Damaged ball

Chris Wallace, Rules manager at The R&A, explains what to do if your golf ball is damaged during the course of play.

Over the course of even a good round, a player’s ball can find itself in various places both on and off the course, potentially landing on anything from lush fairways to rocky outcrops. Although their modern design means golf balls are generally exceptionally durable, there are always situations where a ball can get scuffed, damaged or cracked in the normal course of play.

So, what is considered to be ‘damage’ to a golf ball; what are a player’s options should their ball become damaged during the course of play; and when can a player change balls during a round? Well, you can always change balls before starting a hole and generally players will then hole out with the same ball played from the teeing area, unless substituting a ball under the Rules in taking relief, both free and penalty.

In the unlikely event that a player’s ball breaks into pieces after a stroke, there is no penalty and the stroke does not count. Instead, the player must play another ball from where that stroke was made.

A more common occurrence is when a player’s ball becomes cut or cracked while playing a hole. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as a ball striking a cart path. If a player reasonably believes that his or her ball has been cut or cracked while playing a hole, they have the option to lift the ball to look at it. However, there are some procedures that must be followed.

If a player is lifting a ball to see if it is cut or cracked, the spot of the ball must first be marked, and the ball must not be cleaned (except when it is on the putting green). If a player lifts the ball without having a reasonable belief that it is cut or cracked (except on the putting green), they fail to mark the spot of the ball before lifting it or clean the ball, the player gets one penalty stroke. One of the biggest misconceptions, however, is that a ball can be substituted when it is scratched or scraped, or when its paint is damaged or discoloured. This is not the case.

You may only substitute another ball if it can be clearly seen that the original is cut or cracked, and only if it is clear this damage happened during the hole being played. However, if the original ball proves not cut or cracked, the player must replace it back on its original spot.