What happens if you accidentally hit a golf ball in motion?
You’ve fallen foul of an exception to Rule 11.1a, Ball in Motion Accidentally Hits Person or Outside Influence, and it’s a two stroke penalty. What happens now? Well, the stroke counts and the ball must be played as it lies. The player whose ball you hit?
What happens if you hit the ball mid air in golf?
Rule 11.1a says, in these circumstances, there is no penalty to any player “if a player’s ball in motion accidentally hits any person or outside influence”. Both balls must be played as they lie, so just hope if you ever have a mid air collision that you get a soft landing.
What happens if you hit someone's golf ball on the Green?
There will be no penalty incurred, and in match play, also no penalty. If you putt your ball, and it strikes a competitors ball (which is also on the green) you will incur a 2 shot penalty (stroke play only). Your ball will be played from where it lies, and your friend's ball returned to its original resting position.
What happens if you hit the wrong ball in a match?
Ruleswise, in a match, whoever makes the first mistake of hitting the wrong ball loses the hole. In stroke play, also under Rule 6.3c, both players get a two-stroke penalty and must fix their mistake by going back and playing a ball from the spots where the exchange occurred, as you suggest.
What about more common circumstances?
There are two occasions when you wouldn’t play it as it lies under Rule 11.1b.
Have a question for our Rules of Golf expert?
Despite the simplification of the Rules of Golf at the beginning of 2019, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. And as I’ve passed the R&A’s level 2 rules exam with distinction, I am more than happy to help.
What happens when a golf ball hits another golf ball into the hole?
What happens when a golf ball hits another ball into the hole? If the ball that is in play hits a ball that is at rest and then proceeds to roll into the hole, then it counts as a holed ball. However, if the ball at rest is holed, it must be replaced, and positioned back to its original position.
What is the rule for a golf ball to stay in motion?
After looking at the regulations put in by the USGA, rule 11.1b essentially states that unless the object that obstructed the ball-in-motion is a moving object (such as an animal, person, etc.), the ball must stay where it is. This is because the object should be taken into consideration before the putt was made.
What happens when the red ball collides with the blue ball?
As you can see, after the red ball collides with the blue ball (noted by the blue dot and blue arrow) , it then goes into the hole. The ball in play is counted as a holed ball, and no further action is required. The ball in blue must be placed back onto its original spot on the green.
Why does the ball at rest have to be put back into its original spot?
The ball at rest must be put back into its original spot for two reasons: A player’s ball can not be moved once it is at rest. The ball can only move when it is that player’s turn. An opponent could deliberately hit another player’s ball to put them at a disadvantage.
Can you get penalized for hitting a ball on the green?
According to the USGA’s rules on accidental ball movement on the green, there is no penalty incurred for either player if a ball is accidentally hit. This means that if your opponent accidentally hits your ball while it’s on the green, neither of you would get a penalty. This change in ruling is actually quite new.
Is the ball at rest counted as a holed ball?
Furthermore, the ball at rest is not counted as a holed ball.
What happens if you hit both golf balls on the green?
If both balls were on the green, the golfer whose ball was in motion is penalized. If neither ball, or only one golf ball, was on the green, there is no penalty to either golfer. In both scenarios, the golfer whose ball was in motion at the time of the collision must play her ball from where it comes to rest.
What is scenario 1 in golf?
Scenario 1: Neither Ball, or Just One Ball, on the Green. This could mean the shot in question was a tee shot, or an approach played into a green, or any other scenario other than when both balls were on the green prior to making the stroke. For example, your fellow-competitor hits a tee shot, then you hit yours, ...
Is there a penalty for hitting a golf ball in match play?
In match play, there is no penalty. In stroke play, it's a 2-stroke penalty to the player whose ball was in motion when the balls collided. Repeat: It's not a penalty against the golfer whose ball was at rest when it was hit; the penalty is against the golfer whose ball was in motion when the collision happened.
Rules of Golf explained: Our expert says
While you’ll probably never have to extricate your ball from someone’s clothing, it’s far more likely a shot you hit might strike someone or something. (Remember to always shout ‘fore’!)
Have a question for our Rules of Golf expert?
Despite the simplification of the Rules of Golf at the beginning of 2019, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. And as I’ve passed the R&A’s level 2 rules exam with distinction, I am more than happy to help.
The Ball at Rest vs. The Ball in Motion
Why Does The ‘Ball-In-Motion’ Stay Where It Rolls?
- A question that came to my mind was, if the ball in motion, is obstructed by an object, how come the golfer doesn’t get to redo their shot? After looking at the regulations put in by the USGA, rule 11.1b essentially statesthat unless the object that obstructed the ball-in-motion is a moving object (such as an animal, person, etc.), the ball must stay where it is. This is because the object shoul…
Why Does The Ball-At-Rest Need to Be Replaced?
- The ball at rest must be put back into its original spotfor two reasons: 1. A player’s ball can not be moved once it is at rest. The ball can only move when it is that player’s turn. 1. An opponent could deliberately hit another player’s ball to put them at a disadvantage. To help you understand why this rule is in place, say for example, you and your opponent are on the green, and rather than ai…
Is There A Penalty For Hitting Another Golf Ball on The Green?
- According to the USGA’s rules on accidental ball movementon the green, there is no penalty incurred for either player if a ball is accidentally hit. This means that if your opponent accidentally hits your ball while it’s on the green, neither of you would get a penalty. This change in ruling is actually quite new. The USGA says that many of these n...