Did you know..

[Maverick]

..that if you accidently hit your ball at address, on the tee box, whether by addressing or a practice swing incurs NO PENALTY.

..I didn't..I really thought that if the ball comes off the tee it was a stroke..especially if you accidently hit it with a practice swing...which I've seen.

[RX Phoenix]

yep, as long as your intention is not to hit the ball off the tee it's OK, no penalty . . .

and you can start your swing and stop it at any point before moving through the ball with no penalty as Tiger has done several times when a photographer has snapped a photo during his swing. So if the swing doesn't feel right you can stop it, like a checked swing.

[golfchief]

You really should buy a rule book every year $1.00-$1.50 to know the rules of golf. They actually will be more helpful than harmful.

[iacas]

You really should buy a rule book every year $1.00-$1.50 to know the rules of golf. They actually will be more helpful than harmful.

Or join the USGA for $25. You get (among other things) a rules book that way.

[wachesawgolfer]

For the most part the Rules of Golf follow common sense. All too often the tee is not in secure ground and falls over. Some tee boxes are so hard I almost need to bring a hammer and the tee is not secure. This rule makes a lot of sense.

[rembrandt]

There is no penalty if the hit is unintentional. I saw Arnold Palmer do that very thing at the Houston Open and he just laughed and replaced it on the tee. NO penalty!