If you are a frequent golfer, odds are you have experienced wrist pain or golfer’s wrist at some point. When you play recreationally, wearing a brace is not a problem, but tournaments have stricter limitations. So, what do the official golf rules say about wrist support?
International golf rules allow the use of tape to provide medical support to golfers as long as it does not cause an “undue advantage.” The rules state that wrist support cannot come from the players’ gloves.
This article will outline the international golf tournament rules on wrist support and how to apply tape for wrist support.
Tournament Rules on Wrist Support
The international rules of golf are created jointly by the R&A and USGA. The rules exist to make the game fair by avoiding giving an unfair advantage to some players over others. The two sections of the rulebook that address wrist support are tape and gloves.
Tape
The only legal wrist support option outlined in the international golf rules is tape. While the rules specify that you can only use the tape for medical purposes, they do not outline how to justify its use, although officials rarely ask for proof of injury.
KT, or Kinesiology Therapeutic, tape is the most common option for tape. The stretchy material provides support without completely restricting the movement of the joint, which is prohibited. It is also nice because you can control the amount of compression for customized support.
How To Use Tape For Wrist Support
- Get tape. I recommend the KT Tape Precut 10-Inch Strips (available on Amazon.com). If you don’t get the official KT tape, ensure the brand is latex-free and hypoallergenic to avoid skin irritation. You can cut the strips down further to your desired length, but make sure to round the edges for better adhesion.
- Place one piece of tape from the back of your hand up your forearm, stopping just before your elbow. This is where you can customize the tension by pulling the tape tauter. Leave the last two inches (5 cm) without any tension to help the tape stay in place.
- Place the second piece along the top of your wrist with the tension that feels most comfortable. Again, you should not stretch the last two inches (5 cm), which will wrap around the pinky side of your hand.
For more information and step-by-step photos, take a look at the KT instructions.
Gloves
The international golf tournament rules on wearing gloves are intended to ensure that players cannot use their gloves to gain an advantage. This includes gloves that are weighted, grippy, or thickly padded.
It also prohibits “any feature that might restrict the movement of a joint.” Gloves with added support could help a player improve their swing through the added support.
Final Thoughts
The idea behind the international golf rules is to prevent golfers from gaining an unfair advantage, and completely restricting joint movement is considered an advantage. Gloves are not allowed to provide additional support.
Therefore, tape is the only approved type of wrist support. Kinesiology tape allows you to customize the amount of support without restricting joint movement.