La Virgule at the Golf Course

What is a "comma" in golf?

The comma is a very common expression on the course, used by both players and instructors. It describes a putt that seemed like it was going in: the ball reaches the hole, catches the edge, rolls around part of the lip, then rolls back out and comes to rest next to it. Viewed from above, its trajectory traces a sharp curve at the edge of the hole, resembling the shape of a comma.

In English, we say lip-out (the ball “pops out” of the hole). When the ball makes almost a full rotation before popping out, some people also say that the ball “goes all the way around the hole.”.

It's one of the most frustrating shots in golf: the line was good—or almost good—and yet you still have to take another shot.

Why does a bullet make a comma?

A ball that hits the edge of the hole will only fall in if it is moving slowly enough for gravity to pull it in. Two factors come into play:

• Speed: That's the main reason. A ball that's traveling too fast and hits the edge at an angle is deflected and bounces away, whereas at a slower speed, the same ball would have rolled off to the side.
• The line: The farther the ball approaches the hole from its center, the greater the chance that it will only graze it. A ball that lands in the center can handle much more speed than one that lands on the edge.

In addition to these two causes, there are other factors:

• Misjudging the slope: The ball lands on the wrong side of the hole, on the lip.
• An off-center contact on the putter face, which causes the ball to veer slightly off course and alters its speed.
• The Condition of the Green around the hole: trampled grass, a damaged edge, and unevenness that causes the ball to veer off course in the final centimeters.

How can you avoid using commas?

Work on the speed control

The best solution is to use the right speed. Many teachers recommend aiming for a ball that, if it misses the hole, would come to rest about 30 to 50 centimeters behind it. This speed allows you to use the full width of the hole while avoiding putts that fall short.

How to Better Read the Slope

On a downhill putt, choose a line that brings the ball to the top of the hole rather than the bottom. A ball that comes in from the top at a moderate speed still has a chance of dropping in; a ball that goes under the hole is almost always a lost putt.

Center the contact

Hitting the ball in the center of the putter face results in more consistent speed and direction. A simple exercise is to place two tees on either side of the putter head to form a narrow gate.

Accepting a degree of chance

Even a perfectly struck putt can veer off course by a fraction of an inch due to an unevenness on the green. It’s better to judge a putt based on the quality of the stroke and the line than on the result alone.

What does the rule say when the ball comes to rest on the edge of the hole?

If the ball comes to rest just past the hole, resting on the lip, Rule 13.3 allows the player a reasonable amount of time to approach the hole, and then ten seconds wait to see if it falls. If it falls within that time, it is considered to have gone in on the previous stroke. If it falls afterward, it is also considered to have gone in, but the player adds a penalty stroke to their score for the hole. If it does not fall, the player must play it.