Harper Lin
A provisional ball in golf is an additional ball played when a player believes their original ball may be lost or out of bounds. If a player hits a provisional ball and then finds their original, they must continue playing with the original, disregarding any strokes and penalties incurred with the provisional. If the original ball is not found, the provisional ball becomes the ball in play, and the player incurs a stroke-and-distance penalty for losing the original ball. It is important to announce the intention to play a provisional ball to fellow golfers, and the make and number of the ball must be identified. This rule allows players to save time by avoiding the need to walk back to the original spot of the ball if it is lost or out of bounds.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
When to use a provisional ball
The provisional ball rule is designed to handle the situation where the only legal action a player can take is a stroke-and-distance penalty. This occurs when a ball is lost or goes out of bounds, and the player must return to the point of the last stroke and play again, with a penalty assessed.
You should use a provisional ball when you think your original ball might be lost outside a water hazard or out-of-bounds. Before doing so, you must announce your intention to use a provisional ball, so that your fellow competitors are aware. You can then play a shot with the provisional ball, and you have up to three minutes to search for your original ball.
If your original ball is found within the three minutes, you must abandon the provisional ball and continue with your original. If the original ball is found to be in a penalty area, you cannot use the provisional. If your original ball is not found within the three minutes, the provisional ball becomes the ball in play, and you incur a stroke-and-distance penalty for losing the original ball.
It is important to note that if you are eligible to play a provisional ball but do not announce your intention to do so, the rules state that you must play your next shot from where the previous stroke was made, and that ball becomes your ball in play under the penalty of stroke and distance.
Golf Style: Where to Buy the Best Clothes
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Rules around announcing the use of a provisional ball
When a player believes their original ball may be lost outside a water hazard or out-of-bounds, they can opt to play a provisional ball. However, they must first announce their intention to do so. This announcement must include the word "provisional" or a reference to Rule 27-2a/Rule 18.3b. The player must ensure their fellow golfers hear this announcement.
If a player fails to announce their intention to play a provisional ball, any ball they play from where the previous stroke was made becomes their ball in play, and they incur a penalty of stroke-and-distance. This rule applies even if the player intended to play a provisional ball.
If the original ball is found on the course outside a penalty area within three minutes, the player must abandon the provisional ball and continue playing with the original. If the original ball is not found, the provisional ball becomes the ball in play, and the player incurs a stroke-and-distance penalty for losing the original ball.
It is important to note that a player must abandon their provisional ball if their original ball is not lost or out-of-bounds, or if it is determined to be in a water hazard. In such cases, the player must play the original ball, even if they have already hit a good provisional shot.
Golfing Basics: Perfect Your Putting Technique
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Where to hit a provisional ball from
When you hit a shot that may be lost in the General Area or out of bounds, you can decide to play a provisional ball. This is to save time and distance, as without a provisional ball, you would have to return to the point of the original stroke and play again with a penalty assessed.
If you decide to introduce a provisional ball, you are required to announce it explicitly, using the word "provisional" in a declaration to those in your group. You then play your next stroke with another ball from the same position as the original was played. You can also go forward by about 50 yards without losing your option to return to the spot where you last played and hit a provisional.
If your original ball is found, you must abandon the provisional ball and continue with your original. If your original ball is not found, the provisional ball becomes the active ball with one penalty stroke assessed.
If you think your provisional ball might also be lost, you can declare another provisional ball from the same position as the original stroke. If you do not find the first provisional, it becomes the active ball with one penalty stroke assessed. If you cannot find the second provisional, it becomes the active ball with another penalty stroke assessed, and so on.
If you are playing under Local Rule #13, you can hit a provisional ball at the point where the original ball entered a penalty area.
Golf Galaxy Trade-Ins: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
What happens if the original ball is found
If a golfer's original ball is found within three minutes of the player or their caddie beginning the search, the golfer must abandon the provisional ball and continue playing with the original. This rule applies even if the golfer had declared the original ball lost. The golfer must disregard any strokes and penalties incurred with the provisional ball.
If the original ball is found outside a penalty area, the golfer must abandon the provisional ball and play the original. A penalty area is an area from which relief with a one-stroke penalty is allowed if the ball comes to rest there.
If the original ball is found inside a penalty area, the golfer can choose to abandon the provisional ball and play the original, or continue playing with the provisional ball.
If the golfer hits a provisional ball from a spot nearer to the hole than the original ball, the provisional ball becomes the ball in play.
Golf Shoes: Discounts and Deals
You may want to see also
Explore related products
What happens if the provisional ball is lost
If a golfer believes their original ball may be lost, they can play a provisional ball. However, if the provisional ball is also lost, the golfer can play another provisional ball, and so on, until they have a ball in play. Each time a provisional ball is lost, a penalty stroke is added to the golfer's score.
When a golfer hits a provisional ball, they must announce their intention to do so by saying something like, "I'm going to hit a provisional." This announcement must be made before the stroke is made, and it must be made to the golfer's opponent in match play or their fellow competitor in stroke play. If the golfer does not make this announcement, the provisional ball becomes their ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance.
If the original ball is found within three minutes, the provisional ball is picked up and cannot be used. The golfer must continue playing with the original ball, disregarding any strokes and penalties incurred with the provisional. If the original ball is found in a penalty area, the golfer must abandon the provisional ball and play the original ball or take relief under the water hazard relief options.
It is important to note that a golfer cannot play a provisional ball if they think their original ball might be lost in a water hazard. In this case, if the original ball is re-hit from the same spot, the new ball becomes the ball in play with a stroke added to the golfer's score.
Golfing Greatness: Avoiding Common Pitfalls
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
You should hit a provisional ball when you believe your original ball is lost somewhere on the course (not in a penalty area) or out of bounds.
Before hitting a provisional ball, you must announce your intention to do so to your competitors, using the word "provisional". You must also identify the make and number of the provisional ball.
If you find your original ball within the allotted time (usually 3-5 minutes), you must disregard the strokes and any penalties incurred with the provisional ball, and continue playing with your original ball.
If you cannot find your original ball, the provisional ball becomes the ball in play, and you incur the stroke-and-distance penalty for losing the original ball.
