I think there’s a relatively high degree of consistency within the rules, but it only becomes evident if you start to look at the rules as a whole. When you look at the Rules as a whole bunch of unrelated tidbits, its easy to find things that don’t seem quite right. The more I’ve learned about the principles behind the rules, “structure” of them, and the way the various rules relate to one another, the more sense they make. I think the 2019 revisions included a number of changes specifically designed to make things more consistent.
As you say, golf is played on many continents, many types of ground, many climates, by players with widely varying talents and levels of ability. Its fairly impressive that a single set of rules can be applied to just about every course and every player in the world with pretty limited adaptation to local conditions…
I can’t imagine this would be a rules violation, but Lou stagner was talking about using a digital tape measure to get exact measurements for his putts…
I’m vaguely contemplating the idea, simply because I think it would help me measure distances better… but wasn’t sure if it would create any rules issues
Just step it off. You can get close enough doing that.
I could! I’m still contemplating buying a laser tape measure… I think it would be interesting to have precise distances.
To me, this would fall under the rules regarding Equipment. Rule 4.3 specifically allows you to use “equipment” to measure distances, and I can’t see how a laser tape measure is any different from a laser rangefinder in that regard. I’ve tracked SG Putting occasionally by pacing distances, and I’m not sure the extra precision you gain using a digital tape measure would be significantly valuable, but as long as you don’t delay play, I’d say its permitted under the rules…
Lous point was there is a 6% difference between a 5 foot putt and a 5.5 foot putt…
I’m not sold it’s worth the money, but it seems like if you are going to measure it, why not be as accurate as possible?
I didn’t read Stagner’s post, but what’s the reason for wanting increased accuracy? Will it influence how you use your statistics, or change the conclusions you might draw from them? As far as I’m aware, we don’t have Strokes Gained statistics broken down to any smaller unit than a whole foot, so it can’t help that way.
I guess this seems similar to the idea of marketing a laser rangefinder that’s accurate to 0.1 yards, instead of full yards. Why does it matter, why is it worth more, when the extra precision won’t change my decision making?
I’d be interested to hear back, assuming you do go this route, whether it actually does make a difference for you.
Wow…that is way too much on my brain at the time of putting…I’d be frozen with any additional information and percentage points…lol.
This is not unconscious putting!!
iOS has one built in. I do believe that Lou is just representing his personality and it is not advice to do so. I am of a similar vain however I pace my putts because this would just be to much. SG at our level is very informative in buckets. ie I don’t make as many putts inside 8 feet as I should so I will work inside 8 feet. I don’t need to work from 5’ 6" and not from 5’.
Is it crazy? Yes. Is it pointless? I don’t think so… I’ve never been 100 percent confident in stepping off distances… I could practice it and make sure I’m consistently stepping off the right numbers, but that sounds equally crazy…
I think it’s valuable for me to know if a putt is 6 feet vs being somewhere between 5-7 feet… maybe I’m woefully misjudging my ability to pace off distances!
My brain doesn’t do well with guesstimating things… I either have an answer that I believe or it’s useless information… stepping off distances feels like useless information to me… I certainly haven’t bought one yet, though!
I’m asking this not as a dig, but a genuine inquiry. How little does feel play into your game? I understand wanting as much accurate data as possible, but when it comes down to it you have to make the stroke. Even with the information is your stroke dialed in enough for knowing you’re 12’ 3” away instead of 11’ 9” to make a difference?
At some point all this data is going to do is leave you standing over shots running numbers through your head and your body isn’t going to have any idea what to do with it all.
My dad has always called it analysis paralysis and it’s a legitimate thing.
100000% do what works best for your game, but be careful not to analyze yourself into oblivion.
100% agree and that’s honestly why I don’t trust myself to step off putts… because I’ll have information but not enough to rely on it.
I’m not sure on the whole thing… I think it’s an interesting idea, at least, but do doubt that it will do anything positivity for my game outside of more accurately collecting data.
Do you step off prior to hitting the putt?
Not right now, no…
Keep it that way! Data collection is very important IMO but should not interfere with thought process prior to the shot.
Alright @davep043 what’s the rule on immovable obstruction?
I’ve had instance where sprinkler control box was in my swing path and was told I didn’t get relief. Today Shane Lowry had a dune fence on the beach in his line of play and got relief. Do you on get line of play relief and not swing path relief or was I hosed?
You got hosed. Rule 16 I believe.
Lou, Lou, Lou… dude.
you get relief for stance and swing from permanent immovable obstructions, but not for your intended line of play. the rules for temporary movable obstructions are different, you do get line of play relief. I’d guess the fence was temporary, I didn’t see it.