Rule 4 - The Player's Equipment

4.1 Clubs

4.1a(1)/1 – Wear Through Normal Use Does Not Change Conformity

Normal use includes strokesStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), practice strokesStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) and practice swings, as well as acts such as removing a club from and replacing a club into the golf bag. If wear through normal use occurs, the player’s club is treated as conforming, and they may continue to use it.

Examples of wear through normal use include when:

4.1a(1)/2 – No Penalty for Stroke with Non-Conforming Club When Stroke Disregarded

If a player makes a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) with a non-conforming club, the player is not disqualified if the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) does not count in the player’s score.

Examples of when the player gets no penalty for making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) with a non-conforming club include when:

4.1a(2)/1 – Meaning of “Repair”

Examples of repair include:

4.1b/1 – How to Apply Adjustment Penalty Once Any Player Starts Hole During Match

If any player in a match has started play of a hole when a breach of Rule 4.1b is discovered, the match adjustment penalty is applied at the end of that hole. If the player in breach has not started that hole, they are between holes and are not in breach on the next hole.

For example, after completing the first hole, the player tees off on the second hole. Before the opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. tees off, the opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. becomes aware that they are carrying 15 clubs in breach of Rule 4.1b(1). Since the opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. has not started the second hole, the match score is only adjusted by one hole in the player’s favour, but the match score is not revised until the second hole is completed since the second hole started when the player teed off.

4.1b(1)/1 – Clubs Carried for Player Count Towards the 14-Club Limit

The 14-club limit applies to any clubs being carried by the player, their caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued), or any other person they ask to carry clubs.

For example, if a player begins the roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. with 10 clubs and asks another person to walk along with the group and carry 8 additional clubs from which the player intends to add to their bag during the roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee., the player is considered to have started the roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. with more than 14 clubs.

4.1b(2)/1 – Multiple Players May Carry Clubs in One Bag

The Rules do not restrict multiple players (such as partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play.) from carrying their clubs in one bag. However, to reduce the risk of penalty under Rule 4.1b, they should make sure the clubs are clearly identifiable to each player.

4.1b(2)/2 – Sharing Clubs Is Not Allowed for Strokes That Count in a Player’s Score

The prohibition against sharing clubs applies only to strokesStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) that count in a player’s score. It does not apply to practice swings, practice strokesStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) or strokesStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) made after the result of a hole is decided.

For example, there is no penalty under Rule 4.1b if, between the play of two holes, a player borrows another player’s putter and makes several practice putts on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) of the hole just completed.

4.1b(4)/1 – Club Components May Be Assembled When Not Carried by or for Player

Rule 4.1b(4) restricts a player from building a club from parts parts being carried by or for the player or any other player who is playing on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued). It does not restrict the player from retrieving parts to build a club or having parts brought to them.

For example, if a player is permitted to add a club (see Rule 4.1b(1)) or replace a damaged club (see Rule 4.1b(3)), club components brought from the clubhouse (such as the player’s locker), the golf shop, or a manufacturer’s truck, or other similar locations, are not considered to be “carried by anyone for the player during the roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. ” and are allowed to be assembled by the player or anyone else.

4.2 Balls

4.2a(1)/1 – Status of Ball Not on List of Conforming Golf Balls

In a competition in which the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. has not adopted the Local Rule requiring players to use a brand and model of ball on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls, a player may use the following golf balls:

However, brands and models that have been tested and found not to conform 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.  must not be played, whether or not the Local Rule has been adopted.

4.2a(1)/2 – Status of “X-Out”, “Refurbished” and “Practice” Balls

If a player chooses to play a ball that is marked as “X-Out” or “Practice” by the manufacturer, or a ball that has been refurbished, these balls are treated as follows under 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. :

4.2a(1)/3 – No Penalty for Playing Non-Conforming Ball When Stroke Is Disregarded

If a player makes a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) at a non-conforming ball or a ball not on the List of Conforming Golf Balls when the Local Rule is in effect, the player is not disqualified if the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) does not count in the player’s score.

Examples of when a player gets no penalty include when the player plays a ball that is not allowed:

4.3 Use of Equipment

4.3a/1 – Limitations on Using Green-Reading Materials

Rule 4.3 limits the use of equipmentEquipment: Anything used, worn, held or carried by the player or the player’s caddie.(...Continued) and devices that might help a player in their play, based on the principle that golf is a challenging game in which success should depend on the judgement, skills and abilities of the player.  This Clarification of Rule 4.3 limits the size and scale of detailed putting green maps and any similar electronic or digital materials that a player may use during a roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. to help with reading their 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) for any strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) made from the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) so that a player's ability to read a green remains an essential part of the skill of putting.

Putting Green Maps

The player is allowed to use a putting green map or other putting green information, except that:

Electronic or Digital Putting Green Maps

In electronic or digital form, any image of a putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) must meet the above scale and size limits.  Even when an electronic or digital putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) map meets the above limits, the player is still in breach of Rule 4.3 if the player uses any device in a manner not consistent with the purpose of these limits, such as by:

4.3a/2 – When Use of Alignment Device Results in Breach

If a player places an “alignment device” (see definition in 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. ) 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) and then positions their ball based on the direction of that alignment device, the player is in breach of Rule 4.3a.

For example, a player’s ball comes to rest on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) and the player marksMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:(...Continued) the spot of their ball with an “alignment device.” When doing so, the alignment device is placed 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). If the player then lifts and replacesReplace: To place a ball by setting it down by hand and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play.(...Continued) their ball (which includes rotating it) so that a marking on the ball is lined up with the alignment device, the player is in breach of Rule 4.3a. (New)

4.3a(1)/1 – Restrictions on Using Equipment to Gauge Slope

Although a player may use their club as a plumb line to assist in judging or gauging slope and contours, there is other equipmentEquipment: Anything used, worn, held or carried by the player or the player’s caddie.(...Continued) that a player may not use in judging a slope or contour.

For example, a player is not allowed to gauge slope by: