A provisional ball is a shot that you hit just in case your ball may be lost or out of bounds, saving you a possible hike back to the tee or the location from where you hit your previous shot. You’ll need to announce to the group in advance that you are playing a provisional ball to make sure everyone is on the same page.
What is a provisional ball in golf?
Updated March 25, 2019 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 an alternate shot in golf?
The alternate shot golf format, or foursomes, is relatively straightforward from a Rules perspective but perhaps a little harder to play as we explain... The alternate shot golf format, or foursomes, is relatively straightforward from a Rules perspective but perhaps a little harder to play, as we explain...
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.
When to play a provisional from the tee in golf?
8. When playing a provisional from the tee it must be played after your playing partners have played their first shot If more than one golfer elects to play a provisional ball, the original order must be preserved. ( Rule 10-3) 9.
How does a provisional work in golf?
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).
When can you use a provisional ball in golf?
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.
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 provisional shots can you take?
3. Keep hitting your provisional ball until you reach the area where your original ball might be lost: There's no limit to the number of strokes you can take with a provisional ball.
How many penalty strokes do you get for a lost ball?
one penalty strokeIf a ball is lost or out of bounds, the player must take stroke-and-distance relief by adding one penalty stroke and playing the original ball or another ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).
How many times can you play a provisional ball in golf?
It is one stroke. 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 hit a ball that is out of bounds?
The penalty for losing a ball or hitting it out of bounds is "stroke and distance": if your first shot vanishes or ends up on the wrong side of the white stakes, you count that stroke (one), add a penalty stroke (two), and hit again from the original spot (three).
What is the rule if you hit your tee shot out of bounds?
What this means is that you incur a one-stroke penalty and need to go back to the point from where you hit your last shot. For example, if you hit your tee shot out of bounds, you incur a one-shot penalty, must go back to the tee, hitting your third shot.
What does 3 off the tee mean?
A Provisional ball, as described, is ALWAYS classed as '3 off the Tee' - provisionally! You must announce it as a 'provisional ball', otherwise it isn't provisional, so becomes the ball in play (and 3 off the tee).
What happens if a golfer runs out of balls?
If you happen to run out of balls, you can borrow one from any other player, including a practice or X-Out ball (which are generally conforming balls). If you play a wrong ball, you lose the hole in match play or get a two-stroke penalty in stroke play.
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”.
What happens if you find your ball after 3 minutes?
If the original ball is found within three minutes of starting the search, it remains the ball in play. Continued) and the player must abandon the provisional ball. Continued). If the three-minute search time expires before the original ball is found, the provisional ball.
How long can you play a provisional ball?
Remember, you can continue to play your provisional ball until you reach the place where the original is likely to be. If you make a stroke at your provisional ball at that point, the provisional becomes the ball in play and the original is rendered lost.
What happens if you lose a provisional ball?
If it transpires that the original ball is lost, in a penalty area, or out of bounds, you must continue with the provisional ball, under penalty of one stroke. If the original ball is found in bounds, you must continue with that ball and stop playing the provisional ball.
What does it mean when a player has put another ball into play?
The player has put another ball into play because it is known or virtually certain that the ball, which has not been found, has been moved by an outside agency, is in an obstruction, is in an abnormal ground condition or is in a penalty area; or. The player has made a stroke at a substituted ball.
Can you use provisional in a tennis game?
We would advise just using the word provisional in most cases so that you can remove all doubt. If it transpires that the original ball is lost, in a penalty area, or out of bounds, you must continue with the provisional ball, under penalty of one stroke. If the original ball is found in bounds, you must continue with that ball and stop playing ...
Can you declare a provisional ball lost?
Stating that “I’ll just declare that original ball lost” is meaningless.
When is a provisional ball allowed in golf?
According to Rule 18.3 from R&A, if a ball might be lost outside a penalty area or be out of bounds, to save time the player may play another ball provisionally under penalty of stroke and distance.
Announcing the play of a provisional ball
When you’re committed to playing a provisional ball, you’ll have to announce it to your group so they know what’s going on.
Other important details regarding provisional balls in golf
If you hit a provisional ball and wish to play it after finding your original ball, unfortunately, this isn’t allowed.
What is a provisional ball?
A provisional ball is an option taken into account in a golf game under penalty of stroke and distance to save time when the ball in play might have gone out of bounds or be lost outside a penalty area.
Why is provisional ball important?
Is provisional ball important or really necessary? It is one of the most useful Rules in the golf book and its ultimate purpose is to save time. Looking for your lost golf ball may take some time – time which the game of golf needs to keep things moving on schedule.
When does provisional ball become the ball in play?
Basically, you can proceed on playing your provisional ball up until you reach the place where the first ball (the one lost) is likely to be. Making a stroke from that point makes your provisional ball the ball in play and the first one is rendered lost.
How many strokes does a provisional ball have?
It is one stroke. 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.
When you hit a provisional ball, do you hit the provisional ball the second time?
Considering that, should your first provisional hit come up short and does not level to the place the lost ball is anticipated to be, then you are going to hit your provisional ball the second time.
Is a provisional ball allowed in golf?
Otherwise, as defined in the Rules of golf, a provisional ball is not an option or is not allowed.
Can you hit a provisional ball twice?
The answer to this basically depends on the distance covered by the strokes made onto the provisional ball against the place where the first (original) ball was anticipated to be lost.
When playing a provisional ball from the tee, must it be played?
When playing a provisional from the tee it must be played after your playing partners have played their first shot. If more than one golfer elects to play a provisional ball, the original order must be preserved. ( Rule 10-3) 9. If your original ball is found but deemed unplayable, the provisional ball cannot be played.
What happens if the provisional ball is found but deemed unplayable?
9. If your original ball is found but deemed unplayable, the provisional ball cannot be played. The provisional ball can only be played if the first ball is lost or out-of-bounds.
How many times can you hit a provisional ball?
You can hit the provisional ball as many times as you like until you reach the distance where your ball may be lost. If you then find your original ball, then disregard the provisional and the number of shots you have played with it. If you don’t find your original ball, continue playing your provisional ball. 6.
Can you play a provisional ball in a water hazard?
You can only play a provisional ball if you think your ball may be lost outside of a water hazard or out-of-bounds. This is an often misunderstood rule so take note, these are the only two scenarios when you can play a provisional ball. 2. If you are virtually certain that your ball is in a water hazard, do NOT hit a provisional.
What do the Rules of Golf say about announcing the play of a provisional ball?
Rule 18.3b states “before the stroke is made, the player must announce that he or she is going to play a provisional ball.”
Make sure people hear you say it
This little nugget is revealed in another interpretation to Rule 18.3b titled: “What is Considered Announcement of Provisional Ball”.
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 is provisional ball?
If you are then unable to find your original ball, or you find it out of bounds, your provisional ball is your ball in play under stroke and distance, and you don’t have to take the time to walk all the way back to the spot of your previous stroke.
What is a final exception in golf?
A final exception is when a new Local Rule which provides an alternative to stroke and distance relief is in effect . This Local Rule is recommended for casual play and not for competitions involving highly-skilled players. If it is in effect, for two penalty strokes, you can estimate the spot where your ball is lost or went out ...
How far can you drop a golf ball in the fairway?
You can drop a ball in the fairway within two club-lengths of that fairway edge point, or anywhere between there and the estimated spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds. To see this visually and learn more about how this optional Local Rule works, click here.
What to do if you hit a ball out of bounds?
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.
What is alternate shot golf?
In the alternate shot golf format, the two of you don’t get to play your own ball. Rather you share a ball throughout taking shots alternately on each hole. One player hits the tee shots on the odd-numbered holes, the other on the even. It’s important to remember this point.
What is the rule for penalty shots?
As Rule 22, which covers the format, says: “Any penalty shots do not change which of you and or your partner must play the next stroke.”
How many clubs can alternate shot partners share?
Alternate shot partners may share clubs as long as the total number of clubs they have together does not exceed 14.
What happens if you play a bad shot?
With only one ball in play, alternate shot is less forgiving. If you play a bad shot, your partner will have to deal with the consequences. If you’re playing badly overall, it will be difficult for your pair to do well however well your partner plays.
Can you say sorry for a bad shot in alternate shot golf?
One unwritten rule of the alternate shot golf format is to never say sorry! No-one plays a bad shot on purpose and we’re all human.
Can you say sorry for a bad shot in golf?
One unwritten rule of the alternate shot golf format is to never say sorry! No-one plays a bad shot on purpose and we're all human. Constantly apologising for mistakes is unlikely to help the team cause, especially at handicap level where mistakes might be frequent from both players.
Is air shot a stroke?
We’ve even heard tales – particularly in mixed foursomes – of players choosing to take an air shot where the carry is too long or risky. Yes, this counts as a stroke. But it might be preferable to potentially losing a ball or having to take a penalty drop.
When Is A Provisional Ball Allowed in Golf?
- According to Rule 18.3 from R&A, if a ball might be lost outside a penalty area or be out of bounds, to save time the player may play another ball provisionally under penalty of stroke and distance. For a ball that may be lost, this applies when: 1. The original ball has not been found and identified and is not yet lost, and 2. A ball might be lost...
Announcing The Play of A Provisional Ball
- When you’re committed to playing a provisional ball, you’ll have to announce it to your group so they know what’s going on. To do this, you must say something along the lines of “I’m playing a provisional ball.” Official rule 18.3 states “the player must use the word ‘provisional’ or otherwise clearly indicate that he or she is playing the ball provisionally under Rule 18.3.”
Other Important Details Regarding Provisional Balls in Golf
- If you hit a provisional ball and wish to play it after finding your original ball, unfortunately, this isn’t allowed. A provisional ball is meant as a safety measure, unlike a mulligan, so you and your group can keep a good pace throughout the round. For more information about Rule 18.3 – Provisional Ball, click here for the official USGA rules.