Do you play it down in casual rounds?

[ERC7.5]

I notice a lot of people giving their ball a roll or a fluff or whatever during casual rounds. I typically do not do this as I am trying to get better and don't have this option on one of my leagues. How do you play it in casual rounds?

[iacas]

95% of the time I'm playing for a score and thus, follow all the rules.

Sometimes I'm just out killing time, playing 7 holes or whatever, and using the course as a practice range. In those times I'll put a ball down wherever I want. But that's not a "casual round" - so I still voted "play it down."

[wolverine318]

I dont play too many casual rounds, but if I do go to the par3 or short ass par 4 course with my wife I will bump it around usually just because im just practicing and dont feel like ruining my clubs on rocks or something. Typically i leave it unless the lie is in a hole or on rocks or something stupid, maybe i want to practice a certain type of shot so I might bury my ball in the rough a bit or something sometimes too. Whatever.

[Clubchucker]

Most of my rounds are casual rounds, and I always play it down. Many times the group will be playing "winter rules" and fluffing it, but I still play it down just out of habit. About the only time I'll roll the ball is if it's sitting on a rock or something and could damage my club, but that happens like once a year.

[geezer]

I play it as it lies. Unless the rules permit a lift clean and place or lift clean and drop.

[VALSALVA]

I play it down in a casual round unless there's something under my ball that could break or severely scuff my club (i.e. rock, large stone, or big friggin' root).

[DJYoshi]

the only time i ever lift the ball is if it's laying on top of rocks.
My 2nd day with my new mp60's I hit 1 of the most pure 4 iron shots i've ever hit...200 out and got it clean and on the green....only problem was, there was a big rock covered in grass.... 2nd day and my 4 iron was already suffering

since then, i've just made sure there's no rocks underneath. if there's no rocks.. i play it as it lies.

[ugapug5150]

Unless it will damage my club, I play it as it lies.

[lamebums]

Unless it'll damage a club, I'll play it as it lies usually. Lift and clean if the ball's in some really nasty stuff, since it's still pretty muddy out there. Every so often I'll improve my lie--there's no point in playing a round if you're not going to have fun. And I don't care if other people do it as long as there isn't money on the line, and that they know they won't be able to do it in a real round.

[Hustle]

95% of the time I'm playing for a score and thus, follow all the rules.

I agree 100%... I once played with a guy who shot a course record 59, but ever time I played with him he would roll his ball where ever it was, and at times he would even hit 2 balls off the tee. hmmmm. Winter rules and mulligan should be words that are permanently banned from golf.

[crawf061]

Winter rules and mulligan should be words that are permanently banned from golf.

Those words aren't in

my vocabulary. However, I do like hearing those words in casual rounds, because they tend to make the competitive rounds easier for me to win

[Avid Golfer]

I play the ball from where it lies in my rounds of golf (no matter casual or other). There is a good chance you are going to get the bad lie at some point in a round that matters to you, and its beneficial to know how to hit it and how the ball is likely to come out of that lie. If it comes down to being able to hit the shot when its needed and you don't have confidence in the shot, and you don't know how to properly execute it then you'll likely end up hitting a poor shot.

Winter rules and mulligan should be words that are permanently banned from golf.

As should breakfast ball.

[skierbri10]

Depends, a couple rounds after a tournament I like to have "fun" rounds. Similar when I used to ski race, I would take a few days and just cruise the mountain.

[ERC7.5]

I play the ball from where it lies in my rounds of golf (no matter casual or other). There is a good chance you are going to get the bad lie at some point in a round that matters to you, and its beneficial to know how to hit it and how the ball is likely to come out of that lie. If it comes down to being able to hit the shot when its needed and you don't have confidence in the shot, and you don't know how to properly execute it then you'll likely end up hitting a poor shot.

That's the way I feel (along with agreeing with all of the other posts in this thread). Often times I'll be out with some friends and one will say "Why don't you roll it and give yourself a better shot?" with which I say "Because I won't/don't always have that option and I need to know what to do here...."

What about foot relief though? If your ball position puts your feet on the cart path? I know we play with foot relief in my one league.

As should breakfast ball.

Never even heard of that before....

[NM Golf]

What about foot relief though? If your ball position puts your feet on the cart path? I know we play with foot relief in my one league.

If you are standing on a cart path you are granted relief by the rules of golf.

Rule 24.2 Although the way you explained how you do it would be illegal. You have to take relief according to the rules which would be finding nearest relief, taking one club length, and dropping correctly. Rule 20.2

[Dent]

95% of the time I'm playing for a score and thus, follow all the rules.

x2 Same here.

[ERC7.5]

If you are standing on a cart path you are granted relief by the rules of golf.

Correct. Foot relief with a club length & drop.

Sorry about that. I didn't intend to have the foot relief question in the same context as the original "playing it down" question. Was just something that popped into my head. Thank you for clarifying though.

[jaragon126]

99% of the time I play it as it lies, but in non-tournament rounds if my ball is on a rock or something that would destroy my club ... I will usually move it. I just got some new clubs, so I would hate to ruin them.

Luckily in my tournament rounds, I haven't ever gotten into a situation where my ball was on a rock or something.

Other than that, play it as it lies ... even in deep fairway divots :(