# Rule on changing golf balls during play of a hole. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2005, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927 "2005-01-09T21:05:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/1 "2005-01-09T21:05:44Z")
In the Mercedes tournament on the 17th hole on Saturday, Tiger Woods hit a great drive that unfortunately got on a downslope and rolled into tall grass in a valley crossing the fairway. It was unplayable so he had to take a drop and a penalty. He picked up the ball and threw it into the tall grass in disgust at the bad luck. Then he played a different ball the rest of the way. I’ve thought that you can’t change balls during the play of a hole unless the ball is lost or becomes unplayable through damage. There are a couple of other ways to play a different ball but they don’t apply either. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/2 "2005-01-09T21:49:20Z")
This [site](http://www.golfonline.com/golfonline/rules/rulebyrule/article/0,17742,469367,00.html) basically agrees with what you said, the same ball must be played from tee to hole and you can only substitute when the original ball is lost or damaged. Did Tiger actually find _his_ ball, and then toss it, or did he find another ball (not his) and chuck it in disgust? ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/3 "2005-01-09T22:04:15Z")
> [@K364](#): > > This [site](http://www.golfonline.com/golfonline/rules/rulebyrule/article/0,17742,469367,00.html) basically agrees with what you said, the same ball must be played from tee to hole and you can only substitute when the original ball is lost or damaged. Did Tiger actually find _his_ ball, and then toss it, or did he find another ball (not his) and chuck it in disgust? I’m not sure. He picked up a ball, looked at it. The threw it away and did not continue to try to find his ball. It didn’t appear that he told his playing partner or any official that he was declaring his ball lost, nor did the TV commentators say that was the case. Of course it could be that he did, but the TV coverage was pretty continuous and nothing like that showed up there. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/4 "2005-01-09T22:40:02Z")
I think the most logical explanation is that the ball was damaged. Tiger Woods knows the rules of golf very well so it’s unlikely he would do anything that would cost him a stroke. I have a feeling a touring pro is allowed to declare a ball damaged a lot faster than you or I. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/5 "2005-01-09T23:24:36Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > I think the most logical explanation is that the ball was damaged. Tiger Woods knows the rules of golf very well so it’s unlikely he would do anything that would cost him a stroke. > > I have a feeling a touring pro is allowed to declare a ball damaged a lot faster than you or I. Possibly so. However, if the ball is damaged you are required to show it to either your playing companion or an official in order to confirm the damage. His playing companion, Mike Wier (could be Weir), was close to 50 yards away and there was no official anywhere in the TV picture. From **k364’s** cite: “you may lift your ball from any place, including a bunker or water hazard, to determine whether the ball has become unfit for play. You must first announce that you are going to lift the ball because it might be damaged, then you must mark the ball and give your opponent in match play or fellow-competitor in stroke play an opportunity to examine it. Failure to follow this procedure results in a one-stroke penalty.” Minor nicks and dents aren’t damage sufficient to declare a ball unfit for play by anyone. Again from the cite: “You can substitute a ball if the original is ‘unfit for play,’ which means it is visibly cut, cracked, or out of shape. Unless you’re still playing a ball with a balata cover, that can be pretty tough to do these days, especially since a mere scuff or scratch doesn’t make a ball unfit (nor can a ball be substituted if the player thinks it is damaged internally…” Yes they all know the rules pretty well and on occasion all of them screw up. And Woods isn’t without a short fuze on occasion. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/6 "2005-01-09T23:46:06Z")
From the [Rules of Golf, 15:2](http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/books/rules/rule15.html#15-1): > [@](#): > > A player may substitute a ball when proceeding under a Rule that permits the player to play, drop or place another ball in completing the play of a hole. The substituted ball becomes the ball in play. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/7 "2005-01-09T23:52:56Z")
> [@manhattan](#): > > From the [Rules of Golf, 15:2](http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/books/rules/rule15.html#15-1): Right. As I read the rule, the player may substitute a ball, but if that is done without cause, _i.e._ lost ball or ball unfit for play (with a couple of other instances not involved here), and a shot is played before the mistaken substitution is corrected there is a 1 stroke penalty. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/8 "2005-01-09T23:58:20Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > It didn’t appear that he told his playing partner or any official that he was declaring his ball lost… Don’t forget that in a situation like that, there’s all sorts of course officials buzzing around the player and his entourage. It would be very easy for one of them to be notified (and would the caddy be able to do it on the player’s behalf?) ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/9 "2005-01-10T00:06:52Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > Right. As I read the rule, the player may substitute a ball, but if that is done without cause, _i.e._ lost ball or ball unfit for play (with a couple of other instances not involved here), and a shot is played before the mistaken substitution is corrected there is a 1 stroke penalty. Nope. Any time a drop or place is in effect a player may substitute without penalty (in this case, without _additional_ penalty of course). Indeed, once the ball is out of bounds, as in this case, Tiger isn’t under any obligation even to search for the ball since he’ll be taking a drop anyway. Probably the closes direct governing decision is 15:1/4, which states > [@](#): > > Q. A and B played into a water hazard at approximately the same spot. One caddie was authorized to retrieve both balls and he handed A’s ball to B and B’s ball to A. Each player dropped the ball handed to him behind the hazard under Rule 26-1b and played to the green. On reaching the green, they discovered the exchange of balls. Should they be penalized under Rule 15-2? > A. No. Rule 26-1b authorizes the player to drop “a ball.” Accordingly, the substitution of another ball is permissible. (Revised) . Woods’ substitution was legal under the Rules. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/10 "2005-01-10T00:09:20Z")
> [@manhattan](#): > > Nope. Any time a drop or place is in effect a player may substitute without penalty (in this case, without _additional_ penalty of course). Indeed, once the ball is out of bounds, as in this case, Tiger isn’t under any obligation even to search for the ball since he’ll be taking a drop anyway. > > Probably the closes direct governing decision is 15:1/4, which states. Woods’ substitution was legal under the Rules. Well, the ball wasn’t out of bounds nor in a hazard as far as I know. I think it was just rough. It the area turns out to have been a hazard, then Woods was OK. I’ll see if I can find out in today’s round if that was a hazard. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/11 "2005-01-10T00:26:00Z")
In this case, at The Plantation Course at Kapalua everything that isn’t mowed is considered a lateral water hazard. But it doesn’t matter. As soon as Woods accepts a stroke penalty and a drop – for any reason – a ball substitution is allowed. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/12 "2005-01-10T02:09:22Z")
Your ball can be sitting pretty in the middle of the fairway and you may, at your option, declare it unplayable. You take a stroke penalty and drop, as Woods did. And if he’s doing that, then he can substitute his ball. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/13 "2005-01-10T02:29:21Z")
> [@"manhattan](#): > > In this case, at The Plantation Course at Kapalua everything that isn’t mowed is considered a lateral water hazard. That would explain it. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/14 "2005-01-10T03:16:40Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > I have a feeling a touring pro is allowed to declare a ball damaged a lot faster than you or I. I doubt it as there is no such thing as declaring a ball lost. You get to look for five minutes, after which it **is** lost, or you can put another ball in play, but you cannot “declare a ball lost”. If a player says after two minutes of looking “I declare the ball lost”, but someone then finds it within five minutes and before another ball is put in play, the original ball is good. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/15 "2005-01-10T03:40:13Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Your ball can be sitting pretty in the middle of the fairway and you may, at your option, declare it unplayable. You take a stroke penalty and drop, as Woods did. And if he’s doing that, then he can substitute his ball. I question this because it would make a joke of the “hole out with the same ball you teed off.” For example, you can’t use a special “putting ball.” However by your claim you could be two feet off the green in the throat, declare the ball unplayable and substitute your special ball. Coldor me dubious. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/16 "2005-01-10T03:51:18Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > I doubt it as there is no such thing as declaring a ball lost. You get to look for five minutes, after which it **is** lost, or you can put another ball in play, but you cannot “declare a ball lost”. If a player says after two minutes of looking “I declare the ball lost”, but someone then finds it within five minutes and before another ball is put in play, the original ball is good. Excuse my rubbish - I obviously misread “damaged” for “lost”. They are so similar, you know… ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/17 "2005-01-10T04:01:37Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Excuse my rubbish - I obviously misread “damaged” for “lost”. They are so similar, you know… Coulda happened to anybody. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/18 "2005-01-10T04:14:13Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > I question this because it would make a joke of the “hole out with the same ball you teed off.” For example, you can’t use a special “putting ball.” However by your claim you could be two feet off the green in the throat, declare the ball unplayable and substitute your special ball. > > Coldor me dubious. Sure, at a cost of a one stroke penalty. Be dubious all you want. Just read the rules. Especially Rule 28: > [@](#): > > The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-on-changing-golf-balls-during-play-of-a-hole/283927/19 "2005-01-10T04:26:41Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Sure, at a cost of a one stroke penalty. > > Be dubious all you want. Just read the rules. Especially Rule 28: Oops! I was interpreting “unplayable” as “unfit for play.” My mistake.