Watching the line of a putt

[Mike]

In a recent Middle East tournament the golfer Anthony Wall was eyeing up a tricky putt whilst his playing partner was preparing to putt on a similar line. After the other guy hit his ball Wall moved 'very quicky'  to get in a position where he could directly view the ball running to the hole.

Anyone else see this? Is it illegal at all? The commentator at the time just joked about him "getting caught" etc.

Mike

[Vince Baby]

Course it's legal.

If he stood there during his companion's preparation, it'd be a "breach" of etiquette.

Nothing else.

[3puttwizard]

Had people do this do me in competitions and it makes my blood boil as well as people standing behind me on the tee.

[Fieldsy]

Had people do this do me in competitions and it makes my blood boil as well as people standing behind me on the tee.

Everything makes your blood boil. The day you're calm is the day that hell will freeze over 

[Stu-Pid]

Had people do this do me in competitions and it makes my blood boil as well as people standing behind me on the tee.

Do you mean standing behind your back or looking down your swing line?  If it's looking down the line then I often do this (but standing well back) as it's the best way to follow the flight of the ball and so maximises the chances of finding it if it's an errant shot.

As for moving quickly to look down the line the ball is rolling on, it's perfectly legal and to be honest, very sensible.  It's not even a breach of etiquette.

[Tin Pot]

Everything makes your blood boil. The day you're calm is the day that hell will freeze over 

True but it's worse when it's me

It's not a breach of rules to do this, but if you continue to do so after the player has asked you to stop, it is a breach of etiquette.

[3puttwizard]

Nope I'll just stand back behind the ball on the tee then take a really fast backswing, they'll move then.

[3puttwizard]

Do you mean standing behind your back or looking down your swing line?  If it's looking down the line then I often do this (but standing well back) as it's the best way to follow the flight of the ball and so maximises the chances of finding it if it's an errant shot.

As for moving quickly to look down the line the ball is rolling on, it's perfectly legal and to be honest, very sensible.  It's not even a breach of etiquette.

Standing down the line. What makes you think the person hitting the ball can't follow the flight of the ball? 

Standing behind my back is fine or on the other side of the tee box.

Breach of etiquette means what you can beat him to death without penalty? 

[Stu-Pid]

Standing down the line. What makes you think the person hitting the ball can't follow the flight of the ball? 

Well, seeing as I've played golf with a lot of people who have no idea where they've hit the ball, I'd say experience makes me think that they might not be able to follow the flight of the ball.  Add into that the number of times the player loses it in the sun, or hits a crap shot and immediately looks away in disgust and I'd say that it's not an unsensible thing to do.

As I siad, I always stand well back, and certainly out of their eyeline.  However, if the player politely asks me not to do it then I shall of course refrain, as I'm only doing it for their potential benefit, not mine. 

If they stepped back and nearly hit me with a practice swing on purpose rather than just politely asking me to move, I'd probably think that they were a bit of a tw*t.   

[3puttwizard]

Of course I'd ask people to move but I've had cases of people doing it deliberatley after I've asked them to move.

[Vince Baby]

Got all that, Mike? 

[Longshot]

Of course I'd ask people to move but I've had cases of people doing it deliberatley after I've asked them to move.

Ahhh, well that's different.

I'm with Stu - I do it to keep an eye on where the ball goes. You only need to ask if you don't like it.

[hotbaws]

Had people do this do me in competitions and it makes my blood boil as well as people standing behind me on the tee.

Good to know 

[MisterS3]

Did i read earlier in this thread, that it's okay to stand directly behind a player taking their putt?

[Vince Baby]

Did i read earlier in this thread, that it's okay to stand directly behind a player taking their putt?

You can, so long as you're not the player's playing partner or caddie. But it's awfully bad form, old chap.