Does everyone steal half an inch when they mark their ball?

[StiffShaft]

Everyone does, right?

[nova6868]

Hahaha

[jay65]

Brilliant!!!!!!!

[TheGeekGolfer]

Do you keep marking it till you have a tap in?

[golfinray]

I do not.

What possible difference could a half an inch make?

[farmer]

Troll, but I'll bite. No.

[Rhythm&TempoRenzo]

I played a league once where more than 60% of the players used their foot wedges more than any other club. Needless to say, most of those same folks stole two or three inches when marking their ball. One particular day on the closest to the hole contest I observed a guy mark his ball two feet closer than where it actually landed. I quit at the end of the season - I just couldn't take it anymore. I'm not a choir boy but I'm not gonna cheat on the course. I want my scores to mean something, is that wrong?

[2putttom]

And I lie about the size of my thinga majig.

[Hathstauwk]

[quote name='Rhythm&TempoRenzo' timestamp='1432827937' post='11643360']I played a league once where more than 60% of the players used their foot wedges more than any other club. Needless to say, most of those same folks stole two or three inches when marking their ball. One particular day on the closest to the hole contest I observed a guy mark his ball two feet closer than where it actually landed. I quit at the end of the season - I just couldn't take it anymore. I'm not a choir boy but I'm not gonna cheat on the course. I want my scores to mean something, is that wrong?[/quote]

Golf is a game of honor where you are supposed to play within the rules and call penalties on yourself if there is an infraction. The way you described those players as playing......they are neither playing with honor nor respecting the game.....not to mention that anything they win is tainted (though seems they would not care).

In my opinion, you did the right thing to quit. I hope you found a place to join or another league where they golfers are like the vast majority out there in that they play properly and with honor.

[JWells]

Only half an inch?

[Benoit61]

1/4 inch here haha

[Fade to Black]

[quote name='JWells' timestamp='1432830473' post='11643664']
Only half an inch?
[/quote]
My wife always tells me I over-exaggerate my length...

[justasgood]

I once played against a guy who would place his marker in between the ball and the hole while marking, and replace his ball in front of the marker when replacing.

Never played him again....

[MadGolfer76]

What is it about the WRX community that casts doubt in your mind about us being honest?

[Edaw68]

[quote name='2putttom' timestamp='1432828157' post='11643406']
And I lie about the size of my P#^$.
[/quote]
Like half an inch makes a difference.

[RSinSG]

1970s / Jane Blalock Cheating Controversy

 

In 1972, 27-year-old Jane Blalock was suspended by the LPGA for cheating. Blalock was accused of shenanigans when she marked her ball. Specifically, Blalock was thought to be replacing her ball slightly ahead of the marker. Blalock sued the LPGA. She did not clear her name, but her lawsuits were responsible for the LPGA being deemed in voilation of federal antitrust laws. Years later Blalock issued a vague apology, but she did not specifically admit any wrongdoing. Despite winning 27 career LPGA titles, Blalock has not been inducted into the LPGA's Hall of Fame.

 

[rogolf]

[quote name='StiffShaft' timestamp='1432826941' post='11643206']
Everyone does, right?
[/quote]

You mean that everyone cheats? Not likely, and not the guys that I play golf with - it's a gentleman's game. Honesty rules. We're so honest that nobody checks, but if someone was observed to do so repeatedly they'd be so advised, and without correction of their behaviour, be drummed out of the group.

[jsixman]

This made me laugh out loud. Maybe a millimeter, not quite a half inch.........I heard Nick Faldo say that he did in tournaments one time while he was broadcasting

[jsixman]

His exact words I think, "put that quarter as close as you can to that ball, and when you mark it, squeeze a couple millimeters out of it"

[GWD]

Never ever, not once in 50 years. I wouldn't be able to stand the self-shame. Really.

[zebra2955]

Never intentionally.
But I have probably missed the exact spot a few times

[VNutz]

I really dislike this. In high school golf I saw it ALL THE TIME. Mark your ball, while others putted, they'd put the ball down as if they're lining it up and move it an inch or two up, only to mark again, and then repeat. I played with a guy who shorted up each first putt by a foot or two each hole doing it this way. Or he'd put his mark in front of the ball, then put the ball down in front of the mark, repeat. Took a little while to figure out but once I kept an eye on him it was pretty egregious. Called him out on the 12th hole or so, he claimed he didn't do it, I hadn't told playing partners as they were usually putting, and at the end of the round there was nothing to enforce as it was his word vs mine and he wouldn't budge.

Now, in casual play I notice it and let it go. No sweat off my back really.

[mark m]

Here is a good quote on this topic from Jack:

[size=4][i][color=#333333]Dave Marr told me a story of playing with Jack Nicklaus and another player for the first two rounds of a tour event. Jack didn't appreciate the manner in which Player No. 3 was marking/replacing his ball on the greens. So after the first round, Jack told the player, "Tomorrow, each time you bend down to mark and replace your ball, you'll see a pair of white golf shoes: mine."[/color][/i][/size]

http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/2011-05/david-fay-marking-ball

[lchang]

This seems crazy! How many times would you have to cheat-mark-replace the ball on a single putt to gain any noticeable advantage?

[Vindog]

True story. One time before things got sour my dad told me that I while may not know it (which I didn't) but I was mis-replacing due to the positioning of my mark. Ever since then I have been careful to place the mark in a straight line tangent down from the back of the ball, and when I replace, I stand directly over the mark to be sure it is on the same tangent line. So sometimes people don't know, other times they know damned well.

[quote name='mark m' timestamp='1432956524' post='11654172']
Here is a good quote on this topic from Jack:

[size=4][i][color=#333333]Dave Marr told me a story of playing with Jack Nicklaus and another player for the first two rounds of a tour event. Jack didn't appreciate the manner in which Player No. 3 was marking/replacing his ball on the greens. So after the first round, Jack told the player, "Tomorrow, each time you bend down to mark and replace your ball, you'll see a pair of white golf shoes: mine."[/color][/i][/size]

[url="http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/2011-05/david-fay-marking-ball"]http://www.golfdiges...ay-marking-ball[/url]
[/quote]

I read this is Jack's intimidating, squeaky voice.

[BuckyBadger]

I never really think about it. I guess subconsciously I just try and mark it right on by sliding my marker under the ball then replacing in same spot.

The only time I wouldn't mark in the same spot is on aerated greens.

I find it so appalling when people purposefully cheat like this. That, and not playing the ball as it lies.

[llewol007]

[quote name='golfinray' timestamp='1432827794' post='11643332']
I do not.

What possible difference could a half an inch make?
[/quote] Thats not what she said. Haaa haaa haaa.

[Will Par]

This sure hits my sore spot. Don't think for a minute that you're fooling anyone if you do this. Honest golfers and anyone playing in competition will pick this up immediately. Anyone who tries this is just shouting to everyone that they will cheat and take advantage at every opportunity. Do you really want to be "that guy"?

Yes, I play with a guy that does this. He gets fumble-fingered every time he spots his ball. And every time when he looks up to see if anyone noticed, I'm staring directly at him. Why don't I call him on it? He'll just deny like all cheaters do. He's a reasonably decent guy otherwise, but he gains nothing with his antics other than damaging his reputation. I'll never understand why anyone would do this.

[Sawgrass]

[quote name='BuckyBadger' timestamp='1432992023' post='11655422']
I never really think about it. I guess subconsciously I just try and mark it right on by sliding my marker under the ball then replacing in same spot.

The only time I wouldn't mark in the same spot is on aerated greens.

I find it so appalling when people purposefully cheat like this. That, and not playing the ball as it lies.
[/quote]

I wonder if you realize that unless a Local Rule is in effect it's just as illegal to replace your ball outside the aeration hole in which it came to rest.

[Halebopp]

Knowing I have cheated would make my putt, next tee shot etc. much worse causing more damage than the half an inch could ever help me.