You seem to be unaware that every two years the R&A and USGA publish ‘Decisions on the Rules of Golf’ that are intended to clarify matters that may not be entirely clear from the Rules of Golf. My reference to Decision 16-1d/5 was taken directly from this book, which can be accessed online at http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/books/rules.html . While you are there please check out Decisions 13-2/22, 16-1d/1, and 6-8a/3, which are the authoritative decisions on the other three points I made. You have reinforced my statement that there are many circumstances where a partial knowledge of the Rules leads to wrong decisions.

Regards,

Barry Rhodes

Rule 16-1.d (there is no 5): ‘During the stipulated round, a player must not test the surface of any putting green by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface.’
This seems to allow ‘ball wiping’ but not ball rolling, especially since a player may gain advantage if he /she were to return another player’s ball by rolling prior to making his/her own put. IMO

Rule 13-2:’A player must not improve or allow to be improved the area of his intended stance or swing by moving,bending or breaking anything growing or fixed, unless in faily taking his/her stance or making a stroke or the backward movement of his/her club for a stroke and the stroke is made.’
This does not seem to allow your ‘knocking a leaf down in a practice swing.’ IMO

I enjoy your postings, especially the rules queries, but surely, notwithstanding your disclaimer, your ‘rules statements’ should be correct, otherwise it would be very confusing for all. Personally, I have found several ‘anolomies’ still present in the R&A 2008 edition…which does not instill confidence.