A "provisional ball," often shortened just to "provisional," is a second golf ball played by a golfer who believes his first ball (the stroke he just played) may be lost (but not in a penalty area or out of bounds). Official Definition in the Rule Book
What is a provisional ball in golf?
Golf Rules Explained: Provisional Ball (Rule 18.3) The provisional ball Rule is one of the most useful Rules in the book. If, after playing a shot, you think your ball may be lost outside of a penalty area or out of bounds, you should play a provisional ball.
Do you have to announce a provisional in golf?
And you must use the word "provisional" in letting the other golfers in your group know what you are doing. "If you did not announce this (even if you intended to play a provisional ball) and played a ball from where the previous stroke was made, that ball is your ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance," the rule book states.
What happens if you lose a provisional ball in golf?
If it transpires that the original ball is lost outside of a penalty area or out of bounds, you must continue with the provisional ball, under penalty of stroke and distance. If the original ball is found in bounds, you must continue with that ball and stop playing the provisional ball.
What is the purpose of the Provisional ball rule in cricket?
The purpose of the Rule is to save time, hence the player must inform his opponent, marker or fellow-competitor that he intends to play a provisional ball, and he must play it before he goes forward to search for the original ball.
When can you use a provisional ball in golf?
A provisional ball is an additional ball played under Rule 27 for a ball that may be lost in a water hazard or out of bounds. Playing a provisional ball allows players to re-hit without having to walk back to the original spot of the ball if it is lost or out-of-bounds.
When should I drop vs provisional?
You must abandon your provisional ball if your original isn't lost or out-of-bounds, or you determine that it's in a water hazard: Conversely, anytime you hit a great provisional shot, you might not want to find your original ball.
Do you have to play a provisional?
Golf Rules Explained: Provisional Ball (Rule 18.3) The provisional ball Rule is one of the most useful Rules in the book. If, after playing a shot, you think your ball may be lost outside of a penalty area or out of bounds, you should play a provisional ball.
What if I lost my provisional ball?
If you hit your ball out of bounds or lose it (you have three minutes to search for your ball before it becomes lost), your only option is to go back to the spot of your previous stroke to play under stroke and distance.
Is a lost ball a 2 stroke penalty?
Local rule for out of bounds, lost ball If a player hits a ball out of bounds or loses a ball, the general rules still require the player to return to the spot of the previous stroke and take a one-stroke penalty - a standard stroke-and-distance scenario.
How many times can you play a provisional ball in golf?
Just one. But do note that you also get a penalty of stroke and distance with it. And there may be special cases wherein you could hit a provisional ball more than once – a scenario which is also covered by one of the questions answered here.
Can you go back to the tee and play a provisional ball?
And yet, the rules say it's perfectly acceptable to go back and hit a provisional. It's all in an interpretation to Rule 18.3a and is revealed under the very straight forward heading “Playing Provisional Ball After Search Has Started Is Allowed”.
Can you declare a ball lost from the tee?
Contrary to what many people think, the Rules make no allowance for declaring your ball lost. It's not what you say, but what you do that counts... Golf tips and expert instruction, golf club reviews and the latest golf equipment.
Can I play a provisional ball from the fairway?
You may continue to play the provisional ball. without it losing its status as a provisional ball. so long as it is played from a spot that is the same distance or farther from the hole. than where your original ball is estimated to be.
Is a water hazard a 2 stroke penalty?
Players receive a one-stroke penalty for water hazard, at which point the ball is placed as near as possible to the area where the ball was originally played. It's important to note that penalty strokes are counted in addition to any strokes made on the ball.
What happens if you hit your tee shot in the water?
You get a one-stroke penalty for landing your golf ball onto a water hazard. Your ball is considered in the water hazard when it touches the yellow markers or lies within the hazard. It is also worth noting that there are two options a golfer can choose from for dealing with a one-stroke penalty due to water hazard.
What is the new rule for out of bounds in golf?
The new stroke-and-distance local rule allows players the option of dropping in the fairway if they so choose. Players must find where their ball went out of bounds and create an imaginary perpendicular to the fairway, no closer to the hole. From there, you can now drop anywhere within two club-lengths behind the line.
When should I take a drop in golf?
When taking relief, whether with penalty or without, you must drop a ball. The ball must be dropped straight down from knee height, must be dropped by you (or your partner), must first strike the ground within your relief area, and must remain within that relief area.
Can you hit a provisional ball for a hazard?
You are allowed to play a provisional ball if you ball might have gone into a water hazard as long as it might also be lost somewhere outside of that water hazard too.
Do you have to declare a provisional ball?
Announcing Play of Provisional Ball. Before the strokeStroke: The forward movement of your club made to strike the ball. is made, you must announce that you are going to play a provisional ballProvisional Ball: Another ball played in case the ball just played by you may be out of bounds or lost outside a penalty area..
What is the rule in golf for a lost ball?
Rule 27-1: If a ball is lost as a result of not being found or identified as his by the player within five minutes after the player's side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it, the player must play a ball, under penalty of one stroke, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was ...