Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ball hits the player after a Stroke. (Rule 11.1a) A good change for the 2019 Rules will be the removal of a penalty associated with hitting yourself with a ball after a stroke. There is no advantage to this rare feat of hitting yourself, so you will now simply play the ball as it lies and no penalty at no penalty. Of course, the stroke you had made to hit the ball will count.

 

 

Accidentally Double Hitting a Ball. (Rule 10.1a) If you hit your ball and then accidentally contact the ball again with your follow through, you will not be penalized and you must play the ball where it comes to rest. Remember that the original stroke will be counted.

 

 

Ball Accidentally hits the Player's own Equipment. (Rule 11.1a) If your ball accidentally hits your own equipment, there is no penalty and the ball must be played where it came to rest.

 

 

Ball Intentionally hits own Equipment. (Rule 11.2) If you intentionally positioned any equipment or other object so the ball would potentially hit the equipment or object to mitigate a poor shot or left the equipment or object in a place you knew could potentially stop the ball, you will get the general penalty if the ball subsequently hits that positioned equipment. If the stroke was made from off the putting green, you will estimate where the ball would have ended up and drop a ball within one club length of that spot that is A) in the same area of the course as that spot and B) no closer to the hole than that spot. If that spot where the ball would have come to rest would have been on the putting green, you will place a ball on that estimated spot, and you are still getting the general penalty.

 

If the stroke was initially made from the putting green, the stroke will be cancelled, and the ball must be replaced on its original spot on the putting green. You will still be getting the general penalty.

 

 

Ball hits the Opponent or Opponent's Equipment (Match Play). (Rule 11.1a) There is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies. This is a change from the old Rule where a player would have the option to cancel and replay the stroke, but that is no longer the case.

 

 

Ball hits Fellow-Competitor or Fellow Competitor's Equipment (Stroke Play). (11.1a) There is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies.

 

 

Ball Intentionally Stopped or Deflected. (Rule 11.2) If you intentionally stop any ball in motion (either your own ball or another player's ball), you will get the general penalty. If the stroke was made from off the putting green, the estimated spot where the ball would have come to rest is determined (reference point) and you must drop a ball within one club length of that reference point that is A) in the same area of the course as the reference point and B) no closer to the hole than that spot.

 

If the stroke was made from the putting green and the ball is intentionally stopped or deflected, the player who stopped the ball will get the general penalty and the stroke must be cancelled and replayed. 

 

However, there are two notable exceptions to this Rule.

• In match play, a player may intentionally stop an opponent’s ball if there is no reasonable chance the ball can be holed while it is still in motion (i.e. the ball has rolled past the hole and there is no possibility the ball could roll back to the hole).
• The player picks up a ball in motion while dropping the ball under a Rule and there is no question that the ball is rolling or has already rolled out of the defined relief area (i.e. to save a ball from rolling into a pond).

 

 

 

Ball Played from off the Putting Green hits other ball at Rest on the course. (Rule 9.6) If a ball that was played from off the putting green hits another ball that is at rest anywhere on the course, the ball that was in motion is played as it lies and the ball that was at rest must be replaced from where it was moved from, without penalty. For example, if you hit a 150-yard shot onto the green and hit someone else's ball that was already at rest on the putting green you would then play your ball from wherever it came to rest and the other player would replace their ball back on its original spot, with no penalty to either player. If there is an issue of "Backstopping", click HERE to view the backstopping section.

 

 

Ball Played from the Putting Green hits another ball at rest on Putting Green. (Rule 11.1a - exception) If a ball is played from the putting green and hits another ball that is at rest that is also on the putting green, the ball that was in motion will be played from where it comes to rest and the stationary ball that was there first will be replaced back to where it came to rest at before it was moved. In stroke play, the player who hit the putt will be penalized two strokes. In match play, there is no penalty. If there is an issue of "Backstopping", click HERE to view the backstopping section.

 

 

Ball Played from the Putting Green is Stopped or Deflected other than a ball at rest. (Rule 11.1b - exception #2) If a ball is played from the putting green accidentally hits any other person, animal, movable obstruction (i.e. other player equipment) or another ball in motion, the stroke must be cancelled and replayed without penalty. This applies to both stroke and match play.

 

This does not include hitting a flagstick or the person attending the flagstick, which is addressed HERE.