"Everybody can get better on 15 minutes per day."
"You can even get better on 5 minutes per day."
Tom Tucker, Unrenowned Golf Coach 😄
Tom's Featured Tip: When You Can Move Your Ball Without Penalty
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When You Can Move Your Ball Without Penalty
The Best Training Aid For Indoor or Outdoor Practice
The Divot Board
This is the most useful ball striking development training aid that I own.
When You Can Move Your Ball Without Penalty
For simplicity, all advice on actual swings or drills is provided from a right handed perspective.
The rules are actually more player friendly now than they've ever been. Use them to your advantage.
Here are eight situations where you can move your ball without penalty
- On the putting green (any accidental movement)
No penalty for accidentally moving your ball or ball marker on the putting green. Drop your putter on the ball? No penalty. This 2019 rule change was a game-changer for nervous putters. Just replace it and keep playing.
- When searching for your ball
If you accidentally move your ball while searching for it, there's no penalty. This happens all the time in fall conditions when you're digging through leaves. Simply replace it as closely as possible to where it originally lay.
- Practice swings on the tee
Even if your ball just falls off the tee without being struck, there's no penalty. Just re-tee it and play (Rule 6.2b(5)). The ball isn't officially in play until you make a stroke with the intent to hit it. Just re-tee and play.
- When another player interferes
Need to lift your ball so another player can play? Mark it, move it, let them play and then replace yours.
- When taking legitimate relief
No penalty if you accidentally move your ball while determining your relief area from cart paths, ground under repair or immovable obstructions. You're allowed to move around without worrying about bumping the ball.
- When moved by natural forces
Wind, water, gravity … none results in penalties. Generally, play from the new location. Exception: On the putting green, if your marked and replaced ball moves due to natural forces, replace it again.
- When identifying your ball
Found a ball in long grass? Mark its location, then lift to identify without fear. If you accidentally bump it while lifting, no penalty. You have every right to know if it's your ball.
- When moving movable obstructions
Rakes, bottles, paper cups, loose stakes: if you can reasonably move it, you can. If your ball moves in the process, no penalty. Just replace the ball and continue.
The one mistake that still costs you
Be careful with loose impediments (pine straw, leaves, twigs). If moving them causes your ball to shift, it's one penalty stroke everywhere except on the putting green (Rule 14.2e).
The smart play? Move loose impediments very carefully or just play around them if your ball is sitting precariously.
Why players stay confused
There are now more exceptions than there once were and golfers have read too much into the overall rule. The basic principle remains: If you move your ball in play, you get one penalty stroke and must replace it. But the exceptions have grown significantly.
Learn these rules cold. They're legitimate, legal ways to improve your position without penalty. Stop leaving strokes on the course because you're afraid to touch your ball when the rules clearly allow it.
Try it, you'll like it!
Email Comments: to TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer, The Stack and Tilt Swing
Love your practice, own your swing, own your health, and remember that golf is a game of discovery. Don't be afraid to experiment when you practice, it's good for your golfing brain.
Tom
Golf Lessons
I am now conducting lessons at The Batavia Country Club
Lessons are available for all ages and skill levels, please contact
me - Tom Tucker - at (716) 474 3005 or email me at TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
for more information.
Outdoor Lessons Details and Rates:
Outdoor Lessons Details and Rates
Testimonials:
http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.html
Sponsors and Affiliates
Buying a sponsored product through any of my affiliate links helps support this free newsletter, and I only affiliate with excellent products that I use myself. Thanks, Tom
Batavia Country Club (585) 343-7600 www.bataviacc.com
Great rates, the best greens in WNY.
Golf Digest Four Star rating for public courses to play in New York State.
Tee times online or by phone in season.
Click here to buy your Divot Board to drastically improve your ball-striking. Combine your Divot Board practice and putting practice with the included putting lesson drills, and watch your scoring improve1. And make sure to check out their new turf mats, I think they copied what I did - but in a better way!
Use your club or hand to re-set the board after your strike
Click here to buy now for outstanding Ball-Striking practice feedback
BONUS: when you buy through the newsletter link above, you'll also receive free access to my Putting Lesson Videos ($60 value) which cover: The Elevated Aimline Drill, The Squareness Awareness Drill, The Aimline Accuracy Drill, The Stock Putting Stroke Drill, The Barrier Drill, The Short Putt Channel Drill, and more.
Click here to buy your Fiberbuilt Golf Flight Deck Practice Station. (Editor's note: Order through Amazon Prime instead of through the manufacturer's site and you'll save around $100)
If you are looking for the most robust portable hitting station that money can buy, the Fiberbuilt Golf Flight Deck Practice Station fits the bill.
Click here SuperSpeedGolf.com to buy this swing speed training aid and increase your distance off the tee.
SuperSpeedGolf.com Buy now and get to work on increasing your swing speed now.
Club Champion Don't waste another dollar on clubs until you've gone through a fitting at Club Champion, 1669 Pittsford Victor Rd., Suite 400, Victor NY 14564. Call Master Fitter & Builder Jeff St. John. PGA work: (585) 978-8513, cell: (585) 831-2292 to schedule your fitting today1 Mention my name and you'll get special attention.
Train with a Rypstick to improve your swing speed and gain more distance off the tee. If the versatility of three different swing weights in one club appeals to you, this is your swing speed training aid of choice.
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Click here Rypstick.com to buy now, and make sure that you enter TOMTUCKERGOLF (case sensitive) in the Discount code box when you check out to receive a 5% discount.
All the best,
Tom Tucker
Teaching Professional, Batavia Country Club
WGTF ' "Top 100 Golf Teacher"
USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional
IGPA Certified Golf Psychology Coach
Cell: (716) 474-3005
Email: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
http://www.TomTuckerGolf.com
"There are no substitutes in the quest for perfection1"
~ Ben Hogan