Rule 9: The Ball at Rest: What to Do If It Moves
What this is about
You must play your golf ball from the spot where it came to rest. What you should do if your ball moves before you make a stroke is the essence of this rule.
What you need to do
You must play your ball from exactly the spot where it came to rest. If your ball moves before you make a stroke (an attempt to strike the ball), here's what to do:
- Caused by wind, water, or another natural force: You play the ball from its new location. You get no penalty. One exception: on the putting green, you must replace it if it moved after you had already lifted and replaced it.
- Caused by you or your caddie: Replace the ball on its original spot. You get one penalty stroke. Be extra careful near your ball.
- Caused by another player or an animal: Replace the ball on its original spot. You get no penalty.
- Not sure if the ball moved, or what caused it? Assume it 'did not move' or that it was caused by 'natural forces'.
Common mistake
Many beginners think you're always allowed to replace the ball if it moves. That's not true. If wind or water moves your ball, you must play it from its new spot instead.
Example
Your ball is lying on the fairway, ready for your next stroke. Just before you start your backswing, a water bottle rolls off your fellow player's golf trolley and bumps into your ball. Your ball shifts slightly as a result. You must replace your ball on the spot where it originally lay. You get no penalty for this.
Practise this rule with real exam questions in the free app.
9.1 Playing the ball as it lies
9.1a Playing the ball from where it comes to rest
A ball in play that has come to rest after a stroke must be played from where it lies, unless the Rules require or allow you to play the ball from another place. Penalty for playing a ball from a wrong place: general penalty (Rule 14.7).
9.1b What to do when the ball moves during the backswing or the stroke
If the ball at rest moves after the player has started the backswing and the player completes the stroke, the stroke can't be cancelled. The ball is played from where it comes to rest after the stroke, with no penalty.
9.2 Determining Whether the Ball Has Moved and What Caused the Movement
9.2a Determining if the ball has moved
A ball is considered to have moved if it's visible (to the naked eye) that the ball has changed position and come to rest in a different spot. If it's not certain whether the ball has moved, it's considered not to have moved.
9.2b Determining what caused the ball to move
If a ball at rest has moved, you need to figure out the cause: the player, the opponent (in match play), natural forces (wind, water, gravity), or an outside influence (animal, spectator, another ball). If it's "known or virtually certain" that the player caused the movement, this is assumed to be true. If no other cause can be determined, the player is considered to have moved the ball.
9.3 Ball moved by natural forces
If natural forces (wind, water, gravity) cause a ball at rest to move, there's no penalty. The ball must be played from its new spot. Exception: if the ball was already marked, lifted and replaced on the putting green, and then moves due to natural forces, it must be replaced on its original spot (Rule 13.1d).
9.4 Ball Lifted or Moved by the Player
9.4a When a lifted or moved ball must be replaced
If a player lifts their ball at rest or causes it to move (other than by making a stroke), the ball must be replaced on its original spot.
9.4b Penalty for lifting, deliberately touching, or causing a ball to move
If you lift your ball at rest, deliberately touch it, or cause it to move (other than when the Rules allow this): one penalty stroke. Exceptions (no penalty): lifting the ball under a Rule that allows it, accidentally moving the ball while searching for it (Rule 7.4), or accidentally moving the ball on the putting green (Rule 13.1d).
9.5 Ball Lifted or Moved by an Opponent in Match Play
9.5a When a lifted or moved ball must be replaced
If an opponent lifts the player's ball at rest or causes it to move (other than by making a stroke), the ball must be replaced.
9.5b Penalty for the opponent
If the opponent lifts the player's ball, deliberately touches it, or causes it to move (other than when the Rules allow this): the opponent gets one penalty stroke. Exception: no penalty for lifting the player's ball while believing it to be their own ball.
9.6 Ball lifted or moved by an outside influence
If it's known or virtually certain that an outside influence (an animal, spectator or person other than the player or opponent) lifted or moved the ball: no penalty. The ball must be replaced on its original spot (estimated, if the exact spot isn't known). This applies even if the ball hasn't been found, as long as it's "known or virtually certain" that an outside influence lifted or moved it.
9.7 Ball-marker lifted or moved
9.7a The ball or ball-marker must be replaced
If a ball-marker at the position of the player's ball is lifted or moved (by anyone), the ball or ball-marker must be replaced.
9.7b Penalty for lifting or causing movement of a ball-marker
If a player lifts their own ball-marker or causes it to move (other than as allowed by the Rules): one penalty stroke.