how come the rules allow a straddle stance with either foot directly behind the mark, but not with each foot equal distance from the mark but behind the mark?

it seems the legal stance alllows for a fairly wide stretching range, but the illegal stance would have the disc release directly over the mark.

what's barry, or other straddle putters, do?

No different than taking a stance from behind or under a tree, bush or other obstruction, where you place one supporting point behind the lie and stretch out.

What sandleman is getting at (I believe) is this (if my ascii art holds up)

<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre> (tgt)


(tree) (tree)

(disc)
</pre><hr />
Assume you have two trees two feet apart and park a beautiful approach shot a couple feet back and prefectly between them giving a clear look from the lie to the target. The legal straddle putt would have a tough time and put the disc square into either tree. Whereas an illegal straddle putt where the disc would really be thrown much more from where it lies (in a 2d world) would be the preferred shot.

The question is why can't we straddle the lie as long as the marked lie is on the line between the supporting points and this line is perpendicular to the target? (other than that is the way the rules currently read). Would this be a decent change to the rules for stance?

That would mean you should also be able to run up on a fairway lie and release with your front foot to the right of the marker by say 2 feet as long as it was within 30cm behind the line drawn tangent from the marker. Of course we know some players get away with that now but it's not legal. In the case, of allowing the center line straddle putt, it's not 'needed' because the conventional foot forward putt can work to split the trees in this example.

That would mean you should also be able to run up on a fairway lie and release with your front foot to the right of the marker by say 2 feet as long as it was within 30cm behind the line drawn tangent from the marker. Of course we know some players get away with that now but it's not legal. In the case, of allowing the center line straddle putt, it's not 'needed' because the conventional foot forward putt can work to split the trees in this example.

i see your point, but also see a difference. my question was specifically about a putt, where BOTH feet are on the ground, with the marker in-between. your fairway runup example has just one foot on the ground to the side of the marker (and who knows where the rest of the body is :) )

oh btw, the ascii art does represent the question.

What you are asking is to be able to adjust your position away from an undesirable (for a straddle putter) lie. Wouldn't the same apply to a foot-forward putter if they were behind the tree? Rather than having to stretch to the opening, they should be able to move somehow to get the benefit of the clear throw.

I'd say it's incumbent on the player to learn different techniques to accommodate various situation. I'm sure Barry did.

i'm not arguing here... neither trying to create a controversy, nor lobbying for a rules change. just asking a question, and musing about the fact that requiring a point of contact to be at the lie foot allows for a throw to be released further from the lie than allowing a "body-centered" stance.

i've always been a foot-forward putter, but readily went to a straddle to get around an obstacle.

recently while practicing my straddles, i realized the straddle putt motion eliminated/reduced a tendency to pull the putt to the left (i'm lefty). it also for some reason seems to encourage more rotation on the disc even though the disc is travelling at the same airspeed. since both of these are improvements, i converted to the straddle putt over the last 3-4 weeks. when using the straddle in real rounds i came across this nuance, and found it a bit amusing. since i was a foot-forward putter already, its not a problem to switch back for those situations.

I switch between foot forward and straddle for putting. What I find interesting is that the only type of throw that allows the disc to actually travel over the marked lie is a tomahawk. All other throws are to one side or the other.

Thus if your disc is marked as at 0 on the line parallel to the hole, there exists a putting stance that can be used to have the disc cross that axis pretty much anywhere from -4 feet to +4 feet except for the section that from -6 inches to +12 inches.

There are two things you want to do with a set of rules. One is to be consistent with the concepts and values of the game, and the other is to provide rules that are easy to remember, follow and enforce.

It would be consistent with playing where it lies, which is the primary proto-rule in any golf variant game, to allow or require a throw to pass over and be released at about where the last throw came to rest. For fairway throws it would be a much harder rule to call than our current rule which looks to the placement of the foot or other supporting point. [And it would be brutal on your score!] At least the foot sometimes leaves evidence of where it planted and twisted. For putts it would be easy enough to call but now we've added a rule, or an exception to a rule, where none was really needed. There are effective putting styles that pass the disc right over the mini when that is the best route to the basket.

It is possible for a straddle putter to putt with both feet together and behind the mini.

1. Put both heels together about 10 inches behind mini.
2. Spread toes out left/right as far as possible.
3. Now you can bend your knees and they will splay out.
4. Now you have room to execute the putt.

Note: make sure no one has a camcorder on nearby.

If you can splay your feet 90 degrees, then you can do this putt while pinned with your back against an obstacle. Probably won't get much D with the putt, and awkward too. You might try it for fun.

What I find interesting is that the only type of throw that allows the disc to actually travel over the marked lie is a tomahawk.

Can you say "Scooby"? How about "Turbo"?

I thought about the turbo after I hit send. There are times when that shot has saved me a stroke.

Like I said, I just find it ironic. I agree w/Bruce that adding an additional rule would just make things more complicated.