Standing astride is an illegal stance in golf that typically only applies to putting.
Surprisingly, the rule was instituted because Sam Snead, currently tied with Tiger Woods for most all-time wins in PGA Tour history, started putting croquet style in 1966.
Snead was so good at it that the USGA created a rule to ban it by 1968.
Check out this video of Snead using the unique style:
Standing Astride Golf Rule
According to USGA rule 10.1c:
c. Making Stroke While Standing Across or on Line of Play
The player must not make a stroke from a stance with a foot deliberately placed on each side of, or with either foot deliberately touching, the line of play or an extension of that line behind the ball.
For this Rule only, the line of play does not include a reasonable distance on either side.
Exception – There Is No Penalty If Stance Is Taken Accidentally or to Avoid Another Player’s Line of Play.
https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules/rules-2019/rules-of-golf/rule-10.html
This means that when addressing the golf ball, a player must ensure that they don’t straddle the line of play or place either foot directly on the line of play.
The line of play is an imaginary line that extends from the golf ball to where the player intends for the ball to end up.
The line of play also includes an extension of the line of play that runs behind the ball.
This rule typically comes into play when a player is tapping in a short putt.
You’ve probably seen it before: a player misses a putt and has a few inches left. Instead of taking a normal putting stance, a player may lazily set one or both of their feet on or over the line of play:
This isn’t a problem in most casual games, as most people don’t even know the rule and/or don’t care. But if you are in a competitive match, this rule is something you must be aware of.
Although it may seem like a silly rule, it’s essential that all tournament golfers fully understand the rule so they don’t inadvertently take an illegal putting stance.
*Important note: the “line of play” ends at the hole. So the ol’ reach over the hole and tap the ball in while one or both feet are standing on the other side of the hole is perfectly legal:
Exception To The Standing Astride Rule
The only exception to this rule is if a player takes a “standing astride” stance in order to avoid stepping on another player’s line.
In this case, it’s ok for a player to straddle their own line of play in order to avoid stepping in another player’s line.
Standing Astride Golf Penalty
Stroke Play
- Two-stroke penalty
Match Play
- Automatic loss of the hole
The Dylan Fritelli Penalty
Although standing astride almost always applies to putting, it has occurring during other golf shots.
The Dylan Fritelli situation from the RBC Heritage in 2022 is the most famous example.
In this case, Fritelli’s ball got stuck in a tree. Instead of taking a drop, Fritelli stood behind the ball, swung his club over his head like an axe, managed to hit his ball back into the fairway, and went on to save par.
Later, he was deemed to be in breach of Rule 10.1c and was assessed a two-stroke penalty.
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