Dave: Besides the blatant self promotion, I passed along some of the info from the ruling because I thought some Shoptalkers would be interested in how this process works. Your earlier response to my original post was based on the limited info I passed along to you and the group...not blaming anyone and I know your response reflect that. It is interesting to note that the manufacturer of the gripping material told me that they had sent a glove and grip in for approveal and , individually, the glove was approved and the grip was approved, but together were against the rules. I sent my glove/grip in to the USGA before I was aware of the ruling. Not sure why the USGA wouldn't agree with their earlier appraisal of this. I don't have a copy of the approval of the glove from the manufacturer yet so I'll have to wait for this.
>John, >I was one of the guys who responded to your original inquiry, and said that >it would probably be legal. (I've appended my entire note to this, in case you want to check what I said. you did respond and that's why we're forever pals... >Here's my take on what they told you... > >----- Original Message ----- >From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2002 2:11 PM > > >> The ruling that applied for the glove was: >> >> 14-3 Artifical Devices an dUnusual Equipment >> The player shall not use any artificial device or unusual equipment: >> C Which might assist him in gripping the club, except that: >> i. plain gloves may be worn. >> They continued: >> The glove is not considered to be "plain" because the material on >> the palm and gripping surface is not similarly smooth. >> Added material on the gripping surface of the hand, other than for >> wear resistance purposes, is prohibited. >> A "plain glove" shall not have features such as; >> ...material on the glove which adheres to material on the grip. > >You didn't spell out what the design was. If it actually adheres, it's >probably illegal as they say. If it mechanically interlocks (e.g.- there >were mating protuberances on the glove and the grip), then it is definitely >illegal. But if it merely improves the friction with the grip, they need to >go back a re-read their own decision on the subject, decision 14-3/8, which >says in part, "Applying tape to a golf glove to prevent the glove from >slipping or reduce wear is not a breach of Rule 14-3." It is "mating protuberances" but they interlock and release. It uses micro replication technology. It's these super teeny tiny protuberances. The USGA reply said "Velcro like". It's not velcro-like. This stuff releases, Velcro doesn't. It's super, duper (techie term) tiny. I have a feeling that a close-up pic of tape will show that it is not "smooth", probably looks a lot like this material. > >Hope this makes some sense. >DaveT > >=========== Earlier posting of June 4, 2002 ============== > >The rule that would apply would be 14-3: Artificial Devices and Unusual >Equipment. The relevant portion is: > "... the player shall not use any artificial device or unusual >equipment: >a... >b... >c. Which might assist him in gripping the club, except that: > (i) plain gloves may be worn. > (ii) resin, powder and drying or moisturazing agents may be used. > (iii) tape or gauze may be applied to the grip (provided such >application does not render the grip non-conforming under Rule 4-1c), and > (iv) a towel or handkerchief may be wrapped around the grip." > >In addition, there is a relevant decision in the 1996 Decisions book. > >"14-3/8 Adhesive Tape >Q. May a player bind certain fingers together with adhesive ape or apply >such tape to a golf glove. >A. ... Applying tape to a golf glove to prevent the glove from slipping or >reduce wear is not a breach of Rule 14-3." > >I've omitted stuff that I thought was irrelevant. > >The quoted passages don't address your problem directly, but their spirit -- >plus a look at the variety of conforming golf gloves -- suggests you're OK. >BUT... I suspect if the grip and glove surfaces are a mechanical "lock" and >not just friction, you'd be in violation of 14-3. > >Of course, it isn't clear that being in violation of the rules of golf is a >bad thing any more. Might even increase your market. > >:-( Blechhh! :-( > >Good luck! >DaveT > >----- Original Message ----- >From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 8:45 AM >Subject: ShopTalk: Rules of Golf Grips/Gloves > > >> Hi Gang: >> I'm in the process of developing a new grip and golf glove line that >> out of a new material. The glove will have material (that is the same >> as the grip material) sewn in to the palm of the glove and offers >> dramatically improved grip over leather glove/rubber grip >> combinations. >> The grip is conforming but I looked at the USGA site and don't see >> anything regarding golf gloves (or grips, actually). Is it "anything >> goes" with glove/glove material? >> John >> shoptalk/clubmaker online >> >> >>
