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The rule regarding changing balls


Dave325
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I have been reading through the rule book and couldn't seem to find a rule regarding a ball change on the green. Something I used to do. I would mark my ball and switch to a different ball that had a sharpie line on it  to line up my putts (I called it my putting ball). I never thought anything about it, until a friend pointed it out to me. I couldn't find a rule that specifically mentions this. The only rule I saw was having to do with identifying your ball marking or type as being yours, Can someone clarify or clear up this ruling?  I now put a line on all my balls and use the same one throughout the round, just to make sure I am not in violation.

Dave

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From rule 15-1

Quote

15-1. General 

A player must hole out with the ball played from the teeing ground, unless the ball is lost or out of bounds or the player substitutes another ball, whether or not substitution is permitted (see Rule 15-2). If a player plays a wrong ball, see Rule 15-3.

So unless your ball is lost or becomes unfit for play (see rule 5-3), you are to play the hole with the same ball you tee off with.

If you do substitute a ball when not allowed, it becomes the ball in play, and you incur a 2 stroke penalty (or in match play, loss of the hole) -- see rule 15-2.

Edited by Missouri Swede

Craig
What's in the :ogio: Silencer bag (on the :clicgear: cart)
Driver: :callaway: Razr Fit 10.5°  
5 Wood: :tmade: Burner  
Hybrid: :cobra: Baffler DWS 20°
Irons: :ping: G400 
Wedge: :ping: Glide 2.0 54° ES grind 
Putter: :heavyputter:  midweight CX2
:aimpoint:,  :bushnell: Tour V4

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Basically, the ball tee'd up must be used for the entire hole.

If a ball is damaged, it may be replaced. (Balata balls were easily cut, the old smiley)

A player may change to a different ball on the tee, he should announce the new ball.

A lot of guys use a new ball for putting only, kind of a guy thing. It does violate the rules.

Played last week, my buddy holed a putt and I pulled the ball out of the cup and tossed back to him. I noticed the ball was really warm and called him on it. He laughed, he knew better. It's winter, to cold to carry a wet towel. I let it slide and still kicked his butt.....

Johnny Rocket - Let's Rock and Roll and play some golf !!!

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38 minutes ago, Dave325 said:

I have been reading through the rule book and couldn't seem to find a rule regarding a ball change on the green. Something I used to do. I would mark my ball and switch to a different ball that had a sharpie line on it  to line up my putts (I called it my putting ball). I never thought anything about it, until a friend pointed it out to me. I couldn't find a rule that specifically mentions this. The only rule I saw was having to do with identifying your ball marking or type as being yours, Can someone clarify or clear up this ruling?  I now put a line on all my balls and use the same one throughout the round, just to make sure I am not in violation.

I would go to Rule 15-2.  Other rules will specifically state when a substitution is allowed.  Rule 26 (Water Hazards) is one. (you may substitute even if you retrieve your ball when taking relief from a water hazard.)  Taking relief from Abnormal Ground Conditons or Obstructions also allow a substitution if the ball is not "immediately recoverable".   Switching to a "putting" ball would be included in Rule 16 (The Putting Green) if it were allowed, unfortunately it's not.  :-)

 

15-2. Substituted Ball

A player may substitute a ball when proceeding under a Rule that permits the player to play, drop or place another ball in completing the play of a hole. The substituted ball becomes the ball in play.

If a player substitutes a ball when not permitted to do so under the Rules, that substituted ball is not awrong ball; it becomes the ball in play. If the mistake is not corrected as provided in Rule 20-6 and the player makes a stroke at a wrongly substituted ball, he loses the hole in match play or incurs a penalty of two strokes in stroke play under the applicable Rule and, in stroke play, must play out the hole with thesubstituted ball.

Exception: If a player incurs a penalty for making a stroke from a wrong place, there is no additional penalty for substituting a ball when not permitted.

Edited by Dormie1360
  • Upvote 1

Regards,

John

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45 minutes ago, Dormie1360 said:

I would go to Rule 15-2.  Other rules will specifically state when a substitution is allowed.  Rule 26 (Water Hazards) is one. (you may substitute even if you retrieve your ball when taking relief from a water hazard.)

I had not realized this -- I had always thought of the substitution being for an unretrieved ball. But you're right. (Starting the year off right and learning something! :-))

Craig
What's in the :ogio: Silencer bag (on the :clicgear: cart)
Driver: :callaway: Razr Fit 10.5°  
5 Wood: :tmade: Burner  
Hybrid: :cobra: Baffler DWS 20°
Irons: :ping: G400 
Wedge: :ping: Glide 2.0 54° ES grind 
Putter: :heavyputter:  midweight CX2
:aimpoint:,  :bushnell: Tour V4

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Whenever a rule specifies 'a' ball, substitution is allowed. If it says 'the' ball, the same ball must be used.

Examples

Relief for Ball in Water Hazard

Drop a ball behind the water hazard .......

Lifting and Cleaning Ball

 The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted and the ball must be replaced (see Rule 20-1). 

Edited by Rulesman
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So Dave, if you dunk your tee or approach shot into a water hazard, you can't pull out that Noodle shag ball you found in the woods, play that over and then putt out with your Titleist. Well I suppose you could if the Noodle was unfit to play. 

And you can mark your ball with the sharpie putting line and play it for an entire round. It won't come off. Trust me. I've played a couple practice rounds with one ball. 

Make sure you understand the rules for your club rounds and competition rounds. Casual and practice rounds, do what you want, but when you're learning the rules, it's a good idea to get in the habit of playing by them so you know when you're not. 

Julia

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1 hour ago, DrvFrShow said:

So Dave, if you dunk your tee or approach shot into a water hazard, you can't pull out that Noodle shag ball you found in the woods, play that over and then putt out with your Titleist. Well I suppose you could if the Noodle was unfit to play. 

And you can mark your ball with the sharpie putting line and play it for an entire round. It won't come off. Trust me. I've played a couple practice rounds with one ball. 

Make sure you understand the rules for your club rounds and competition rounds. Casual and practice rounds, do what you want, but when you're learning the rules, it's a good idea to get in the habit of playing by them so you know when you're not. 

Great point! I'm going to do that. Just went through all my balls and made my sharpie line on all of them. Staying with the same ball as of now. Thanks for the clarifications everyone.

Dave

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Rulesman's makes a good point.  The new rule book coming out (don't remember if the current one does) has a section on "How to use the Rule Book" which includes "Understand the Words".

The Rule book is written in a very precise and deliberate fashion.  You should be aware of and understand the following differences in word use:

may = optional
should = recommendation
must = instruction (and penalty if not carried out)
a ball = you may substitute another ball (e.g. Rules 26,27, and 28)
the ball = you must not substitute another ball (e.g. Rules 24-2 and 25-1)

Rule 28 (Ball unplayable) is another good example which I would guess many are not aware of.  If your ball is unplayable, it is most likely an unlucky ball and may be substituted. :-)

 

 

 

  • Upvote 1

Regards,

John

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Another thing about the sharpie mark..... it will sometimes come off on the face of the club and show you where you're making contact. This is not considered a foreign substance because it does not affect ball flight, and that is not the purpose of the mark on the ball. Michelle Wie marks her ball like this for LPGA tournaments. It's perfectly legal. 

And since few people bother to mark their golf balls like that it will make it easier to spot your ball in the rough! Or if two of you are playing Titleist 3 for example .... 

 

Julia

:callaway:  :cobra:    :seemore:  :bushnell:  :clicgear:  :adidas:  :footjoy:

Spoiler

Driver: Callaway Big Bertha w/ Fubuki Z50 R 44.5"
FW: Cobra BiO CELL 14.5 degree; 
Hybrids: Cobra BiO CELL 22.5 degree Project X R-flex
Irons: Cobra BiO CELL 5 - GW Project X R-Flex
Wedges: Cobra BiO CELL SW, Fly-Z LW, 64* Callaway PM Grind.
Putter: 48" Odyssey Dart

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16 hours ago, Club Rat said:

 

Played last week, my buddy holed a putt and I pulled the ball out of the cup and tossed back to him. I noticed the ball was really warm and called him on it. He laughed, he knew better. It's winter, to cold to carry a wet towel. I let it slide and still kicked his butt.....

You did not 'kick his butt', you were both DQ under 1-3 (agreement to wive the Rules)

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1 hour ago, Martyn W said:

You did not 'kick his butt', you were both DQ under 1-3 (agreement to wive the Rules)

DQ, D Smooh, he still donated his cash-O-la.  :-)

Johnny Rocket - Let's Rock and Roll and play some golf !!!

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Note: This thread is 3007 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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