Rule 4-1:  Form and Make of Clubs

a. General:  The player’s clubs must conform with this Rule and the provisions, specifications and interpretations set forth in Appendix II.

Note:  The committee may require, in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1), that any driver the player carries must have a clubhead, identified by model and loft, that is named on the current list of Conforming Driver Heads issued by the USGA.

b. Wear and Alteration:  A club that conforms with the Rules when new is deemed to conform after wear through normal use.  Any part of a club that has been purposely altered is regarded as new and must, in its altered state, conform with the Rules.

Penalty for Breach of Rule 4-1

In Stroke Play:  Two strokes per holes played, with a maximum of four penalty strokes per round.  Previously, it was disqualification.

In Match Play:  At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred; maximum deduction per round- Two holes.

Excerpts from Appendix II:

…The club must be composed of a shaft and a head and it may also have material added to the shaft to enable the player to obtain a firm hold (see 3 below). All parts of the club must be fixed so that the club is one unit, and it must have no external attachments. Exceptions may be made for attachments that do not affect the performance of the club…

During a stipulated round, the playing characteristics of a club must not be purposely changed by adjustment or by any other means.

The overall length of the club must be at least 18 inches
(0.457 m) and, except for putters, must not exceed 48 inches (1.219 m)…

The shaft must be straight from the top of the grip to a point not more than 5 inches (127 mm) above the sole, measured from the point where the shaft ceases to be straight along the axis of the bent part of the shaft and the neck and/or socket (see Fig. V).

…The grip must be fixed to the shaft, must be straight and plain in form, must extend to the end of the shaft and must not be molded for any part of the hands. If no material is added, that portion of the shaft designed to be held by the player must be considered the grip…The grip may be tapered but must not have any bulge or waist. Its cross-sectional dimensions measured in any direction must not exceed 1.75 inches (44.45 mm).