These terms have overlapping meanings but can be defined through these three examples of using the club in a manner not allowed by the Rule:
A player holes a short putt by striking the ball with the bottom of the clubhead, using a motion similar to that used in making a shot in billiards or shuffleboard. Moving the ball like this is a push.
A player moves the club along the surface of the ground pulling it towards them. Moving the ball like this is a scrape.
A player slides a club beneath and very close to the ball. The player then lifts and moves the ball by use of a forward and upward motion. Moving the ball like this is a scoop.
In fairly striking a ball, it is not necessary for the clubhead to make contact with the ball. Sometimes other material may intervene.
An example of fairly striking a ball includes when a ball is lying against the base of a fence defining out of boundsOut of Bounds: All areas outside the boundary edge of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside that edge are in bounds.(...Continued) and the player makes a stroke at the out-of-boundsOut of Bounds: All areas outside the boundary edge of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside that edge are in bounds.(...Continued) side of the fence to make the ball moveMoved: When a ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).(...Continued).
Holding a forearm against the body during a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is an indirect means of anchoring the club.
For an “anchor point” to exist, two things must happen: (1) the player must hold a forearm against the body; and (2) the player must grip the club so that the hands are separated and work independently from each other.
For example, in making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) with a long putter, the player’s forearm is held against their body to establish a stable point, while the bottom hand is held down the shaft to swing the lower portion of the club.
However, a player is allowed to hold one or both forearms against their body in making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), so long as doing so does not create an anchor point.
Clothing held against the body by a club or gripping hand is treated as if it is part of the player’s body for the purpose of applying Rule 10.1b. The concept of a free-flowing swing may not be circumvented by having something intervene between the player’s body and club or hand.
For example, if a player is wearing a rain jacket and is using a mid-length putter, and presses the club into their body, the player is in breach of Rule 10.1b.
Additionally, if the player deliberately uses a gripping hand to hold an article of clothing worn on any part of the body (such as holding the sleeve of a shirt with a hand) while making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), there is a breach of Rule 4.3 (Prohibited Use of Equipment) since that is not its intended use and doing so might assist the player in making that strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued).
Touching an article of clothing with the club or gripping hand and making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is allowed.
This might occur in various situations where a player:
Wears loose fitting clothes or rain gear,
Has a physical size or build that causes the arms naturally to rest close to the body,
Holds the club extremely close to the body, or
For some other reason touches their clothing in making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued).
If a caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) is being shared by more than one player, any of the players sharing that caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) may seek information from the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued).
For example, two players are sharing a caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) and both hit tee shots into a similar area. One of the players gets a club to make the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), while the other is undecided. The undecided player is allowed to ask the shared caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) what club the other player chose.
If a player gets adviceAdvice: Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:(...Continued) from someone other than their caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) (such as a spectator) without asking for it, they get no penalty. However, if the player continues to get adviceAdvice: Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:(...Continued) from that same person, the player must try to stop that person from giving adviceAdvice: Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:(...Continued). If the player does not do so, they are treated as asking for that adviceAdvice: Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:(...Continued) and get the penalty under Rule 10.2a.
In a team competition (Rule 24), this also applies to a player who gets adviceAdvice: Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:(...Continued) from a team captain who has not been named an advice giver.
[Note: A delay of implementation is in effect until January 1, 2025 that applies to certain uses of self-standing putters. For more information, see Clarification 10.2b(3)/2] (Added December 2022)
Provided a self-standing putter conforms to the Equipment RulesEquipment Rules: The specifications and other regulations for clubs, balls and other equipment that players are allowed to use during a round. The Equipment Rules are found at usga.org. , it may be used to make a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) (Rule 4.1a(1)). But the player (or their caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued)) is not allowed to set such a putter down to get help in any way that would breach Rule 10.2b.
For example, the player must not set the putter down in a standing position right behind or right next to the spot where the ball lies on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) to show the line of playLine of Play: The line where the player intends their ball to go after a stroke, including the area on that line that is a reasonable distance up above the ground and on either side of that line.(...Continued) or to help the player in taking their stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) for the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) in breach of Rule 10.2b(3). (New)
[Note: A delay of implementation is in effect until January 1, 2025 that applies to certain uses of self-standing putters. For more information, see Clarification 10.2b(3)/2] (Added December 2022)
Rule 10.2b(3) does not allow a player to set down an object (such as an alignment rod or a golf club) to help the player take a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued).
However, this prohibition does not prevent a player from positioning their clubhead behind the ball, such as when a player stands behind the ball and places the clubhead perpendicular to the line of playLine of Play: The line where the player intends their ball to go after a stroke, including the area on that line that is a reasonable distance up above the ground and on either side of that line.(...Continued) and then, while still holding the club, walks around from behind the ball to take their stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued).
A two-year delay of implementation in relation to certain uses of self-standing putters under Rule 10.2b(3) is in effect as follows:
Until January 1, 2025, a player may use a self-standing putter by setting it down right behind or right next to the spot on which the ball came to rest to help aim or to take a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) or position their feet.
From January 1, 2025, Rule 10.2b(3) will apply to self-standing putters and the acts described in the previous paragraph will no longer be allowed. But a player will still be allowed to use a self-standing putter that conforms to the Rules to make a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) or take other actions allowed by the Rules. (Added December 2022)
Rule 10.2b(4) prevents a caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) from deliberately standing in the restricted area to provide the player help with aiming. This ensures that aiming at the intended target is a challenge the player must overcome alone.
In a situation where a player has not yet begun to take their stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) for the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) but:
The player’s feet or body are close to a position where help with aiming could be given, and
The caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) is deliberately standing in the restricted area and gives the player help with aiming,
the player is treated as having begun to take a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) for the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) (even though their feet are not in that position). (New)
Although a player may not place an object or position a person for the purpose of blocking the sunlight from the ball, the player may ask a person (such as a spectator) not to move when that spectator is already in position, so that a shadow remains over the ball, or may ask that spectator to move, so that their shadow is no longer over the ball.
Although a player must not improveImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. to protect against the elements, they may wear protective clothing to protect against the elements.
For example, if a player’s ball comes to rest right next to a cactus, it would breach Rule 8.1a (Actions That Improve Conditions Affecting the Stroke) if he or she placed a towel on the cactus to improveImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. their area of intended stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued). However, a towel may be wrapped around the player’s body to protect him or her from the cactus.
A player whose clubs are transported on a motorized golf cart that they are driving is allowed to hire an individual to perform all the other duties of a caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued), and this individual is considered to be a caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued).
This arrangement is allowed provided the player has not also hired someone else to drive the cart. In such a case, the cart driver is also a caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) since they are transporting the player’s clubs, and the player gets a penalty under Rule 10.3a(1) for having more than one caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued).
A player in a competition may caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) for another player in the same competition, except when the player is playing their roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. or when a Local Rule restricts the player from being a caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued).
For example:
If two players are playing in the same competition but at different times on the same day, they are allowed to caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) for each other.
In stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued), if one player in a group withdraws during a roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee., they may caddie for another player in the group.