Rule 10 - Preparing for and Making a Stroke; Advice and Help; Caddies

(1) Getting Help from Caddie with Line of Play or Other Directional Information. When a player’s caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) is helping the player with 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 other directional information, the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) is subject to the following limitations: 

• The caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) must not set an object down to provide such help (and the player cannot avoid penalty by removing the object before the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is made).

• While the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is being made, the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) must not:

  • Stand in a position for the player to play towards, or

  • Do anything else to provide such help (such as pointing out a spot on the ground).

• The caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) must not stand in the restricted area when not allowed under Rule 10.2b(4).

But this Rule does not prohibit the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) from standing close to the hole to attend the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued).

(2) Getting Help from Any Person Other than Caddie with Line of Play or Other Directional Information. The player must not get help with 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 other directional information from any person other than their caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued), except as follows:

• That person may provide help by giving public information in relation to an object (such as pointing out a tree that shows the centre line for a blind fairway).

• Other than when the player’s ball is on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), that person may stand in a position for the player to play towards, but must move away before the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is made.

But this Rule does not prohibit any person from standing close to the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) to attend the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued).

(3) No Setting Down Object to Help with Aiming, Taking Stance or Swinging. A player must not set an object down to help with aiming or to help in taking 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) to be made (such as a club set down on the ground to show where the player should aim or position their feet).

“Set an object down” means that the object is in contact with the ground and the player is not touching the object.

If the player breaches this Rule, they cannot avoid penalty by removing the object before the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is made.

This Rule also applies to taking an action for a similar purpose, such as a player putting a mark in sand or dew to help with their swing.

This Rule does not apply to a ball-markerBall-Marker: An artificial object when used to mark the spot of a ball to be lifted, such as a tee, a coin, an object made to be a ball-marker or another small piece of equipment.(...Continued) when used to mark the spot of a ball or to the ball when it is placed on a spot. But a ball-markerBall-Marker: An artificial object when used to mark the spot of a ball to be lifted, such as a tee, a coin, an object made to be a ball-marker or another small piece of equipment.(...Continued) that meets the definition of alignment device in 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.  is covered under Rule 4.3.

SeeRule 25.2c (modification of Rule 10.2b(3) for players who are blind).

(4) Restricted Area for Caddie Before Player Makes Stroke. When a player begins taking 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) (which means they have at least one foot in position for that stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued)) and until the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is made, there are limitations relating to when and why a player’s caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) may deliberately stand on or close to an extension of 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) behind the ball (that is, the “restricted area”) as follows:

• Aiming. The caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) must not stand in the restricted area to help the player with aiming. This help includes when the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) moves away without saying anything but, by doing so, is giving a signal to the player that they are correctly aimed at the intended target. But there is no penalty if the player backs away before making the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) and the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) moves away from the restricted area before the player again begins 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).

• Help Other Than Aiming. If the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) is helping the player with something specific other than aiming (such as checking to see if the player’s club will hit a nearby tree during the backswing), the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) may stand in the restricted area but only if the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) moves away before the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is made and provided this positioning is not part of a regular routine.

There is no penalty if the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) was inadvertently standing in the restricted area.

This Rule does not prohibit the player from getting help by having a person other than the player’s caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) stand in the restricted area to help track the flight of a ball.

See Rules 22, 23 and 24 (in forms of play involving partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. and advice givers, a player's partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play., the partner’sPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) and any advice giver are restricted in these same ways).

See Rule 25.2d (modification of Rule 10.2b(4) for players who are blind).

(5) Physical Help, Eliminating Distractions, and Protection from Elements. A player must not make a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued):

• While getting physical help from their caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) or any other person, or

• With their caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) or any other person or object deliberately positioned to:

  • Eliminate distractions, or

  • Give protection from sunlight, rain, wind or other elements.

This Rule does not prohibit the player from:

• Taking their own actions to protect against the elements while making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), such as by wearing protective clothing or holding an umbrella over their own head, or

• Asking any other person who was not deliberately positioned by the player to remain in position or move out of the way (such as when a spectator is casting a shadow over the player’s ball).

Penalty for Breach of Rule 10.2b: General PenaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play..

(1) Player Allowed Only One Caddie at a Time.

A player may have a caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) to carry, transport and handle their clubs, give 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 help them in other ways allowed during a roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee., but with these limitations:

• The player must not have more than one caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) at any one time.

• The player may change caddiesCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) during a roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee., but must not do so temporarily for the sole purpose of getting 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 the new caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued).

Whether or not the player has a caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued), any other person who walks or rides along with the player or who carries other things for the player (such as a rain-suit, umbrella or food and drink) is not the player’s caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) unless they are named as such by the player or also carries, transports or handles the player’s clubs.

(2) Two or More Players May Share a Caddie. When there is a Rules issue involving a specific action of a shared caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) and it needs to be decided which player the action was taken for:

• If the caddie’sCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) action was taken at the specific direction of one of the players sharing the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued), the action was taken for that player.

• If none of those players specifically directed that action, the action is treated as taken for the player sharing the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) whose ball was involved.

• If none of the players sharing the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) specifically directed the caddie’sCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) action and none of those players’ balls were involved, all players sharing the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) get the penalty.

See Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule H-1  (the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. may adopt a Local Rule prohibiting or requiring the use of caddiesCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) or restricting a player’s choice of caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued)).

See Rules 25.2, 25.4 and 25.5 (players with certain disabilities may also get help from an aide).

Penalty for Breach of Rule 10.3a:

• The player gets the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. for each hole during which they are helped by more than one caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) at any one time.

• If the breach happens or continues between two holes, the player gets the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. for the next hole.

(1) Actions Always Allowed. A caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) may always take these actions when allowed under the Rules:

• Carry, transport and handle the player’s clubs and other equipmentEquipment: Anything used, worn, held or carried by the player or the player’s caddie.(...Continued) (including driving a cart or pulling a trolley).

• Search for the player’s ball (Rule 7.1).

• Give information, 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 other help before the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is made (Rules 10.2a and 10.2b).

• Smooth bunkersBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) or take other actions to care for the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued) (Rules 8.2 Exception, 8.3 Exception and 12.2b(2) and (3)).

• Remove sand and loose soil and repair damage on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) (Rule 13.1c).

• Remove or attend the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) (Rule 13.2b).

• Lift the player’s ball once it is reasonable to conclude (such as from an action or statement) that the player will take relief under a Rule (Rule 14.1b).

• MarkMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:(...Continued) the spot of the player’s ball and lift and replaceReplace: To place a ball by setting it down by hand and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play.(...Continued) the ball on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) (Rules 14.1b Exception and 14.2b).

• Clean the player’s ball (Rule 14.1c).

• Remove loose impedimentsLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) and movable obstructionsMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued) (Rules 15.1 and 15.2).

(2) Actions Allowed Only With Player’s Authorization. A caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) may take these actions only when the Rules allow the player to take them and only with the player’s authorization (which must be given specifically each time rather than given generally for a roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee.):

• Restore conditions that were worsened after the player’s ball came to rest (Rule 8.1d).

• When the player’s ball is anywhere except on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), lift the player’s ball under a Rule requiring it to be replacedReplace: To place a ball by setting it down by hand and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play.(...Continued)   (Rule 14.1b).

(3) Actions Not Allowed. A caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) is not allowed to take these actions for the player:

• Concede the next strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), a hole or the match to the opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. or agree with the opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. on the match score (Rule 3.2).

• ReplaceReplace: To place a ball by setting it down by hand and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play.(...Continued) a ball, unless the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) had lifted or movedMoved: 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) the ball (Rule 14.2b).

• DropDrop: To hold the ball and let go of it so that it falls through the air, with the intent for the ball to be in play.(...Continued) or place a ball in taking relief (Rule 14.3).

• Decide to take relief under a Rule (such as treating a ball as unplayable under Rule 19 or taking relief from an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: or penalty areaPenalty Area: An area from which relief with a one-stroke penalty is allowed if the player’s ball comes to rest there.(...Continued) under Rule 16.1 or 17); the caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) may advise the player to do so, but the player must decide.