During a round you may ask only your own caddie for advice, and you may not give advice to anyone else in the competition who is playing on the course. So asking a playing partner what club to hit is a breach, and so is touching their clubs to find out (Rule 10.2a). The cost is the general penalty: loss of the hole in match play, two penalty strokes in stroke play (Rule 1.3c(2)).
The ChartCan I ask? Can I tell?
The purpose of Rule 10.2 is that deciding strategy and tactics is the player's own job, so the amount of advice and help in a round is limited. These are the situations people ask about most.
| Situation | Allowed? | Rule and what it says |
|---|---|---|
| Ask your own caddie what club to hit | Yes | Rule 10.2a bars asking anyone for advice "other than the player's caddie". Rule 10.3b(1) lets a caddie give information, advice and other help before the stroke is made. |
| Ask a playing partner what club they hit, or what you should hit | No | Rule 10.2a: you must not ask anyone other than your caddie for advice. General penalty. |
| Tell another player what to hit or what shot to play | No | Rule 10.2a: you must not give advice to anyone in the competition who is playing on the course. General penalty. |
| Touch a playing partner's clubs or bag to see which club they used | No | Rule 10.2a: you must not touch another player's equipment to learn information that would be advice if given by or asked of the other player. |
| Ask or give advice before the round, between rounds, or while play is stopped | Yes | Rule 10.2a does not apply before a round, between rounds, or while play is stopped under Rule 5.7a. |
| Ask your partner in foursomes, four-ball or a team event | Yes | The Note to Rule 10.2a: in forms of play with partners (Rules 22, 23 and 24), a player may give advice to a partner or the partner's caddie and ask them for advice. |
| Someone who is not your caddie points out a tree that marks the centre line of a blind fairway | Yes | Rule 10.2b(2) allows public information about an object, and gives this exact example. |
| Borrow another caddie for one shot to get their advice | No | Rule 10.3a: you may change caddies during a round, but not temporarily just to get advice from the new caddie. |
Source: The R&A, Rules of Golf, Rule 10 (10.2a, 10.2b(2), 10.3a, 10.3b(1)); Rule 1.3c(2) for the general penalty.
Rule 10.2b(2) gives one example of public information, the tree. Where a comment sits between advice and plain information, the Definition of Advice in the Rules sets the line, and our golf glossary is a good place to start with the other terms. If a question is on the edge, skip it, or check with your club or committee before you tee off.
Lining upLining up and other help: what a caddie can and cannot do
Your caddie can help you pick a line. What the caddie cannot do is physically show it once you are over the ball. The restrictions in the second table all come from Rule 10.2b, and the penalty for any breach of 10.2b is the general penalty.
| Situation | Allowed? | Rule and what it says |
|---|---|---|
| Caddie sets a club or other object on the ground to show your aim | No | Rule 10.2b(1). Taking it away before the stroke does not avoid the penalty. |
| You set an object down to help your aim, stance or swing | No | Rule 10.2b(3). The Rule says an object is "set down" when it is in contact with the ground and you are not touching it. Marking sand or dew for the same purpose is also covered. A ball-marker used to mark your ball and a ball placed on a spot are not covered by this Rule. A ball-marker that is an alignment device falls under Rule 4.3. |
| Caddie stands in the restricted area behind your ball to help you aim, once you have a foot in position | No | Rule 10.2b(4). The restricted area is an extension of the line of play behind the ball. It applies from when you have at least one foot in position for your stance until you make the stroke. |
| You back away, and the caddie leaves the restricted area before you take a stance again | No penalty | Rule 10.2b(4). |
| Caddie ends up in the restricted area by accident | No penalty | Rule 10.2b(4) exception for a caddie who was in the area inadvertently. |
| Caddie steps into the restricted area for a specific reason other than aim, such as checking a tree on your backswing | Briefly | Rule 10.2b(4). The caddie must move away before the stroke, and it must not be a routine. |
| Caddie stands where you would aim, or points out a spot, while you make the stroke | No | Rule 10.2b(1). |
| Caddie stands close to the hole to attend the flagstick | Yes | Rule 10.2b(1) exception. Anyone else may also stand close to the hole to attend the flagstick (Rule 10.2b(2)). |
| A friend or spectator, not your caddie, stands on your line to show you where to aim | Only off the green | Rule 10.2b(2): except when your ball is on the putting green, they may stand where you would aim, but must move away before you make the stroke. |
| A person who is not your caddie stands behind you to watch where the ball goes | Yes | Rule 10.2b(4) exception: a person who is not your caddie may stand in the restricted area to track the ball's flight. |
| Someone is positioned on purpose to block the sun, the wind or a distraction while you hit | No | Rule 10.2b(5). You may protect yourself, for example with protective clothing or an umbrella over your own head, and you may ask someone you did not position to stay put or move, such as a spectator casting a shadow on the ball. |
| Caddie or anyone else gives you physical help while you make the stroke | No | Rule 10.2b(5). |
Source: The R&A, Rules of Golf, Rule 10.2b(1) to 10.2b(5).
On the green the same Rule applies, with one difference: other people may not stand on your line to show you where to aim when the ball is on the putting green. Flagstick questions are in our putting green rules guide. Looking for alignment aids to use on the range? See the best golf training aids.
PenaltyWhat a breach costs
A breach of Rule 10.2a or Rule 10.2b is the general penalty. In match play that is loss of the hole. In stroke play it is two penalty strokes (Rule 1.3c(2)).
For a breach of 10.2a, the penalty goes on the hole being played or just completed. When both players are between holes, it goes on the next hole.
Using itHow to use this chart
Find the situation closest to yours, then read the rule number at the right. Each number is a section of Rule 10, so you can look it up on randa.org or in your own copy of the Rules.
On the first tee, settle two things with your group: who is a caddie and who is not, and whether the format has partners. Partner formats change the answer, because partners may share advice.
When you are unsure, the quiet option is to decide for yourself. Rule 10.2 is built so that the player makes the call. Your caddie is the one person you can always ask.
Watch forCommon mistakes
The casual question. "What did you hit there?" asked in passing is still a question to someone who is not your caddie. Save it for after the round.
Peeking with your hands. Rule 10.2a bars touching another player's equipment to learn what would be advice. Lifting a headcover or sliding a club out of a playing partner's bag to see which one it is falls under it.
The club on the ground. Setting a club down to check your feet or aim is covered by Rule 10.2b(3), and picking it up before the stroke does not undo it.
A caddie who stays behind you. Once you have a foot in position, the caddie has to be out of the restricted area. If you back away and take a fresh stance, the caddie has to be out before you do.
Swapping caddies for one shot. You may change caddies during a round, but not temporarily to get advice from the new one (Rule 10.3a).
Assuming partner rules apply everywhere. Sharing advice with a partner is for the partner forms in Rules 22, 23 and 24. In an ordinary stroke play round, your playing partner is not your partner.
FAQQuick answers
Can I ask my playing partner what club they hit?
Not during a round. Rule 10.2a says you must not ask anyone for advice other than your caddie, and you must not touch another player's equipment to learn information that would be advice. The penalty is the general penalty. The restriction does not apply before the round, between rounds, or while play is stopped under Rule 5.7a.
Can I ask my caddie what club to hit?
Yes. Rule 10.2a leaves your caddie out of the ban, and Rule 10.3b(1) lets a caddie give information, advice and other help before the stroke is made. On whether to take relief, the caddie may advise but you decide (Rule 10.3b(3)).
Can my caddie stand behind me while I line up?
Until you have at least one foot in position for your stance, yes. After that, Rule 10.2b(4) says the caddie may not deliberately stand in the restricted area, an extension of the line of play behind the ball, to help you aim, until you make the stroke. A caddie who was there by accident is not penalised, and there is no penalty if you back away and the caddie leaves before you take a stance again.
Can I put a club on the ground to line up my feet?
No. Rule 10.2b(3) says you must not set an object on the ground to help with aim, stance or swing, and taking it away before the stroke does not avoid the penalty.
What is the penalty for asking or giving advice?
The general penalty: loss of the hole in match play, two penalty strokes in stroke play (Rule 1.3c(2)). It applies to the hole being played, or to the hole just completed, and to the next hole if both players are between holes.
Can I ask my partner for advice in a four-ball or a team event?
Yes. The Note to Rule 10.2a says that in forms of play involving partners (Rules 22, 23 and 24), a player may give advice to a partner or the partner's caddie and may ask them for advice. For devices that show yardage, see the rangefinder rules chart.