Interestingly, two of the leading authorities on pipe band dress (insofar as one can accept any authority in this rather subjective and very fluid domain) both favour the Black Watch tradition. The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association's Drum Major Manual (2008) specifies that "The leading edge of the flash should be vertically in line with the front of the leg" (p. 19), and the Regimental Drum Major Association's Dress Manual for Pipes and Drums (2007) further specifies: "Leading edge of front flash to be centred on the front of the leg, bisecting the hose dicing or ribbing of the hose" (p. 16) The RDMA does seem to acknowledge that some variation is acceptable since it adds in a note that "the band needs to be consistent in flash positioning on the leg." As OCRichard points out, however, these directives are often more honoured in the breach than in the observance.