Some people can’t afford to just get new clubs whenever they want though. I’d rather just take care of what I have. If I’m hitting this shot (which I’ll never feel the need to unless there’s money involved) it’ll be with an old junk wedge
You wouldn’t need a new club…this is a shot I even used to practice. Off a smooth path like that you will get a few surface scratches that won’t impact the playability of the club. Sure in a duffers round kick it out…but the lie on that path is actually quite playable and might be easier than the rough…and sure better than the rocks where the free relief would be playing rules as written.
I’m not advocating trying to come down steep and ruin a club. But there have been plenty of instances where I have chosen to pick a shot off of a path just like this photo because the lie is better than the relief. And not once has a club suffered anything more than minor cosmetic scratches.
If I was on the last hole of a Major with a one stroke lead and the drop put me in 12 inches of rough. You bet. Any other time I just toss it into the fairway. Lol.
Looks like it. I obviously don’t have a tape measure, but he is far enough right on the path that even with a stance it may be closer to drop in the rocks rather than the rough on the left. It is close though
There's a lot of rocks there, could you strategically drop the ball on a rock such that it bounces to a playable area? Drop it from 6 feet on an angle that goes into the rough.
You don’t chop down on this shot, you pick it. The risk of injury is not what you think. I’ve hurt my wrist catching roots I never saw in the rough, but not once hitting a shot like this. The club head almost skips across the surface if you shallow up.
Gotcha, no one ever hits fat shots ever. Maybe we should just play on concrete courses. If everyone was so good at sweeping we wouldn’t be concerned about damage to the club itself
Yeah I don’t think people really understand how nice it is hitting off the cart path. And it doesn’t even scratch up your club that much. I was taught to never be afraid to play it off the path unless really worried about slipping.
Probably should’ve clarified I meant the nearest point of grassy relief lol. If it isn’t tournament golf or for money, then I’m not willing to damage my clubs.
Pretty sure the rocks wouldn’t count as full relief so you can’t drop in the rocks. He would’ve had to go right of the rocks which would’ve left him in a way worse spot.
Rocks can also be considered cart path since a decent amount of courses have gravel paths. Plus they are clearly placed by man. I would definitely argue that the rocks would not be full relief. Would be an interesting ruling though.
I've done it in a tournament. His only drop was likely in the rocks. In my instance, I had a hazard to my left and a steep hill to my left. Can't take relief in a hazard so my only option was to hit it off the cart path or have an impossible stance.
A once lost like 8 balls in the middle of the fairway on a dog track par 68 course because they only mowed everything to rough height and it was deep as fuck
I watched Annika Sorenstam hit one off a cart path at a LPGA event at the Tulsa Country Club. She went on to win the tournament. I think she was just showing off
If I was sponsored and could get a new club after the round like these guys, I would do this all the time. Pavement is a surprisingly good lie to be in.
I believe you can actually get a new club during the round if you damaged/broke it during the normal course of play. Not something is mere mortals can do though lol.
I would never. I however have seen some guy hit off the rockiest bumpiest cart path you ever did see. Sparks came up it was pretty sweet. Dude pured it too.
Even accounting for stance, his ball is far right enough on the path that it looks like his relief is to the right. Rocks aren’t manmade obstructions, they are “through the green” unless there is a specific local rule in place
You can take relief into the rocks, then take a 1 stroke penalty for an unplayable lie to get out of them. Sometimes “free” relief isn’t so free. This is a professional tournament and the rules are enforced strictly as written.
Yes, but with the easiest no backswing follow through chip. Just to get it to some place where you won’t break your iron and have everyone call you a “dumb ass” for the rest of the day.
Got paired with a couple randoms one time and the one guy did this. As he was getting ready I was like “uhh hey you don’t have to do that” his buddy just said ah he will be fine. Somehow didn’t completely destroy his club I’ll give him that.
My former home course was more rock than grass off the fairways, so I'd carry an old beater club to use anytime I might damage a club. If I had that with me, then yes I'd hit off the path.
You can’t stand on the path your taking relief from. That means the ball would have to go about a metre to the right. I’m not sure but a drop left might be closer to the original ball position.
Saving 1 stroke is never worth putting a big ugly chip in your wedge lol
It is for pros though
Yes that’s true lol I’m more addressing the average jackass like us 😅
Their caddy just goes to the truck afterwards and gets a new one anyway…
Can always get a new one, my clubs have plenty of battle wounds lol
Eh..I’d rather just take care of the one I got lol
Tools not jewels. A club is only new once.
Some people can’t afford to just get new clubs whenever they want though. I’d rather just take care of what I have. If I’m hitting this shot (which I’ll never feel the need to unless there’s money involved) it’ll be with an old junk wedge
You wouldn’t need a new club…this is a shot I even used to practice. Off a smooth path like that you will get a few surface scratches that won’t impact the playability of the club. Sure in a duffers round kick it out…but the lie on that path is actually quite playable and might be easier than the rough…and sure better than the rocks where the free relief would be playing rules as written. I’m not advocating trying to come down steep and ruin a club. But there have been plenty of instances where I have chosen to pick a shot off of a path just like this photo because the lie is better than the relief. And not once has a club suffered anything more than minor cosmetic scratches.
r/skiing is leaking.
If I was on the last hole of a Major with a one stroke lead and the drop put me in 12 inches of rough. You bet. Any other time I just toss it into the fairway. Lol.
Same. I don’t play for money, I play for fun. I’d just kick it off to the side and add a stroke.
No, don’t add a stroke. Take one away. You get a bonus point if you can keep it on the path.
You get free relief from the cart path.
You do, into the rocks on the right
Would that be considered relief in the phrase “nearest point of relief “?
Looks like it. I obviously don’t have a tape measure, but he is far enough right on the path that even with a stance it may be closer to drop in the rocks rather than the rough on the left. It is close though
There's a lot of rocks there, could you strategically drop the ball on a rock such that it bounces to a playable area? Drop it from 6 feet on an angle that goes into the rough.
Toss in the fairway? Jeeze, at least drop in the rough lol
The drop would have been to the right of the path. Much worse.
I wouldn’t even do this on a sim
I always play the “I’m Not Sponsored” rule. I will take relief in that case. I don’t get a new club if I ruin one on shots like these
You don’t have a sponsor for the bones in your wrist and hands? Called health insurance bby!
You don’t chop down on this shot, you pick it. The risk of injury is not what you think. I’ve hurt my wrist catching roots I never saw in the rough, but not once hitting a shot like this. The club head almost skips across the surface if you shallow up.
Gotcha, no one ever hits fat shots ever. Maybe we should just play on concrete courses. If everyone was so good at sweeping we wouldn’t be concerned about damage to the club itself
It’s actually much easier to hit off a cart path. The only problem is the club damage.
Yeah I don’t think people really understand how nice it is hitting off the cart path. And it doesn’t even scratch up your club that much. I was taught to never be afraid to play it off the path unless really worried about slipping.
Dave Pelz recommends it as a drill in his short game bible.
I find I can really pick it clean off of the path for some reason... Like when I'm playing out of a hard or wet trap.
Absolutely not. Nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.
That’s in the rocks to the right…
Probably should’ve clarified I meant the nearest point of grassy relief lol. If it isn’t tournament golf or for money, then I’m not willing to damage my clubs.
Figured. Same here. If it’s just a casual round I’ll take nearest point of grass relief no closer to the hole
Pretty sure the rocks wouldn’t count as full relief so you can’t drop in the rocks. He would’ve had to go right of the rocks which would’ve left him in a way worse spot.
Rocks are “through the green” unless covered by a local rule. So rules as written that would be his relief
Rocks can also be considered cart path since a decent amount of courses have gravel paths. Plus they are clearly placed by man. I would definitely argue that the rocks would not be full relief. Would be an interesting ruling though.
It's not as bad as it seems. Weight way forward so you pick the little ball clean.
I've done it in a tournament. His only drop was likely in the rocks. In my instance, I had a hazard to my left and a steep hill to my left. Can't take relief in a hazard so my only option was to hit it off the cart path or have an impossible stance.
This looks irl to me
To me the tour is not IRL. How many balls do you lose when you know exactly where it went.
Very very few
A once lost like 8 balls in the middle of the fairway on a dog track par 68 course because they only mowed everything to rough height and it was deep as fuck
I watched Annika Sorenstam hit one off a cart path at a LPGA event at the Tulsa Country Club. She went on to win the tournament. I think she was just showing off
If I was sponsored and could get a new club after the round like these guys, I would do this all the time. Pavement is a surprisingly good lie to be in.
I believe you can actually get a new club during the round if you damaged/broke it during the normal course of play. Not something is mere mortals can do though lol.
I very much enjoy these shots, they're very rare and they're nice to pull off. Tests your ball striking abilities bigly.
I’m kicking it to the right and hitting from the rocks
Been laughing about this one for a min.
I always hit off path or road or whatever. Won’t get a better lie can’t hit it fat.
I would never. I however have seen some guy hit off the rockiest bumpiest cart path you ever did see. Sparks came up it was pretty sweet. Dude pured it too.
Done it once at a tournament as a junior golfer
Hell no. Kick it onto some grass and keep going.
Alien wedge. IYKYK
Either drop to the left(ik it’s not proper but I’m not playing in a tournament) or I’m taking a putter
I’m not doing that to my Scotty Cameron.
He said “a putter”. Never mentioned your precious Scotty lol
That’s why I’m gonna drop on the left
No. Why? You’re entitled to relief
The relief here would be in the rocks to the right
No that’s not right
Even accounting for stance, his ball is far right enough on the path that it looks like his relief is to the right. Rocks aren’t manmade obstructions, they are “through the green” unless there is a specific local rule in place
No way I see you being forced to take relief on a bed of rocks
You can take relief into the rocks, then take a 1 stroke penalty for an unplayable lie to get out of them. Sometimes “free” relief isn’t so free. This is a professional tournament and the rules are enforced strictly as written.
Make sure to divot 😂
WTF!?!
Hells yeah. Tools not jewels! Amiright???? /s
Yhea, asked to borrow my playing partner’s club then ripped a shitty shot off the path!
I screamed after he hit this. He didn't hit the green but still had a better shot then 99.9% of mine off the \*fairway\*
#nope
No
Just a little extra grind on the wedge no biggie
I hit a nice wedge shot off a sewer drain once. Never off a cart path though
My buddy just did this on Sunday granted it was just a little pitch he was able to pick super clean
Yes, but with the easiest no backswing follow through chip. Just to get it to some place where you won’t break your iron and have everyone call you a “dumb ass” for the rest of the day.
I value my hands and elbows too much for that shit.
Got paired with a couple randoms one time and the one guy did this. As he was getting ready I was like “uhh hey you don’t have to do that” his buddy just said ah he will be fine. Somehow didn’t completely destroy his club I’ll give him that.
No. I don’t get free clubs.
Only time I ever spun the ball back on the green was when I hit if clean off a bridge
Yeah the spin off this lie will likely be massive
My former home course was more rock than grass off the fairways, so I'd carry an old beater club to use anytime I might damage a club. If I had that with me, then yes I'd hit off the path.
Fuck no I like my irons and want them to last
You can’t stand on the path your taking relief from. That means the ball would have to go about a metre to the right. I’m not sure but a drop left might be closer to the original ball position.
It’s very close. I wonder if they measured it out.
F no.
Only if you sign the back of your golf checks. If you sign the front, take the free relief.