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Where a caddie may stand before you make a stroke
When you begin taking a stance for your stroke (which means you have at least one foot in position for that stance) and until your stroke is made, there are limitations relating to when and why your caddie may deliberately stand on or close to an extension of the line of play behind the ball (that is, the “restricted area”) as follows:
- Aiming. Your caddie must not stand in the restricted area to help you with aiming. This help includes when your caddie moves away without saying anything but, by doing so, is giving you a signal that you are correctly aimed at the intended target. But there is no penalty if you back away before making your stroke and your caddie moves away from the restricted area before you again begin to take a stance for your stroke.
- Help Other Than Aiming. If your caddie is helping you with something other than aiming (such as checking to see if your club will hit a nearby tree during your backswing), your caddie may stand in the restricted area but only if your caddie moves away before your stroke is made and provided the positioning is not part of a regular routine.