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So I was just wondering if it is against the rules to put marks on your glove with a sharpie marker. I want to put marks on my glove so it could help me make a good grip. So is this against the rules?
Thanks

No, it's not against the rules. The current Golf Digest (March '08) shows Jim Flick doing just that.

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

I mark my glove with a sharpie ink pen. I put a black line between my second and third knuckle extending up the back of the glove about 1 inch. This allows me to quickly see if I am gripping the club properly as I address the ball

Since that question got wrapped up so quickly and the topic works, let me ask a similar question.

Obviously many people draw a line around their ball to aid in lining up putts, i'm sure this isn't illegal. However, I have added another feature that helps so much I wonder if it's okay. I carry a key retractor, something similar to this:


I set the ball down, lining up towards the hole and then pull out the cord of the retractor, I put one end on the ground just behind the ball, stretch the other end up and towards the hole a bit, close one eye and move the top of the cord so that it sits in front of the line on the ball, covering it up to my one open eye. As i'm sure you can visualize, this effectively extends the line on the ball towards the hole, so that I know i've got the line on the ball pointed where I want it. For short puts, 2 to 6 feet, this is a HUGE help. If I have a straight putt, or right edge or whatever, as long as I make a smooth SBST stroke, I always get the line I want.

So, is this legal?

no this is illegal, but I am not sure what the penalty would be

Rule 8-2b:

b. On the Putting Green When the player's ball is on the putting green, the player, his partner or either of their caddies may, before but not during the stroke, point out a line for putting, but in so doing the putting green must not be touched. A mark must not be placed anywhere to indicate a line for putting.

So, definitely illegal, but not a bad method for practice. Penalty is 2 strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play. So if you have been using this on every putt, you might have to add 50-60 strokes to your scores :)

i'm pretty sure it is against the rules if you do it to help yourself during a round. if its just in practice its ok but if you activly use it for aid in a regular round ie. for your handicap or during a tournement its not allowed. i'm not 100% sure on that answer though.

Confundus, I am not even sure if it is legal to put it down, though then again, you can use your club(s) which would also be a straight line. Either way, you have to pick anything up before you make your stroke, and as quoted in the rule, you cannot make a mark. However, if you are observant, there will always be something on the green along that line. An old repaired ball mark, a tuft of grass that's a different color, an impression or bump, a small piece of a leaf, etc. You can always find an intermediate target. I like the intermediate target method, because it is far easier to hit a target 12, 18 inches in front of the ball than a hole many feet away.

14-3. Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment and
Unusual Use of Equipment


Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the
player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment,
or use any equipment in an unusual manner:
a. That might assist him in making a stroke or in his play; or
b. F or the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or
conditions that might affect his play; or
c. That might assist him in gripping the club, except that:
(i) plain gloves may be worn;
(ii) resin, powder and drying or moisturizing agents may be
used; and
(iii) a towel or handkerchief may be wrapped around the grip.


So there you go. No lines on the glove.

Why would they allow gloves like this then? Leadbetter High Performance Glove

Thanks for the answers to my question, but it sounds like there is some confusionon what i'm doing. I stretch the thing out, holding it suspended in air, perhaps touching the green for stability, but thats not a necessity. After I have determined that the line on the ball is truly pointing it where I want, I release the cord, it winds back into its case and I stick it back on my belt. When I make the stroke, there is nothing but the ball with the line, I just made sure the line was pointed right.

Still illegal?

Thats a training aid. You cant actually use it when you are playing. Well you can but the round cant count to your handicap.

Yes. Read rule 14.3 I posted most of it.

It says it's USGA approved.