The shore putt ball marker is designed to give players a better understanding of the lie of the green and the line of play. It helps players understand where they need to put the ball. But with so much help is this ball marker illegal?
To figure this out, I took a look at the rules from the USGA and R&A.
Is The Sure Putt Ball Marker Legal? According to the USGA and R&A, the Sure Putt Ball Marker is considered illegal in any casual, high-level amateur or professional tournaments. Sure Putt is illegal as it is considered an aid that gives players an unfair advantage, therefore it does not conform to the USGA’s rules of golf.
For reference, the USGA and R&A are considered governing bodies of the golfing world. Any rule that they put in place is considered law by all other golfing groups and organizations. What they deem as illegal or legal is ultimately followed by all other golf courses.
Why Is The Sure Putt Ball Marker Illegal?
More specifically, it is rule 10.2b that rules out any type of putting aid of this nature. Below is the quote from the rulebook:
“The player or caddie must not set an object down anywhere on or off the putting green to show the line of play. This is not allowed even if that object is removed before the stroke is made.”
Because the Sure Putt is meant to show the line of the putt (or the lie of the green), it is not allowed to be used. This pretty much means that any type of ball marker like this, such as the Levelhead ball marker, are not allowed to be used.
Can Casual Players Use The Sure Putt Ball Marker?
If you are not competing in a tournament and are playing by yourself or with people that don’t mind the ball marker. In a casual game of golf, no one is going to enforce the USGA’s rule on you. So, while it is still illegal, it is likely fine to use this in a casual game of golf.