Is it legal to use a leveling device to determine green slope?

Question

In the past range finders were under scrutiy for providing golfers with an "unfair advantage" of knowledge of the course and weren't allowed to be used. Once GPS came into heavy use, I think this rule was dropped, and now GPS devices are legal for use in tournaments.
However, my iPhone has an electronic leveler on it than can help to determine the green slope at certain points. I have never used it during a round (but I have tested it on a practice green), but I was wondering if these are allowed by golf rules?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Eric, it is illegal to use during the round. However, if you wish to measure the greens BEFORE the round to "map out" the green, it is perfectly legal. As a matter of fact, there is an entire system of green reading based upon using a modified level called Aimpoint. It is the system you occasionally see used on televised PGA events to show the putt line.

Source(s):

http://www.aimpointgolf.com/

Answer 2

well to be honest with you I don't know as it isn't contained in the rule book...however i would say this, I don't think you would have asked the question if you thought it was. It doesn't sit well with the whole sportsmanship thing and if you're an avid golfer like myself, half of the fun is being able to figure that stuff out yourself in your head without the aid of lazer levels and gps tracking devices. I don't know about you, but I would feel like a dork if I was to pull out my level and place it on the green in front of my playing partners as well as the geers I would no doubt get from the group following waiting for me to sort it out...lol

Have fun and enjoy the game...don't over play it

Answer 3

no

Answer 4

no

Answer 5

depends,
if you're in a tournament, then it would be illegal for play.
if you're just playing for fun then its ok

Answer 6

No way. It's exactly like the rule for GPSs that tell you the elevation and wind speed.

Answer 7

There is a ruling in the Decisions book about someone using a soda bottle filled halfway with liquid to measure slope and it was deemed legal.

Answer 8

Rule 14-3 says that you can't use an artificial device or unusual equipment. A level is considered both an artificial device and unusual equipment, because it is not normally and traditionally used by golfers.

The penalty is disqualification.

The decision the other answerer referred to is 14-3/12.5.

You should also understand decision 14-3/16 about the use of electronic devices. You can use your iPhone to call somebody, as long as you don't ask for advice. But you can't use it in any way to assist your game.

The rule about GPS was not dropped. GPS devices are still illegal under USGA rules.

The local committee can approve them, but under USGA rules they are illegal.

Source(s):

http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-…
http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-…

Answer 9

Which decent golfer with an ounce of respect would resort to using devices which measure the slope of the green ? After the slope is determined, does the instrument tell you who close the mowers are cutting ? Does it inform you that there may be a double break in the putt ? Does it reveal the " stimp " at which the green is playing ? Does it distinguish the difference between uphill speed and down hill speed ? Does it tell you the degree of side hill break for any one putt ?

Source(s):

As for the use of range finders, at the last tournament which I marshalled, several of the players were using range finders. The actual use resulted in slowing down play rather than speeding it up. Fortunately, the field was small for 3 places in the USGA Mid- Amateur championship with 78 contestants playing 36 holes.