Re: Been looking for....

13-4: Ball in Hazard, Prohibited Actions:

Except as provided in the Rules, before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard) or that, having been lifted from a hazard, may be dropped or placed in the hazard, the player must not:
a. Test the condition of the hazard or any similar hazard;
b. Touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his hand or a club; or
c. Touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard.
Exceptions:

1. Provided nothing is done that constitutes testing the condition of the hazard or improves the lie of the ball, there is no penalty if the player (a) touches the ground in any hazard or water in a water hazard as a result of or to prevent falling, in removing an obstruction, in measuring or in retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule or (b) places his clubs in a hazard.
2. After making the stroke, the player or his caddie may smooth sand or soil in the hazard, provided that, if the ball is still in the hazard or has been lifted from the hazard and may be dropped or placed in the hazard, nothing is done that improves the lie of the ball or assists the player in his subsequent play of the hole.
Note: At any time, including at address or in the backward movement for the stroke, the player may touch with a club or otherwise any obstruction, any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course or any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.



Grounding your club is considered testing.

Re: Been looking for....

Thanks for that LP.

It still doesn't answer my question though. Can the clubhead touch the sand on the takeaway.

Recently some have told me that I can't. I disagree with them as I would argue that I am not testing the conditions - I am executing a shot.

If it is illegal then why is it not illegal to take sand before hitting the ball out from the bunker?

Re: Been looking for....

Hey VP...

You should have a gander at the definition of "Stroke" in order to understand just whats what in your question...

Stroke - A "Stroke" is the FORWARD movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball...........

Given this, IMO, the backswing does NOT constitute part of your "stroke" at the ball and as such NO, you can not ground the club during the takeaway...

Hope this helps...

Cheers

Re: Been looking for....

Scraggs is bang on the reason touching hazard on the backswing is a 'foul' is it 'testing' before making a stroke, as worded in the rule

On the R&A website, Faldo is shown playing on the grass bank just out of a water hazard, but on the back swing, he just disturbs the water, and they use it to evidence a penalty.

Re: Been looking for....

You might want to take note of: The R&A Homepage
See rule book, but also check the decisions book.

Decision 13-4/31:
Question:
player playing a shot in a bunker accidentally touched the sand when making his backswing. What is the ruling?
Answer:
The player was in breach of Rule 13-4b when he touched the ground in the bunker with his club before making the stroke – see Definition of “Stroke”.

Charles

Re: Been looking for....

Thanks fella's interesting one. Asked my coach this same question last week. He was of the view that it wasn't a penalty - although he did say he wasn't a hundred percent sure.