TomTuckerGolf.com

Golf Tips Newsletter
Issue 895 - Wednesday November 19, 2025
Website     Newsletters Archive

 
USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional
WGTF "Top 100" Teacher
IGPA Certified Golf Psychology Coach


 

Master The Motion Before You Master The Shot.

"Everybody can get better on 15 minutes per day."
Peter Cowen, Renowned Golf Coach
"You can even get better on 5 minutes per day."
Tom Tucker, Unrenowned Golf Coach 😄

Tom's Featured Tip: Rules - Out Of Bounds Stakes


Lesson Comments: What Students Have To Say
Sponsors & Affiliates:

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Click here for sale rates: BCC Membership - Discounted Rates

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  • Free Range Balls
  • 5 Guest Passes
  • 22 Reciprocal Golf Courses
  • Member Event Access (Presidents Cup, Club, Championship, Interclub)
  • After 3:00PM members only privileges
  • 3 free cart days on the Summer Holidays
  • Offer expires 12/31/25 - don't wait, take full advantage now!
The Divot Board Check out their new turf mats, I think they copied what I did - but in a better way!
Fiberbuilt Golf Flight Deck Practice Station
The Rypstick
SuperSpeedGolf.com
Club Champion




Buying a sponsored product through any of my affiliate links helps support this free newsletter, and I only affiliate with excellent products that I use myself.  Thanks, Tom




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Outdoor Golf lessons are available at The Batavia Country Club. Please call me (Tom Tucker) at 716 474 3005, email me at TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com, or visit my website at   http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/lessonrates.html   for details.

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Rules - Out Of Bounds Stakes




The Best Training Aid For Indoor or Outdoor Practice

The Divot Board


This is the most useful ball striking development training aid that I own.
Don't have one yet? What's holding you back
Click here to buy your Divot Board for outstanding Ball-Striking practice. and check out their new turf mats, I think they copied what I did - but in a better way!




Rules - Out Of Bounds Stakes

For simplicity, all advice on actual swings or drills is provided from a right handed perspective.


I was called by a friend of mine recently to settle an argument. Another player's ball was out of bounds, or at least seemed to be. There was an out of bounds stake that had been displaced, and one of my friends contended that since it was not in the ground, that the next stake down the line defined the out of bounds area.

My friend said that the displaced stake was still relevant.

Who was right? Here's the rule.

An out of bounds stake that is laying flat on the ground is still a valid out of bounds marker.

The boundary line is determined by the nearest inside points of the stakes at ground level, and this line extends vertically both up and down. If a stake is leaning or flat on the ground, the boundary is still determined by the point where the stake enters the ground on the course side, or, in the case of a fully detached and displaced stake, by drawing a line consistent with the other nearby stakes.

Displaced Stakes

If a stake is completely removed from its hole and lying flat, it is considered to have been displaced. You should determine where the stake was originally meant to be placed by looking at the line of the other stakes. If this is unclear, and in a competition, it is best to play two balls (one as if it is in, one as if it is out) and consult the Committee after the round.

Crooked Stake

The measuring point of an out of bounds (OB) stake that is in the ground crooked is the course-side point of the stake at ground level.

Regardless of whether the stake is vertical or leaning, the boundary line is determined by an imaginary line connecting the nearest inside points of adjacent stakes at ground level. The boundary line extends vertically upwards and downwards from this ground-level point.
  • The boundary is measured from the course-side of the stake (the side facing the area of play).
  • The specific point of measurement is at ground level, not the top of a leaning stake.
  • The stakes themselves are considered to be out of bounds.
Ball Position

A ball is only considered out of bounds if it is entirely outside the boundary line. If any part of the ball is on or over the course-side edge of the boundary line, the ball is in bounds.

Knowledge is power, know the rules.

Try it, you'll really like it!




Email Comments: to TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com

"Clear Intentions Simplify Execution"
Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer, The Stack and Tilt Swing

Love your practice, own your swing, own your health, and remember that golf is a game of discovery. Don't be afraid to experiment when you practice, it's good for your golfing brain.

Tom




Golf Lessons

I am now conducting lessons at The Batavia Country Club

Lessons are available for all ages and skill levels, please contact
me - Tom Tucker - at (716) 474 3005 or email me at TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
for more information.

Outdoor Lessons Details and Rates:
Outdoor Lessons Details and Rates


Testimonials:
http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.html


Sponsors and Affiliates

Buying a sponsored product through any of my affiliate links helps support this free newsletter, and I only affiliate with excellent products that I use myself.  Thanks, Tom




Batavia Country Club   (585) 343-7600   www.bataviacc.com
Great rates, the best greens in WNY.
Golf Digest Four Star rating for public courses to play in New York State.
Tee times online or by phone in season.




Click here to buy your Divot Board to drastically improve your ball-striking. Combine your Divot Board practice and putting practice with the included putting lesson drills, and watch your scoring improve1. And make sure to check out their new turf mats, I think they copied what I did - but in a better way!


Use your club or hand to re-set the board after your strike
Click here to buy now for outstanding Ball-Striking practice feedback

BONUS: when you buy through the newsletter link above, you'll also receive free access to my Putting Lesson Videos ($60 value) which cover: The Elevated Aimline Drill, The Squareness Awareness Drill, The Aimline Accuracy Drill, The Stock Putting Stroke Drill, The Barrier Drill, The Short Putt Channel Drill, and more.




Click here to buy your Fiberbuilt Golf Flight Deck Practice Station. (Editor's note: Order through Amazon Prime instead of through the manufacturer's site and you'll save around $100)

If you are looking for the most robust portable hitting station that money can buy, the Fiberbuilt Golf Flight Deck Practice Station fits the bill.

It comes with a 300,000 shot guarantee, most other mats are usually in the 50,000 range. I use one at all of my range lessons and am more than happy with it. If you are serious about home practice, get one, you won't regret it.




Click here
SuperSpeedGolf.com to buy this swing speed training aid and increase your distance off the tee.


SuperSpeedGolf.com Buy now and get to work on increasing your swing speed now.




Club Champion Don't waste another dollar on clubs until you've gone through a fitting at Club Champion, 1669 Pittsford Victor Rd., Suite 400, Victor NY 14564. Call Master Fitter & Builder Jeff St. John. PGA work: (585) 978-8513, cell: (585) 831-2292 to schedule your fitting today1 Mention my name and you'll get special attention.




Train with a Rypstick to improve your swing speed and gain more distance off the tee. If the versatility of three different swing weights in one club appeals to you, this is your swing speed training aid of choice.


Click here Rypstick.com to buy now, and make sure that you enter TOMTUCKERGOLF (case sensitive) in the Discount code box when you check out to receive a 5% discount.




All the best,

Tom Tucker
Teaching Professional, Batavia Country Club
WGTF ' "Top 100 Golf Teacher"
USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional
IGPA Certified Golf Psychology Coach
Cell: (716) 474-3005
Email: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
http://www.TomTuckerGolf.com

"There are no substitutes in the quest for perfection1"
~ Ben Hogan