Rules Question

[trifocal]

I seem to make 3-4 throws a round from a kneeling position. I'll kneel on steep downhill putts, edge of fairway approaches and putts where a horizontal branch interfers with my release or the line I need.


Is it legal to use an inverted disc to kneel on.?

 

[Roc1Time]

Up to last year yes but now your all good. I use a towel because I dont like bending my plastic

 

[ERicJ]

The most applicable ruling that I know of is contained in the PDGA Rules Q&A under the topic of "kneeling on a towel".

http://www.pdga.com/faq/299#299n833

 

[trifocal]

Up to last year yes but now your all good. I use a towel because I dont like bending my plastic

I have seen players use towels. I like using a disc because after I establish a foot behind my mini and adopt a kneeling position, the inverted disc my knee is in slides around easily until I find the sweet spot. Towels bunch up when I try this and I like to keep my towel dry and off the ground.

Thanks.

tri

 

[Midnightbiker]

Also kneel when I have to shoot under a branch or a bush. I think I have done it in a tournament, and never been called on it.

 

[trifocal]

The most applicable ruling that I know of is contained in the PDGA Rules Q&A under the topic of "kneeling on a towel".

http://www.pdga.com/faq/299#299n833

Thanks for the link, eric. The rules say a towel or pad are a-okay, but its funny that using a disc isn't mentioned. It seems like an obvious choice for a kneeling throw from the shrubs. Climb in there with a couple discs. Establish a contact point behind the marker and kneel on a sturdy waterproof piece of plastic. I can't be the only one who uses a disc to kneel on ....can I?

 

[BENFTS]

i use a disc to put my knee on. i have never thought it to be against the rules.

 

[justin]

I believe you're fine so long as the towel, pad, etc is no more than 1cm when compressed.

 

[zenbot]

I believe you're fine so long as the towel, pad, etc is no more than 1cm when compressed.

...because 2 centimeters would be a huge advantage.

I've played with people that would want to measure that too.

 

[sidewinder22]

Don't forget to bring a towel!

 

[innova]

Does it have to be a PDGA approved towel?

:^/

 

[Omega SuperSloth]

Don't forget to bring a towel!

" i better get a little high first"

 

[ERicJ]

"A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have . . . any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the Galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through and still know where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with" --Douglas Adams

 

[tamahawk]

I can't be the only one who uses a disc to kneel on ....can I?

i use a disc to put my knee on. i have never thought it to be against the rules.

No, you are not alone. I've always used a disc to kneel on as well. I've never heard any talk of this being illegal until this thread, very interesting. For me, it has always seemed to be the logical choice, especially in wet, damp, or muddy conditions, and it has never even crossed my mind that this was against any rules?

 

[SomeChump]

What's an "edge of fairway approach" and why does kneeling help?

 

[trifocal]

What's an "edge of fairway approach" and why does kneeling help?

e.g. I throw a drive thats hits a tree in the faiway and skips under a bush or behind a small tree on the edge of the fairway 90' from the basket. When I get to my disc I discover that I can't make a standing throw because the tree/bush limbs hang very low and interfere with my shot. If I kneel and stretch out I discover that I can make a flick or backhand shot under the limbs.
Kneeling throws are pretty useful.

 

[SomeChump]

e.g. I throw a drive thats hits a tree in the faiway and skips under a bush or behind a small tree on the edge of the fairway 90' from the basket. When I get to my disc I discover that I can't make a standing throw because the tree/bush limbs hang very low and interfere with my shot. If I kneel and stretch out I discover that I can make a flick or backhand shot under the limbs.
Kneeling throws are pretty useful.

Oh yes, I do that all the time. I guess I would have described it as "under a tree" rather than "edge of fairway."

So, if you're on your knees and a hand, do all 3 limbs have to be behind the leading edge of the disc from the previous throw? Or can you lean forward on that hand?

 

[mashnut]

Oh yes, I do that all the time. I guess I would have described it as "under a tree" rather than "edge of fairway."

So, if you're on your knees and a hand, do all 3 limbs have to be behind the leading edge of the disc from the previous throw? Or can you lean forward on that hand?

You can't have any 'supporting point' in front of your disc, so a hand would count as that. The furthest point forward on your body that is in contact with the ground has to be behind the lie.

 

[Three Putt]

I never kneel. It's bad enough I have to keep bending over to pick up the damn discs. It teeters way to close to the edge of exercise, which I'm philosophically opposed to. Kneeling would involve getting back up, which is waaayyy over the strenuous threshold for me.

 

[ERicJ]

The furthest point forward on your body that is in contact with the ground has to be behind the lie.

Not quite right. There are two applicable rules in this case:

PDGA Rule 803.04 Stance, Subsequent to Teeing Off

A. When the disc is released, a player must:
(1) Have at least one supporting point that is in contact with the playing surface on the line of play and within 30 centimeters directly behind the marker disc (except as specified in 803.04 E); and,
(2) have no supporting point contact with the marker disc or any object closer to the hole than the rear edge of the marker disc;

So it is possible, for example, to place your foot behind your marker at a distance of 30cm. You may then stretch sideways (say you want to throw around an obstacle in front of you) and your other foot, or non-throwing hand, or elbow, or any supporting point can be less than 30cm from the line crossing the line-of-play at the rear edge of your marker as long as it is behind that line.

In other words it is possible to have your most forward supporting point in front of your supporting point that is behind the marker.