When do you hit a provisional?

[MEfree]

I tend to hit a lot of provisional balls, even when I think it is likely that I will find my original, but notice that most other players hit far fewer provisionals, or only play mulligans.

FWIW, today, I hit a drive that I never thought I would have trouble finding, even after a playing partner said they thought it might have plugged because they didn`t see it bounce in light rough about 10-15 yards from the green.  Who would have hit a provisional in that situation?

For those that hit lots of provisional balls, do you ever find that some playing partners say/feel a provisional isn`t necessary (either because it is likely you will find your original or they feel that you should just drop one instead)?

[Stewie007]

I hit it when I know that it has gone out of bounds or I won't find it, with relative certainty. I usually don't hit one when its gone in the rough, as I usually find it. If I don't, at that point I'll just drop a bloody ball and take a 2 stroke. I'm not going to exaggerate the need for a provisional in a casual round.

[David in FL]

Whenever I think there's any chance that it's OB or lost. I HATE having to trek back......hitting a provisional takes no time. At worst, it's a chance to work out the kink that caused the original poor shot. I'll hit one any time I'm genuinely allowed to. Why wouldn't you?!

[McObra]

I dislike hitting a provisional/mulligan.  Seems like the second shot usually ends up in the same general area where the first shot landed!

[Lihu]

I dislike hitting a provisional/mulligan.  Seems like the second shot usually ends up in the same general area where the first shot landed!

We hit a mulligan on the 18th hole, since there was nothing to lose. My first shot and second shot were within 20 feet of each other at about 240 yards away. I just wanted to see if I was hitting consistently. Normally, I don't play mulligans, as I am trying to learn the hundreds of rules in this game. There was no point in doing it this time for sure.

[cruzthepug]

I voted always. There are 6 holes on my home course that have OB, all tree lined with a lot of undergrowth. Even if the ball bounces and then goes out, you've got a less than 50/50 of even finding the ball. We always hit a provisional if it's close, and if you happen to find it, take a drop w/penalty and play on.

[Fourputt]

Always.  If there is a chance that I won't find the ball I play a provisional.  Not if I'm just in rough, but if my ball heads toward native, or woods or brush where I know it could be a problem, or if it's near the OB line, then I'll play the provisional ball.  It only takes a few seconds and it allows me to lay by the rules without having to go back when I don't find the original ball.  If I do find the original, then either I, or whoever passes closest to my provisional ball will pick it up.  That doesn't take any extra time at all.  Unlike the comment above, my provisional is almost always better than the original.

[inthehole]

Originally Posted by Fourputt

Unlike the comment above, my provisional is almost always better than the original.

I'd have to agree on that point as well

[Lihu]

Always.  If there is a chance that I won't find the ball I play a provisional.  Not if I'm just in rough, but if my ball heads toward native, or woods or brush where I know it could be a problem, or if it's near the OB line, then I'll play the provisional ball.  It only takes a few seconds and it allows me to lay by the rules without having to go back when I don't find the original ball.  If I do find the original, then either I, or whoever passes closest to my provisional ball will pick it up.  That doesn't take any extra time at all.  Unlike the comment above, my provisional is almost always better than the original.

Someone replied on another thread stating that the most conservative method is to look 5 minutes for the ball, and if it can't be found to redo the shot with a stroke penalty. If you hit a provisional, that speeds up play, but does not follow the rule to keep the score as low as possible when you take the stroke and distance penalty by guessing. Is this correct, or is it flawed in some way?

[Dave2512]

I see this asked a lot and honestly I am surprised. Mostly because it's rare not only for myself but for my playing partners when there is an instance where it isn't 100% obvious the ball has flown OB. Most of the courses I play are clearly marked and when the ball clears the white stakes it's not by inches but by several yards. That said in the rare instance I am not sure I announce I am playing a provisional before engaging in a brief search. Typically for me the only time it isn't obvious is when there is a chance it rolled into a yard of a house along the fairway.

[MEfree]

Originally Posted by Dave2512

I see this asked a lot and honestly I am surprised. Mostly because it's rare not only for myself but for my playing partners when there is an instance where it isn't 100% obvious the ball has flown OB. Most of the courses I play are clearly marked and when the ball clears the white stakes it's not by inches but by several yards. That said in the rare instance I am not sure I announce I am playing a provisional before engaging in a brief search. Typically for me the only time it isn't obvious is when there is a chance it rolled into a yard of a house along the fairway.

I always hit a provisional when it appears that my ball may be OOB.  What I was wondering more about was the potential lost ball situations.  This varies a lot depending on the course I play- on some courses, I almost never hit a provisional for a potential lost ball as there are not a lot of areas to lose a ball.  OTOH, the courses I currently play have a lot of situations for potential lost balls- when paired with someone who hasn`t played the course before, I will often say something like "it is 50/50 whether you will find that one" or "that one will be really hard to find" or "you will probably find that one, but might not."  My guess is that you play a course that does not have many potential lost ball situations.

For those of you who said you hit a provisional if there is "any chance" that a ball is lost, do hit a provisional when you hit a high shot into an up-slope near a green when the only chance of NOT finding the ball would be if it embedded?

Originally Posted by Lihu

Someone replied on another thread stating that the most conservative method is to look 5 minutes for the ball, and if it can't be found to redo the shot with a stroke penalty.

If you hit a provisional, that speeds up play, but does not follow the rule to keep the score as low as possible when you take the stroke and distance penalty by guessing.

Is this correct, or is it flawed in some way?

Was this in a situation where the ball may be lost in a hazard?  Except as modified by local rules, you are not allowed to hit a provisional for a hazard, so that approach is valid in that situation.

In situations of a potential OOB or lost ball outside a hazard, you can play a provisional and not have it count at all against your score if you find your original ball within 5 minutes.  If you don`t find the original, then the provisional becomes the ball in play the same as if you went back and re-hit.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by Lihu

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

Always.  If there is a chance that I won't find the ball I play a provisional.  Not if I'm just in rough, but if my ball heads toward native, or woods or brush where I know it could be a problem, or if it's near the OB line, then I'll play the provisional ball.  It only takes a few seconds and it allows me to lay by the rules without having to go back when I don't find the original ball.  If I do find the original, then either I, or whoever passes closest to my provisional ball will pick it up.  That doesn't take any extra time at all.  Unlike the comment above, my provisional is almost always better than the original.

Someone replied on another thread stating that the most conservative method is to look 5 minutes for the ball, and if it can't be found to redo the shot with a stroke penalty.

If you hit a provisional, that speeds up play, but does not follow the rule to keep the score as low as possible when you take the stroke and distance penalty by guessing.

Is this correct, or is it flawed in some way?

I'm not sure what you are asking.  All a provisional ball does is eliminate the walk back to the previous spot if the original ball is lost or found out of bounds.  It doesn't change the score.  If the original ball is found in bounds, then the provisional ball is abandoned and any strokes made with it don't count.  If the original ball is not found, then you continue play with the provisional ball, adding one penalty stroke, and any actual strokes taken with it.  The score is the same as if you went forward, searched and didn't find your ball, then walked back and played from there again. The penalty doesn't change.