can anyone tell me if spiting on your golf ball to clean it,after it has been lifted off the green allowed.?

Question

in a matchplay event,my opponent marked and lifted his ball ,then spat on the ball in cleaning it ,is this a breach of any rule?

Answer 1

This is one of those funny cases in the rules where "intention" is important.

If his intention was just to clean the ball, it's legal. I do this all the time, but I wipe it off before I put it back in play.

If his intention was to change the playing characteristics of the ball, it's a disqualification.

Decision 4-2/4 deals with a club face, but it also applies to a ball.

Answer 2

Spiting on your ball to clean it is not against the rules.

However, You generally are not allowed to mark and lift your ball when it is OFF the green. Why did he lift it?

If he lifted the ball just to clean it he violated the rules.

Here's what the rule book says about cleaning

A ball on the putting green may be cleaned when lifted under Rule 16-1b. Elsewhere, a ball may be cleaned when lifted except when it has been lifted:
(a) To determine if it is unfit for play (Rule 5-3); (b) For identification (Rule 12-2), in which case it may be cleaned only to the extent necessary for identification; or (c) Because it is assisting or interfering with play (Rule 22). If a player cleans his ball during play of a hole except as provided in this Rule, he incurs a penalty of one stroke and the ball, if lifted, must be replaced.
If a player who is required to replace a ball fails to do so, he incurs the penalty for breach of Rule 20-3a, but there is no additional penalty under Rule 21.

http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/books/index.html

Answer 3

Yes

from rule rules of golf, rule 21:

A ball on the putting green may be cleaned when lifted under Rule 16-1b. Elsewhere, a ball may be cleaned when lifted except when it has been lifted:
a. To determine if it is unfit for play (Rule 5-3);
b. For identification (Rule 12-2), in which case it may becleaned only to the extent necessary for identification; or
c.Because it is assisting or interfering with play (Rule 22).

If a player cleans his ball during play of a hole except as provided in this Rule, he incurs a penalty of one stroke
and the ball, if lifted, must be replaced.

Answer 4

no, it doesn't breach any rule as long he mark his ball proir lift it from the greens. he is allow to clean his ball.

Answer 5

first, it is not against the rules. however, i think it was curtis strange's dad got mouth/gum/lip cancer from doing this. my advice is to spit in a towel and clean it that way. *much* safer.

Answer 6

No,but I wouldn't recommend licking it.

Answer 7

not at all, if he marked it before, it doesn't matter.