Okay, another lost and found ball ruling question…

[iacas]

After all, the Rules allow a player to drop another ball and apply Rule 27-1 at any time.

You could probably find this yourself next time.

Source: 27-1/2 Original Ball Found Within Five-Minute Search Period After Another Ball Dropped Q. A player plays his second shot, searches for his ball briefly and then goes back and drops another ball under Rule 27-1. Before he plays the dropped ball, and within the five-minute search period, the original ball is found. Is the player required to continue with the dropped ball? A. Yes. When the player put the substituted ball into play at the spot of the previous stroke with the intent to play a ball under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1a), the original ball was lost (see Definition of "Lost Ball"). Therefore, Rule 20-6 does not apply, and he must continue with the substituted ball. (Revised)

Note also for rules geeks 27-1/1. It's different for a ball teed versus one dropped.

[Ignorant]

I just wanted to clear this thing up not only to myself but also to other readers so no faulty ideas are sustained.

[Fourputt]

I just wanted to clear this thing up not only to myself but also to other readers so no faulty ideas are sustained.

There are cases where the ball when dropped is

not the ball in play. When it's being dropped as a provisional ball, when it is dropped in an incorrect manner or in a wrong place, or is dropped and rolls into a place not allowed by the rules.

[Ignorant]

There are cases where the ball when dropped is

That's correct, and those cases are covered by the subnotes under Rule 20-4.