimize the time needed for a ruling to be made.

Perhaps it would even be prudent for the PGA to put a rules official in the video truck to work in concert with the rules officials. This official could monitor the videos and call out any infractions he sees to the officials on the course.

Decision 18/4 is a step in the right direction to ensure that the Rules of Golf are enforced in a uniform manner. However, the onus is now on the PGA to find new ways ensure better rules enforcement over the entire field.

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17 Comments

ken

Dec 3, 2013 at 11:43 pm

I agree with the change.
The issue is not the rule in and of itself. Rather the enforcement of the rule using outside influences. Yes, the enhanced video can detect the moved ball. Not the point. The fact is not every player in a tournament field is followed by tv cameras. Some players, save for when they walk past a camera, do not get any tv time.
Until every single player is monitored by some kind of video throughout the entirety of an event, this usage of enhanced video should not have been used in the first place.
Also. In my opinion the various associations governing the game should STOP taking phone calls and electronic messages from viewers.

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Rob

Nov 27, 2013 at 6:52 am

Good rule, needs to be expanded to negate all decisions based on advanced technology and viewer call ins. Nick commented “touring pros don’t feel they need to play by the rules”, “TW saw the ball move”, TW decided to cheat”. These are all Nick’s opinions. The last thing golf needs is people like Nick participating in rules decisions.

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Patrick

Nov 26, 2013 at 4:00 pm

This is a good decision by the rules committee. Gallery and spectators should not be able to enforce penalty. How is a ball moving a millimeter going to affect the next shot anyway…It’s not. Good riddance.

Reply Report comment
jc

Nov 25, 2013 at 5:35 pm

that wasn’t a millimeter…it was very plain it moved since the logo moved from west-east to north-south. Not that that would ever bother Tiger. He NEVER sees anything he did as wrong

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Rich

Nov 24, 2013 at 5:15 am

The rule wouldnt have been changed if it hadn’t happened to one TW this year.

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RG

Nov 22, 2013 at 11:58 pm

Its about time they realized that it is unfair to penalize a player for something that is outside the players ability to detect. Now golfs ruling bodies need to realize that technology could be used to help instead of just hurt a player. Intent plays a part in every governing system on the planet, but not golf. Lets use tech to see if a guy meant to infringe or accidentally did so. Stop with all the hoopla over millimeters and grazing sand on the backswing and lets play golf. Golf is the only game in the world where its greatest championship can be taken away from a champion if that champion does not do good arithmetic. Its silly stupid and it needs to stop.

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Hunterdog

Nov 21, 2013 at 7:20 pm

The decision only applies when the movement of the ball could not reasonably be detected without enhanced video; in other words no penalty if player could not know that ball moved. No big deal.

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kloyd0306

Nov 21, 2013 at 7:11 pm

Viewers being able to “call in” a possible infraction needs to cease. Such an availability penalizes higher profile players disproportionately. Such rulings and decisions need to be confined to the players and the officials – no one else.

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- Nick
  
  Nov 24, 2013 at 4:10 pm
  
  Yes I agree that it is unfair that they are subjected to more scrutiny since they are on TV more. They also have more sponsors and more money because they are better and more popular players. So I feel that the exposure is point is moot. The real issue is why touring PROS don’t feel they need to play by the rules. If the ball moves because of you, there is no grey area. TW was looking right at the ball and tried to move the stick to help his lie. The ball moved he saw it and decided to CHEAT the game. Maybe if he didn’t hit his ball into the crap he would not need to cry to the commish.
  
  Reply Report comment
Bout time

Nov 21, 2013 at 4:21 pm

Take that Chamblee!!!

Reply Report comment
- ken
  
  Dec 3, 2013 at 11:47 pm
  
  Just a minute…Tour players don’t feel they should have to play by the rules?
  From where did you get this information?
  Nick, unless you can provide proof of that accusation being true, I suggest you delete your post and refrain form making such baseless charges.
  
  Reply Report comment
Dan

Nov 21, 2013 at 3:38 pm

I like the new rule. Currently, higher profile players are at a disadvantage for incidents similar to the Tiger “wobble” at the BMW. Those guys are going to have many more cameras rolling on them. The “call in” rule should only have been implemented if every shot of every player was captured with the same level of detail.

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yo!2

Nov 21, 2013 at 2:05 pm

what about the stick that was moved out of the way to get a clear shot that caused the ball to move a millimeter?

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yo!

Nov 21, 2013 at 1:03 pm

It’s a good rule. A ball moving a millimeter isn’t going to make a difference.

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- Jack
  
  Nov 21, 2013 at 10:41 pm
  
  Yeah, there needs to be a material difference clause in there. You moved your ball a millimeter? It’s ok no violation since it doesn’t make a difference, and you didn’t intend to do it. You move the ball 5 inches back? Yeah you’re DQed. Tamping a spike mark? Ouch.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - ken
    
    Dec 3, 2013 at 11:50 pm
    
    A player does not suffer disqualification for moving his ball or causing it to move at address. He is disqualified only if he does not penalize himself the appropriate number of strokes per the rule AND signs his scorecard without making the correction.
    
    Reply Report comment
David Sefton

Nov 21, 2013 at 12:52 pm

TV companies will not stop showing enhanced coverage of these incidents. So, persistent offenders with ‘poor naked eye vision’ will soon be highlighted.

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Opinion & Analysis

The Wedge Guy: What really makes a wedge work? Part 1

Published

22 hours ago

Apr 18, 2024

Terry Koehler

Of all the clubs in our bags, wedges are almost always the simplest in construction and, therefore, the easiest to analyze what might make one work differently from another if you know what to look for.

Wedges are a lot less mysterious than drivers, of course, as the major brands are working with a lot of “pixie dust” inside these modern marvels. That’s carrying over more to irons now, with so many new models featuring internal multi-material technologies, and almost all of them having a “badge” or insert in the back to allow more complex graphics while hiding the actual distribution of mass.

But when it comes to wedges, most on the market today are still single pieces of molded steel, either cast or forged into that shape. So, if you look closely at where the mass is distributed, it’s pretty clear how that wedge is going to perform.

To start, because of their wider soles, the majority of the mass of almost any wedge is along the bottom third of the clubhead. So, the best wedge shots are always those hit between the 2nd and 5th grooves so that more mass is directly behind that impact. Elite tour professionals practice incessantly to learn to do that consistently, wearing out a spot about the size of a penny right there. If impact moves higher than that, the face is dramatically thinner, so smash factor is compromised significantly, which reduces the overall distance the ball will fly.

Every one of us, tour players included, knows that maddening shot that we feel a bit high on the face and it doesn’t go anywhere, it’s not your fault.

If your wedges show a wear pattern the size of a silver dollar, and centered above the 3rd or 4th groove, you are not getting anywhere near the same performance from shot to shot. Robot testing proves impact even two to three grooves higher in the face can cause distance loss of up to 35 to 55 feet with modern ‘tour design’ wedges.

In addition, as impact moves above the center of mass, the golf club principle of gear effect causes the ball to fly higher with less spin. Think of modern drivers for a minute. The “holy grail” of driving is high launch and low spin, and the driver engineers are pulling out all stops to get the mass as low in the clubhead as possible to optimize this combination.

Where is all the mass in your wedges? Low. So, disregarding the higher lofts, wedges “want” to launch the ball high with low spin – exactly the opposite of what good wedge play requires penetrating ball flight with high spin.

While almost all major brand wedges have begun putting a tiny bit more thickness in the top portion of the clubhead, conventional and modern ‘tour design’ wedges perform pretty much like they always have. Elite players learn to hit those crisp, spinny penetrating wedge shots by spending lots of practice time learning to consistently make contact low in the face.

So, what about grooves and face texture?

Grooves on any club can only do so much, and no one has any material advantage here. The USGA tightly defines what we manufacturers can do with grooves and face texture, and modern manufacturing techniques allow all of us to push those limits ever closer. And we all do. End of story.

Then there’s the topic of bounce and grinds, the most complex and confusing part of the wedge formula. Many top brands offer a complex array of sole configurations, all of them admittedly specialized to a particular kind of lie or turf conditions, and/or a particular divot pattern.

But if you don’t play the same turf all the time, and make the same size divot on every swing, how would you ever figure this out?

The only way is to take any wedge you are considering and play it a few rounds, hitting all the shots you face and observing the results. There’s simply no other way.

So, hopefully this will inspire a lively conversation in our comments section, and I’ll chime in to answer any questions you might have.

And next week, I’ll dive into the rest of the wedge formula. Yes, shafts, grips and specifications are essential, too.

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Golf's Perfect Imperfections

Golf’s Perfect Imperfections: Amazing Session with Performance Coach Savannah Meyer-Clement

Published

22 hours ago

Apr 18, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

In this week’s episode, we spent some time with performance coach Savannah Meyer-Clement who provides many useful insights that you’ll be able to implement on the golf course.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 RBC Heritage betting preview: Patrick Cantlay ready to get back inside winner’s circle

Published

4 days ago

Apr 15, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

Just a two-hour drive from Augusta National, the PGA TOUR heads to Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Hilton Head Island is a golfer’s paradise and Harbour Town is one of the most beautiful and scenic courses on the PGA TOUR.

Harbour Town Golf Links is a par-71 that measures 7,121 yards and features Bermuda grass greens. A Pete Dye design, the course is heavily tree lined and features small greens and many dog legs, protecting it from “bomb-and-gauge” type golfers.

The field is loaded this week with 69 golfers with no cut. Last year was quite possibly the best field in RBC Heritage history and the event this week is yet another designated event, meaning there is a $20 million prize pool.

Most of the big names on the PGA Tour will be in attendance this week with the exceptions of Hideki Matsuyama and Viktor Hovland. Additionally, Webb Simpson, Shane Lowry, Gary Woodland and Kevin Kisner have been granted sponsors exemptions.

Past Winners at Harbour Town

2023: Matt Fitzpatrick (-17)
2022: Jordan Spieth (-13)
2021: Stewart Cink (-19)
2020: Webb Simpson (-22)
2019: CT Pan (-12)
2018: Sotoshi Kodaira (-12)
2017: Wesley Bryan (-13)
2016: Branden Grace (-9)
2015: Jim Furyk (-18)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value).

Key Stats For Harbour Town

Let’s take a look at key metrics for Harbour Town Golf Links to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their past 24 rounds.

Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Approach is exceedingly important this week. The greens at Harbour Town are about half the size of PGA TOUR average and feature the second-smallest greens on the tour. Typical of a Pete Dye design, golfers will pay the price for missed greens.

Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds

Scottie Scheffler (+1.27)
Tom Hoge (+1.27)
Corey Conners (+1.16)
Austin Eckroat (+0.95)
Cameron Young (+0.93)

Good Drive %

The fairways at Harbour Town are tree lined and feature many dog legs. Bombers tend to struggle at the course because it forces layups and doesn’t allow long drivers to overpower it. Accuracy is far more important than power.

Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds

Brice Garnett (88.8%)
Shane Lowry (+87.2%)
Akshay Bhatia (+86.0%)
Si Woo Kim (+85.8%)
Sepp Straka (+85.1%)

Strokes Gained: Total at Pete Dye Designs

Pete Dye specialists tend to play very well at Harbour Town. Si Woo Kim, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson are all Pete Dye specialists who have had great success here. It is likely we see some more specialists near the top of the leaderboard this week.

SG: TOT Pete Dye per round over past 36 rounds:

Xander Schauffele (+2.27)
Scottie Scheffler (+2.24)
Ludvig Aberg (+2.11)
Brian Harman (+1.89)
Sungjae Im (+1.58)

4. Strokes Gained: Short Game (Bermuda)

Strokes Gained: Short Game factors in both around the green and putting. With many green-side bunkers and tricky green complexes, both statistics will be important. Past winners — such as Jim Furyk, Wes Bryan and Webb Simpson — highlight how crucial the short game skill set is around Harbour Town.

SG: SG Over Past 24 Rounds

Jordan Spieth (+1.11)
Taylor Moore (+1.02)
Wyndham Clark (+0.98)
Mackenzie Hughes (+0.86)
Andrew Putnam (+0.83)

5. Greens in Regulation %

The recipe for success at Harbour Town Golf Links is hitting fairways and greens. Missing either will prove to be consequential — golfers must be in total control of the ball to win.

Greens in Regulation % over past 24 rounds:

Brice Garnett (+75.0%)
Scottie Scheffler (+69.9%)
Corey Conners (+69.0%)
Shane Lowry (+68.3%)
Patrick Rodgers (+67.6%)

6. Course History

Harbour Town is a course where players who have strong past results at the course always tend to pop up.

Course History over past 24 rounds:

Patrick Cantlay (+2.34)
Cam Davis (+2.05)
J.T. Poston (+1.69)
Justin Rose (+1.68)
Tommy Fleetwood (+1.59)

The RBC Heritage Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (24%), Good Drives (20%), SG: SG (14%), SG: Pete Dye (14%), GIR (14%), and Course History (14%)

Shane Lowry
Russell Henley
Scottie Scheffler
Xander Schauffele
Corey Conners
Wyndham Clark
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
Matt Fitzpatrick
Cameron Young
Ludvig Aberg

2024 RBC Heritage Picks

Patrick Cantlay +2000 (FanDuel)

With the exception of Scottie Scheffler, the PGA Tour has yet to have any of their star players show peak form during the 2024 season. Last week, Patrick Cantlay, who I believe is a top-5 players on the PGA Tour, took one step closer to regaining the form that’s helped him win eight events on Tour since 2017.

Cantlay limped into the Masters in poor form, but figured it out at Augusta National, finishing in a tie for 20th and ranking 17th for the week in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. The former FedEx Cup champion will now head to one of his favorite golf courses in Harbour Town, where he’s had immaculate results over the years. In his six trips to the course, he’s only finished worse than 7th one time. The other finishes include three third places (2017, 2019, 2023) and one runner-up finish (2022). In his past 36 rounds at Harbour Town, Cantlay ranks 1st in Strokes Gained: Total per round at the course by a wide margin (+2.36).

Cantlay is winless since the 2022 BMW Championship, which is far too long for a player of his caliber. With signs pointing to the 32-year-old returning to form, a “signature event” at Harbour Town is just what he needs to get back on the winning track.

Tommy Fleetwood +3000 (FanDuel)

I truly believe Tommy Fleetwood will figure out a way to win on American soil in 2024. It’s certainly been a bugaboo for him throughout his career, but he is simply too talented to go another season without winning a PGA Tour event.

At last week’s Masters Tournament, Fleetwood made a Sunday charge and ended up finishing T3 in the event, which was his best ever finish at The Masters. For the week, the Englishman ranked 8th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 10th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking and 16th in Strokes Gained: Putting.

Harbour Town is a perfect layout for Fleetwood, and he’s had relative success at this Pete Dye design in the past. In his four trips to the course, he’s finished inside of the top 25 three times, with his best finish, T10, coming in 2022. The course is pretty short and can’t be overpowered, which gives an advantage to more accurate players such as Fleetwood. Tommy ranks 8th in the field in Good Drive % and should be able to plot his way along this golf course.

The win is coming for Tommy lad. I believe there’s a chance this treasure of a golf course may be the perfect one for him to finally break through on Tour.

Cameron Young +3300 (FanDuel)

Cameron Young had a solid Masters Tournament last week, which is exactly what I’m looking for in players who I anticipate playing well this week at the RBC Heritage. He finished in a tie for 9th, but never felt the pressure of contending in the event. For the week, Young ranked 6th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.

Despite being one of the longest players off the tee on the PGA Tour, Young has actually played some really good golf on shorter tracks. He finished T3 at Harbour Town in 2023 and ranks 20th in the field in Good Drive% and 16th in Greens in Regulation in his past 24 rounds. He also has strong finishes at other shorter courses that can take driver out of a players hand such as Copperhead and PGA National.

Young is simply one of the best players on the PGA Tour in 2024, and I strongly believe has what it takes to win a PGA Tour event in the very near future.

Corey Conners +5500 (FanDuel)

Corey Conners has had a disappointing year thus far on the PGA Tour, but absolutely loves Harbour Town.

At last week’s Masters Tournament, the Canadian finished T30 but ranked 20th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach. In his past 24 rounds, Conners ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 3rd in Greens in Regulation % and 24th in Good Drive %.

In Conners’ last four trips to Harbour Town, his worst finish was T31, last season. He finished T4 in 2021, T12 in 2022 and ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Total at the course over his past 36 rounds.

Conners hasn’t been contending, but his recent finishes have been encouraging as he has finished in the top-25 in each of his past three starts prior to The Masters, including an impressive T13 at The PLAYERS. His recent improvement in ball striking as well as his suitability for Harbour Town makes Conners a high upside bet this week.

Shane Lowry (+7500) (FanDuel)

When these odds were posted after Lowry was announced in the field, I have to admit I was pretty stunned. Despite not offering much win equity on the PGA Tour over the last handful of years, Shane Lowry is still a top caliber player who has the ability to rise to the top of a signature event.

Lowry struggled to score at The Masters last week, but he actually hit the ball really well. The Irishman ranked 1st for Strokes Gained: Approach on the week and 7th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. As usual, it was the putter that let him down, as he ranked 60th in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting.

Harbour Town is most definitely one of Lowry’s favorite courses on the PGA Tour. In his six starts there, he’s finished in the top 10 three times, including third twice. Lowry is sensational at Pete Dye designs and ranks 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in his past 36 rounds on Dye tracks.

Lowry is perfect for Harbour Town. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 5th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 2nd in Good Drive% and 5th in Green in Regulation %. If he figures it out on the greens, Shane could have his first win in America since 2015.

Lucas Glover +12000 (FanDuel)

This is one of my weekly “bet the number” plays as I strongly believe the odds are just too long for a player of Glover’s caliber. The odds have been too long on Glover for a few weeks now, but this is the first event that I can get behind the veteran being able to actually contend at.

Glover is quietly playing good golf and returning to the form he had after the understandable regression after his two massive victories at the end of 2023. He finished T20 at The Masters, which was his best ever finish at Augusta National. For the week, Lucas ranked 18th for Strokes Gained: Approach and 20th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.

Over his past 24 rounds, Glover ranks 9th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th in Good Drive %. Harbour Town is a short course that the 44-year-old will be able to keep up with the top players on Tour off the tee. He’s played the course more than 20 times, with mixed results. His best finishes at Harbour Town include a T7 in 2008, but recently has a finish of T21 in 2020.

Glover has proven he can contend with the stars of the Tour on any given week, and this number is flat out disrespectful.

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