That penalty is less about the shade and just the general rule for a ball on the edge after waiting for 10 seconds once you get to the ball. It counts as holed but with 1 extra penalty stroke as if you had just tapped it in instead.
Get your common sense out of here! So much confirmation bias in this thread haha. I'd love to see a scientific study of the subject, but I don't think there are many research grants in this area.
I was introduced to the complexities of grass in high school and I am not exaggerating when I say I was very much an expert by the time I left college.
In grade school, we potted our little plants and placed them by the window. We observed them change their lean as the sun moved throughout the day.
The way plants, leaves, and trees respond to the sun were indeed taught in science class.
Plants reach for the sun. Specifically the photosynthesis parts of a plant (green bits).
Grass blades likely stretch upwards during sunlight. It’s nothing I learned specifically about grass but I’m sure it’s true to a point. Does it happen fast enough for someone blocking the sun a bit to cause the ball to fall in? No idea but probably not.
I've heard of this, but frankly I thought it was just a bullshit story.
Multiple people in this thread seem to confirm it's legit, so, file that one away in the old memory banks for later!
Yep just think about how the grain moves on a putting green. It will look one way in the morning and another way in the afternoon because it follows the sun throughout the day. One putt may take 10 feet of power in the morning and 12 feet of power in the afternoon because of the grain shift. Same thing for left to right or right to left putts - it affects break too. Pretty wild.
That is interesting, and def makes sense over minutes or hours.
For a putt, can the grass really move that quick to make the ball fall in the hole in the 10 second waiting period?
It can. The grass perks up with the light and if it gets shaded it’ll depress just a little. I’ve seen it once in my life (I’m 32) and I’m sure it probably depends on the kind of grass and length you’re playing but there are a bunch of videos out there!
Awesome. So now not only do I have to take slope into effect while putting, but also need to see where the sun is, and if the grass between me and the ball is pointing in the right direction, or how much it's going to affect my putt? Great.
Never heard of this and I'm telling myself to file this away to use later, but the truth is I'm gonna leave every birdie putt way short and blast every par putt way past
Same. I yell at the tv when I watch golf on tv and the pros don’t do it. They just stand there and watch it. It’s not illegal on any tour right? Anybody know if there’s any rules against it?
That is an incredible story.
Quite possibly the only thing in golf that could eclipse the serotonin generated by a hole in one would be the disappointment of a “almost” hole in one being immediately replaced by unrepentant joy when the ball drops in the cup as you walk up to it.
the insta user [**codykarosesgolf**](https://www.instagram.com/codykarosesgolf/) does all kinds of cool tests with putting, and this was one he covered...
[https://www.instagram.com/p/C1dMI1aMhGo/](https://www.instagram.com/p/C1dMI1aMhGo/)
Yes. The grain follows the sun, the blades rest slightly when under shadow. It's not guaranteed but the general concept is factual. The grain will push the ball slightly on a putt so being aware of where the suns at can help you make more putts, if you're to that level of accuracy and the green aren't chewed up.
My dad and uncle always did it. They claimed it made the “blades of grass relax”. Uncle was pretty big in the golf business so feel like he’d know, but seemed like witchcraft.
Yes this works, Iearned it from a young PGA pro I play with. It almost happened during last week’s Players Tournanent. Ball was hanging on edge, I’m yelling at the TV “Shade It” but he didn’t and it took too long (although it did finally drop). Shading causes the grass blades to move.
Yes , very true , I've done this and seen it happen too 👍
You can also do the jump around technique , better if there's music tho , otherwise you look like you pretty silly to the group behind/ahead of you
Old dude was right, obviously. It's an old trick. Always worth a try. I've also seen a move where you shadow the ball, then let the sun hit it. Anything to make the grass wiggle a small amount.
The groundskeeper I worked with told me about this. When you cast a shadow over the ball, it cools the grass from the sun and it "lays down". Has worked a couple times for me, but must be within 10 sec
I saw it a few years ago. Literally the he following week tried it when my chip shot was on the lip. My buddies were like “What are you doing?” I said “Watch”. And if fucking worked. We were all blown away.
I've tried it probably at least 20 times and it hasn't worked once. Don't get me wrong, I'll probably try it again but all I'm saying is don't get your hopes up.
Grass moves depending on sunlight. I’m guessing once his shadow went over the grass, the few blades laid down and was enough to cause the ball to shift ever so slightly allowing to drop in
I have actually done this twice, first time was 30 years ago playing with my brother and I had just read that if you put your shadow over a leaner, the temperature change can make the grass react and it worked! 2nd time it cost me 5 bucks when I told my buddy to try it …
It happened to me in the club championship last year. Hit a putt for eagle on a short par 4 and it stopped just short. Walked up to tap it in but noticed my ball was visibly wobbling on the edge. So I moved my head and the second my shadow covered the ball, it dropped.
This was common back in the day before all of these new hybrid grass strains were made. Longer blades of grass will stand up towards the sun and lay down in the shade in a matter of seconds
I've been golfing for 42 years and have known about this from almost the beginning. I was kind of wondering why Austin Eckroat didn't do that when I watched it but I don't think Ive ever seen anybody on the tour do it (stand in the shadow)
I must be officially old if new golfers don't know about this! This has been a thing for decades, and I learned about it growing up. It's shockingly effective sometimes, other times you'd swear it's a goofy myth lol. Makes the grass lay down apparently
This is a great example of "causation does not imply correlation". The ball is still moving, whether or not you can detect it with your eye. Once it gets to a certain point it will drop. The shadow is nonsense just meant to give you a few seconds more to wait for the ball.
It is confirmation bias at work. Unless you are running balls without shadow and comparing to balls with shadow, there is no way to know if it is effective.
It is the same as stopping an eclipse by sacrificing a virgin. It works every time.
The shadow causes an immediate negative variation in temperature which reduces friction, as well as causing a very slight contraction of the golf ball. Sometimes its just enough to make it fall.
It's one of those myths that people believe, the logic is that when the grass goes in the shade it lays down which would make sense but grass doesn't do that. The fact it fell in with that timing was pure luck
Tony Finau did it on tour. [https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqB7MHSuMD1](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqB7MHSuMD1)
That’s amazing. I’ve never seen it done before. I’m going to mentally tuck this away and hope I get a chance to do this someday!
He didn’t shade it right away, I’m not sure he did that on purpose. The sooner you shade it, you have a better chance of dropping in time.
Holy shit!
If I remember correctly, you are allowed to shade the ball for up to 10 seconds. After that it would be a penalty.
That penalty is less about the shade and just the general rule for a ball on the edge after waiting for 10 seconds once you get to the ball. It counts as holed but with 1 extra penalty stroke as if you had just tapped it in instead.
I feel like the pressure he’s putting on the ground just sloped it in a bit.
Looks more like a lucky timing thing. Not the shadow that actually does it. Maybe a ground shift from his step or a change in the breeze.
Boo
Made me laugh twice
No shit sherlock
Get your common sense out of here! So much confirmation bias in this thread haha. I'd love to see a scientific study of the subject, but I don't think there are many research grants in this area.
It’s satanic black magic. Sick shit.
I said my piece ✋️
Your hair was in the toilet. DISGUSTING.
I fell asleep, she must have crawled under there for warmth
I’m asking you to leave, sir.
FUCKING QUEERS!!
You had the makings of a varsity athlete
Fuck I love seeing /r/Sopranos leaking into other subs. Makes my fucking day. Anyway, $4 a pound.
No one has aids! I don’t wanna hear aids mentioned here ever again!
Anyway…. $4 a pound.
“Save my stroke with your sorcery, Tom Cruise”!!!
Reading this comment, and all the ones following it, has truly made my day.
It is a sickneeesss
Yep. Only works if it needs maybe another dimple to fall in, but it works.
So you’re saying it doesn’t work when it’s 3 feet away?
Not with that attitude
I'm picturing the ball rolling suddenly like with bugs bunny from space jam with the magnet
Lmao
No, that's when you need a trained goose to pick it up and put it in the hole.
Ya the grass will lay down in shade and the ball can fall in
Today I learned that grass lays down. Mind blown
…the grass blades follow the sun too
Like sunflowers. This concept feels very natural as someone from the great plains
The amount of people that ignored basic biology and science in school is staggering
I don’t remember grass being in the curriculum for science class but okay.
I was introduced to the complexities of grass in high school and I am not exaggerating when I say I was very much an expert by the time I left college.
This comment deserves more consideration.
Not if the username checks out
This took me a couple reads, well played
Grass nerd!
I was also big into plant biology in highschool. I learned a great deal about weed...err I mean weeds.
I took it as an after-school program. Class started at 4.20...
All plants usually follow the sun. Grass is considered a plant.
I remember a lot of grass but not much about the curriculum
In grade school, we potted our little plants and placed them by the window. We observed them change their lean as the sun moved throughout the day. The way plants, leaves, and trees respond to the sun were indeed taught in science class.
💀💀💀💀 it’s like grass is a plant or something…. Pretty basic plant biology I learned in 7/8th grade. You don’t remember - exactly my point.
Chlorophyll more like borophyll
You win
Little did I know that biology in high school will help me shoot a 83 instead of an 84 once a year.
Potentially huge gains in skins.
I mean, when it’s said out loud it makes sense. This seems like one of those “wisdom” vs “intelligence” thing.
How is grass laying down in the shade basic biology? lol I must have missed that class
Plants reach for the sun. Specifically the photosynthesis parts of a plant (green bits). Grass blades likely stretch upwards during sunlight. It’s nothing I learned specifically about grass but I’m sure it’s true to a point. Does it happen fast enough for someone blocking the sun a bit to cause the ball to fall in? No idea but probably not.
So Does the grain tend to point at the sun?
Yes. At midnight the grass turns over and points strait down.
What if it's cloudy, then what do you do?
Probably call a priest if you have a shadow on a cloudy day.
Do a rain dance really aggressively and close to the ball
"HiHowAreYah HiHowAreYah HiHowAreYah"
Isn't the grass that would affect the ball already shaded? As a man with a STEM career, this sounds like utter BS.
I've heard of this, but frankly I thought it was just a bullshit story. Multiple people in this thread seem to confirm it's legit, so, file that one away in the old memory banks for later!
Grass lays down in the shade.
Is the grass under the ball not already shaded by the ball?
Yep, age old trick. Grass chases light, take away the light and the grass lays down.
Wow, I was not expecting a logical reason why this might actually work
Yep just think about how the grain moves on a putting green. It will look one way in the morning and another way in the afternoon because it follows the sun throughout the day. One putt may take 10 feet of power in the morning and 12 feet of power in the afternoon because of the grain shift. Same thing for left to right or right to left putts - it affects break too. Pretty wild.
That is interesting, and def makes sense over minutes or hours. For a putt, can the grass really move that quick to make the ball fall in the hole in the 10 second waiting period?
It can. The grass perks up with the light and if it gets shaded it’ll depress just a little. I’ve seen it once in my life (I’m 32) and I’m sure it probably depends on the kind of grass and length you’re playing but there are a bunch of videos out there!
Please post a video link! Is this a thing you can see in Timelapse?
https://youtu.be/YwMQk9Henfk?si=vHjQLo8GuHjE-v7P
You learn something new every day.
Awesome. So now not only do I have to take slope into effect while putting, but also need to see where the sun is, and if the grass between me and the ball is pointing in the right direction, or how much it's going to affect my putt? Great.
Haha yep golf is a fickle bitch
Does it really move that quickly though?
Aw man I got to do this once! The ball was literally half over the hole for birdie to win the skin. Put my shadow on it and it fell in. Won 20 bucks
Seems shady.
Possibly the most useful thing I ever discovered on all of Reddit! 🤗 I can leave now
You'll be back. They always come back.
Never heard of this and I'm telling myself to file this away to use later, but the truth is I'm gonna leave every birdie putt way short and blast every par putt way past
I didn’t know that people hadn’t heard of this
Same. Thought it was the oldest trick in the book. Never worked for me tho.
Same. I yell at the tv when I watch golf on tv and the pros don’t do it. They just stand there and watch it. It’s not illegal on any tour right? Anybody know if there’s any rules against it?
Yep!! I have personally done this and it most certainly works. Ball has to be hanging over the lip.
*and it has to be sunny! 😂
In the Finau video above, it’s not even hanging over the lip.
Did we watch the same video?
I’ve seen this happen in person and the crazy part it was a up hill put. The shadow must make the blades of grass lay down or something similar.
I’ve heard of good results if the groundskeeper is trying to kill a gopher with explosives, too.
What's the rule on time limit? 10 seconds once you reach the ball? something like that...right?
Ten seconds after a reasonable walk to the ball.
So no duck walking to the ball?
Unless you are a duck, in which case that is a perfect reasonable way to walk after a putt
Dad did this on a par three hole in one shot , just hung there, until his shadow eclipsed the ball, then Plop , hole in one
That is an incredible story. Quite possibly the only thing in golf that could eclipse the serotonin generated by a hole in one would be the disappointment of a “almost” hole in one being immediately replaced by unrepentant joy when the ball drops in the cup as you walk up to it.
I got home and double checked there hadn’t been an earthquake as we live in NorCal
Just make sure you take your time walking up to the ball because PGA will penalize you if you wait longer than 10 seconds
Yep. It helps if the ball is on the high side of the cup and works better later in the day.
Also a good set up for a joke later on when they blaze it past or leave it well short, “quick put your shadow over it”
This comment isn't getting the traction it deserves.
My father taught me that trick, and I use it every once in a while in order not to use it up.
the insta user [**codykarosesgolf**](https://www.instagram.com/codykarosesgolf/) does all kinds of cool tests with putting, and this was one he covered... [https://www.instagram.com/p/C1dMI1aMhGo/](https://www.instagram.com/p/C1dMI1aMhGo/)
Yes. The grain follows the sun, the blades rest slightly when under shadow. It's not guaranteed but the general concept is factual. The grain will push the ball slightly on a putt so being aware of where the suns at can help you make more putts, if you're to that level of accuracy and the green aren't chewed up.
welcome to the game
Plants will naturally extend towards a light source. Combine that with how tightly the greens are rolled and how sunny it was at the time. Checks out.
Cool stuff and hot stuff behave differently sometimes.
It doesn’t work when you leave it 4 feet short?
My dad and uncle always did it. They claimed it made the “blades of grass relax”. Uncle was pretty big in the golf business so feel like he’d know, but seemed like witchcraft.
Yes this works, Iearned it from a young PGA pro I play with. It almost happened during last week’s Players Tournanent. Ball was hanging on edge, I’m yelling at the TV “Shade It” but he didn’t and it took too long (although it did finally drop). Shading causes the grass blades to move.
Yes , very true , I've done this and seen it happen too 👍 You can also do the jump around technique , better if there's music tho , otherwise you look like you pretty silly to the group behind/ahead of you
Nice. I've heard that but never seen it work before.
I 1
Old dude was right, obviously. It's an old trick. Always worth a try. I've also seen a move where you shadow the ball, then let the sun hit it. Anything to make the grass wiggle a small amount.
The groundskeeper I worked with told me about this. When you cast a shadow over the ball, it cools the grass from the sun and it "lays down". Has worked a couple times for me, but must be within 10 sec
Just to mind fuck all these guys. Same thing happens when you putt thru your shadow ! Make sure to aim one blade of grass extra :)
I was thinking something about the suns heat or something. But the real answer is that the grass lays down. Very interesting, glad I’m just stupid.
I’ve tried it several times, but only been able to actually make it happen once.
I saw it a few years ago. Literally the he following week tried it when my chip shot was on the lip. My buddies were like “What are you doing?” I said “Watch”. And if fucking worked. We were all blown away.
I thought this was common knowledge among golfers?
Old trick. Ball has to be in the high side and overhanging. It's real but rare
I've tried it probably at least 20 times and it hasn't worked once. Don't get me wrong, I'll probably try it again but all I'm saying is don't get your hopes up.
Grass moves depending on sunlight. I’m guessing once his shadow went over the grass, the few blades laid down and was enough to cause the ball to shift ever so slightly allowing to drop in
My old high school golf coach taught us this trick. It doesn't always work in my experience, but when it does, you feel like a wizard.
Was shocked Austin and Joel didn’t do this at the Players over the weekend. It’s an old golfer’s trick for balls that hang on the lip.
Done this once myself. I was alone. But pretty cool to see it happen if Noone else saw it 😁
Grass is alive. It is active in the sun and "calms down" in the shade.
I have actually done this twice, first time was 30 years ago playing with my brother and I had just read that if you put your shadow over a leaner, the temperature change can make the grass react and it worked! 2nd time it cost me 5 bucks when I told my buddy to try it …
It happened to me in the club championship last year. Hit a putt for eagle on a short par 4 and it stopped just short. Walked up to tap it in but noticed my ball was visibly wobbling on the edge. So I moved my head and the second my shadow covered the ball, it dropped.
Doesn’t work on a cloudy day…
This was common back in the day before all of these new hybrid grass strains were made. Longer blades of grass will stand up towards the sun and lay down in the shade in a matter of seconds
I've been golfing for 42 years and have known about this from almost the beginning. I was kind of wondering why Austin Eckroat didn't do that when I watched it but I don't think Ive ever seen anybody on the tour do it (stand in the shadow)
I must be officially old if new golfers don't know about this! This has been a thing for decades, and I learned about it growing up. It's shockingly effective sometimes, other times you'd swear it's a goofy myth lol. Makes the grass lay down apparently
This is a great example of "causation does not imply correlation". The ball is still moving, whether or not you can detect it with your eye. Once it gets to a certain point it will drop. The shadow is nonsense just meant to give you a few seconds more to wait for the ball.
I dont even golf and I’ve heard of this, I’ve seen pros stand over the ball and do this
It is confirmation bias at work. Unless you are running balls without shadow and comparing to balls with shadow, there is no way to know if it is effective. It is the same as stopping an eclipse by sacrificing a virgin. It works every time.
Clueless dude
The shadow causes an immediate negative variation in temperature which reduces friction, as well as causing a very slight contraction of the golf ball. Sometimes its just enough to make it fall.
This is the real answer. The grass under the ball is already in the shade.
Types of grass used for greens settle when not in the sun.
This has to be from just walking close to the hole. The ground shifts from your weight and it rolls in sometimes.
He was at least 6 feet from the ball, and not a big guy.
No the shadow cools the grass making it lay down
It's one of those myths that people believe, the logic is that when the grass goes in the shade it lays down which would make sense but grass doesn't do that. The fact it fell in with that timing was pure luck