
A golf ball marker is used on putting greens to mark the positions of a player’s ball so that he or she can remove their golf ball to allow another to put without any hesitation. It is a small object that is used to mark the position of a golf ball. Your ball would probably obstruct the line of other players if you don’t mark your balls.
What are some cool ways to mark a golf ball?
How do tour pros mark their golf balls?
- Jordan Spieth. This video is unavailable. An error occurred while retrieving sharing information. ...
- Adam Scott. This video is unavailable. ...
- Louis Oosthuizen. This video is unavailable. ...
- Bubba Watson. This video is unavailable. ...
- Rickie Fowler. This video is unavailable. ...
- Henrik Stenson. This video is unavailable. ...
- Ian Poulter. This video is unavailable. ...
What are the rules for marking a golf ball?
- Placing a ball on the spot where the ball dropped the second time first touched the ground.
- If the placed ball does not stay at rest on that spot, you must place a ball on that spot a second time.
- If the ball placed a second time also does not stay on that spot, you must place a ball on the nearest spot where the ball will stay at rest, ...
What are the markings on a golf ball?
Why Do Players Mark Their Golf Balls?
- Identifying Your Ball We know this is the most obvious one on the list. But it’s true. ...
- Business Purpose or Charity It’s another common reason why you would see markings or stamps on a golf ball. ...
- Alignment
How do you mark your golf ball?
Swing Evaluation for GOLF.com Readers!
- Put a dot on every side of the ball The first step is to treat your golf ball like it’s a dice. ...
- Down and left towards the tee But when you’re on the tee, Elliot suggests a great idea: place a dot so it’s located down slightly towards the ground and ...
- Keep your eyes locked on the ball

What can I use as a golf ball marker?
Ball-markers must be artificial, such as a tee, coin, the toe of your putter, or other small piece of equipment. A natural object like a leaf or twig may not be used as a ball-marker.
Do you need a golf ball marker?
The marker must be placed behind the ball. It is necessary in golf to mark your ball once it is on the green in order to allow players further away to putt. If players did not mark their golf balls, then other players might hit the ball with their ball when they putt.
What do the pros use as ball markers?
The pros seem to always use Coins , rather than the plastic ball markers that stick into the ground. Its seems like a ball would roll smoother over one of those plastic ones since they are stuck to the ground.
Why do people use golf ball markers?
A golf marker keeps the place of your golf ball. When you tee off and your ball lands, a marker is placed to maintain that spot so you know where it landed when the next player tees off with their ball. Golf ball markers are used in four ball, although it may be done differently.
What happens if a golf ball hits a marker?
Rules of Golf explained: Our expert says… There is an exception to Rule 11.1b that says when a ball in motion hits a ball marker on the putting green, the stroke counts and the ball must be played as it lies. In this case, it's in the hole so write the score down and move on.
Why do golfers mark their ball with Sharpie?
Having extra lines will help you see the roll of the ball easier and identify if you're pulling or pushing it with your putter. This might be too much for some players but it's a good way to improve your putting on the practice green too. Sharpie is included with this alignment tool but never hurts to have extra.
Is it legal to mark your golf ball with a tee?
Officially, no. Under the Rules of Golf, any number of artificial objects — a coin, the toe of your putter, the tab of a beer can — may be used to mark your ball. The key word being “artificial.” Using a natural object, such as a leaf or a twig, is a violation.
How does Dustin Johnson mark his golf ball?
Although Johnson is the most easygoing, keep-it-simple player on Tour today, even he holds a bizarre superstition that he can't play a round of golf without. DJ uses a heads-up quarter to mark his ball on the green in every professional round he plays, but it can't just be any quarter.
How do golfers mark their ball overnight?
The position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker, a small coin or another similar object immediately behind the ball. If the ball-marker interferes with the play, stance or stroke of another player, it should be placed one or more clubhead-lengths to one side.
How do you place a golf ball marker?
You are not required to place the ball marker behind the golf ball before lifting your ball on the putting green. You can place your ball marker in front of the ball or beside it, so long as you replace the ball in the correct position later. However, we recommend always placing the marker behind the ball.
What is a ball marker?
The term "ball marker" might also be used when discussing devices that help golfers add an identifying mark or pattern onto their golf balls, or draw a straight line on a golf ball to aid with alignment.
Is the word "ball marker" hyphenated?
Note that in the Official Rules of Golf, the term is hyphenated: ball-marker. Spelling it as one word — ballmarker — is also common. Rule 14 addresses the use of ball markers when lifting and replacing golf balls.
What is the ball marker on a golf ball?
When ready to replace the golf ball, the ball is placed again at the spot marked by the object, then the object is lifted. That object, of course, is called the "ball mark" or "ball marker," because it is marking the spot of the golf ball.
What is a ball marker?
The Definitions section in the Rules of Golf includes an entry for "ball-marker" (the governing bodies spell it hyphenated) in which the R&A and USGA define the term this way: "An artificial object when used to mark the spot of a ball to be lifted, such as a tee, a coin, an object made to be a ball-marker or another small piece of equipment.".
What is the best way to mark the spot of your golf ball on the green before lifting the ball?
The Rules of Golf recommend using a coin or an object specifically made to be used as a ball marker to mark the spot of your golf ball on the green before lifting the ball. It is considered poor golf etiquette to use an unusual object as a ball marker that could be distracting to other golfers playing with you.
What is the purpose of a ball marker?
Let's start by explaining the purpose of a ball marker. When a golfer's ball rests on the surface of the putting green, the golfer has the option to lift the ball ( to, for example, clean it, or to reorient its graphics so they point to the hole). But when lifting your golf ball off the green, the Rules of Golf require golfers to mark the spot first.
When lifting a golf ball off the green, what do you do?
But when lifting your golf ball off the green, the Rules of Golf require golfers to mark the spot first. To do that, golfers place an object at the location of the golf ball (typically directly behind it), then lift the ball. When ready to replace the golf ball, the ball is placed again at the spot marked by the object, then the object is lifted.
When to use a tee?
Tees are most often used when a golfer is lifting a ball somewhere on the golf course other than the putting green (for example, when conducting a drop for relief). On the putting green, the vast majority of golfers use "a coin (or) an object made to be a ball marker," as the rulebook definition puts it. The procedures for marking, lifting the ...
What is the ball marker in soccer?
The ball-marker must be placed next to the ball, which includes behind, in front, or left and right of the ball. When replacing the ball the player must replace the ball by using their hand and setting the ball down.
How many inches are ball markers?
Ball-makers with alignment aids (lines, arrows, etc.) must be: Less than two inches in any horizontal direction . Must not measure or gauge slope, green speed, or other conditions. Any ball-marker that exceeds the above dimensions, and has alignment lines, is considered an “alignment device” and is not permitted.
What is the clarification for ball markers?
The Clarification released in January of 2020 addresses ball-markers that were designed to help with alignment. Most normal sized ball-markers with alignment lines are allowed; however, the Equipment Rules explain what is not allowed.
What do golfers put on their balls?
Many golfers have a special coin, a poker chip, a magnetic decorative coin, or something similar. Some golfers have reached out to me asking if their ball-marker is legal in the Rules of Golf.
Is a ball marker legal in golf?
Some golfers have reached out to me asking if their ball-marker is legal in the Rules of Golf. When the Rules of Golf were overhauled and released in January of 2019, the new Rules included a definition of a ball-marker and how it can be used. Then in January of 2020, the USGA released a Clarification that references the Equipment Rules ...
Why do you need a marker on a golf ball?
The marker must be placed behind the ball. It is necessary in golf to mark your ball once it is on the green in order to allow players further away to putt. If players did not mark their golf balls, then other players might hit the ball with their ball when they putt. Marking a golf ball on a green must be done properly ...
Where to place a ball marker in golf?
A player may mark her ball by placing a ball marker or a small coin, such as a dime, right behind where the ball lies on the green. The key phrase here is “right behind,” as it is not recommended to place the marker anywhere else, such as in front or to the side, to designate where the ball was, even though this is legal. Marking in front of the ball may alter the green in some way and is discouraged.
What happens if you drop a marker in golf?
There are golf rules that cover a host of ball-marking scenarios. If a player drops her marker on the golf ball and moves it, the penalty is one stroke. However, there is no penalty if a marker is accidentally knocked away by such forces as the wind, an opponent or even an animal. If a player believes that a hole has been won ...
What happens if you don't mark your golf ball?
If players did not mark their golf balls, then other players might hit the ball with their ball when they putt. Marking a golf ball on a green must be done properly and according to the rules of the game, or players can be subject to penalties.
Can you mark your own ball on the green?
A player may mark his own ball or have anyone that is authorized to do so, such as his caddy, mark the ball on the green. If the ball being marked is accidentally moved, no penalty is assessed. To move a marker, it should be placed one or more full club lengths to one side.
Can you move a marker in golf?
Moving a Marker. Since the ball marker is considered a movable obstruction by the rules of golf, it can be moved by a player without incurring a penalty. If a player requests that a ball marker that seems to be in the line of his putt be moved, it can be.
Important: The Golf Ball Marker Size Rule
Pro golfers follow the “Rules of Golf” of the U.S. Golf Association (USGA). Rule 20-1 does not state a specific golf ball marker size but highlights “small coin or other similar objects”. Therefore, it can be the size of a dime or a quarter.
What are Golf Ball Markers Made of?
To reiterate the USGA’s “Rules of Golf”, The Golf ball markers are made of “small coins or similar objects” or “specially made markers”. By “specially made markers”, the USGA may be referring to ball markers made to carry the logo of a golf company or the name of a golf course. Some of these are made of metal discs.
Why Do Golfers Put a Coin Down then?
Some golfers put a coin down to mark their golf balls on the putting green. They do this for different reasons. One is to get the ball out of the way of another player.
How to putt a ball marker?
When placing your ball marker, always situate it carefully behind your ball and do not lift the ball until the marker is in place. Remove the ball and wipe it off, if needed, while waiting for the other players to putt. When it's your turn to play, replace the ball to the front side of the marker and remove the marker once the ball is stationary.
Why do you have to mark your golf ball on the green?
Marking your golf ball on the green is an important part of golf etiquette, and the rules of golf require that the position of any ball to be lifted must marked. When your group has reached the green and you're not the first to play, replace your ball with a marker to give other players a clear shot at the hole.
