Marking Club Faces - Is it legal?

[panman]

Hi All

Can anyone tell me if it's legal to mark the club face of your irons with a line square (perpendicular) to the club face, rather like on a putter, to help with squaring the club face. Is this allowed by the governing bodies?

Sometimes when I set up, I square the clube face to the target, or I think I do, then check my stance and find that I'm aiming off target a little, so I have to readjust.

I would think that a mark lining up the face square and along the sweet spot would help in aiming as it does in putting..... what do you think?

many thanks

Pan

[SIRCHOPALOT]

Re: Marking Club Faces - Is it legal?

Hi All

Can anyone tell me if it's legal to mark the club face of your irons with a line square (perpendicular) to the club face, rather like on a putter, to help with squaring the club face. Is this allowed by the governing bodies?

Sometimes when I set up, I square the clube face to the target, or I think I do, then check my stance and find that I'm aiming off target a little, so I have to readjust.

I would think that a mark lining up the face square and along the sweet spot would help in aiming as it does in putting..... what do you think?

many thanks

Pan

There are markings on some drivers already. My Talor Made R7 had the logo centered over the sweet spot so that theoretically you could use that as an alignment aid. I don't think there is any rule against alignment marks.

[bill reed]

Re: Marking Club Faces - Is it legal?

hi pan
you can but have to be of a set spacing from the groves and a certin depth and dont think it can be done on most sets.
i think what you have in mind is on the face of the club not the top or back.
the rules say:- except for specified marking, the surface roughness must not exceed that of a decorative sandblasting. marking must not have sharp edges or raised lips, as determined by a finger test. then goes on to tell you about the groves or punch marks
hope this helps
bill

[panman]

Re: Marking Club Faces - Is it legal?

Cheers 'Sir' and Bill

I was just thinking about maybe marking my 'irons' with something like 'tippex' to help me with alignment square on the club face. I know that on the 'Drivers' it's ok, as most of them have them on on there already.

I just wasn't sure if it was legal to do so yourself!

Many thanks

Pan

[bill reed]

Re: Marking Club Faces - Is it legal?

hi
adding tippex or something like that you could remove later would be ok to use to pratice with but if playing in a medal it would be against rules.
bill

[TeachingPro]

Re: Marking Club Faces - Is it legal?

Rule 4-1(b) ... Any part of a club that has been purposely altered is regarded as new and must, in its altered state conform, to the Rules.

Rule 4-2(a) ... During a stipulated round, the playing characteristics of a club must not be purposely changed by adjustment or by any other means.

So, I think, as long as you don't add the tippex during a round and the club conforms to the rules, it should be ok.

[xix]

Re: Marking Club Faces - Is it legal?

hi pan
the rules say:- except for specified marking, the surface roughness must not exceed that of a decorative sandblasting. marking must not have sharp edges or raised lips, as determined by a finger test.

My irons (SMT CB2) have milled faces (lots and lots of little grooves).
Does that mean they are illegal to use in a competition?

[TeachingPro]

Re: Marking Club Faces - Is it legal?

No, you are okay because the clubs are manufactured to conform to the rules of USGA or R&A. As long as you don't "tease" or amend the surface to fail the specifications, they are perfectly legal.

Don't forget that touring pros change their clubs all the time but they don't change the hitting area other than some pros get thier clubs unchromed or put in satin finish ... all done by the factory or tour vans.

[JoeK]

Re: Marking Club Faces - Is it legal?

Many component and OEM companies use paint filled grooves to help aid alignment of the clubface. I don't see what would be illegal by adding your own paint to a few of the lower grooves to help with alignment issues.

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: Marking Club Faces - Is it legal?

A good on course group of alignment aids that are legal is the golfer, his grip, his stance, a verticle line and the club face. By that I mean take your club, with your normal grip, and normal stance. Find a verticle line such as a post/pole, corner of a building, or anything that sticks straight up. Hold your club with your arms out stretched, and align the scoring lines on your club face with that verticle object. Your club face will be square in relation to your grip, and your stance. Now, the problem is when you put the club down to address the ball, your club face in most instances will look closed. It is still square to your target line, but because it looks closed, many golfers will rotate the club face open to what looks square at address, and then wonder why the ball flight went right (for a right handed golfer) After looking at what appears to be a closed club face for a while you get use to the closed look, and will trust it. GJS