Purpose: Rule 9 covers a central principle of the game: "play the ball as it lies".
You must play your ball at rest on the course as it lies, except when the Rules require or allow you:
If your ball at rest begins moving after you have begun the stroke or the backswing for a stroke and you go on to make the stroke:
Penalty for Playing Incorrectly Substituted Ball or Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 9.1: General Penalty.
Your ball at rest is treated as having moved only if it is known or virtually certain that it did.
If your ball might have moved but this is not known or virtually certain, it is treated as not having moved and you must play it as it lies.
The Rules recognize only four possible causes for your ball at rest to move before you make a stroke:
You, your opponent or an outside influence are treated as having caused the ball to move only if it is known or virtually certain to be the case. If not, the ball is treated as having been moved by natural forces.
If natural forces (such as wind or water) cause your ball at rest to move, there is no penalty, and your ball must be played from its new spot.
Exception - If your ball on the putting green moves after you have already lifted and replaced it, the ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated).
Penalty for Playing Incorrectly Substituted Ball or Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 9.3: General Penalty.
If you or your caddie lift your ball at rest or cause it to move, your ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated), except:
If you lift or deliberately touch your ball at rest or cause it to move, you get one penalty stroke.
But there are four exceptions where you get no penalty for doing so:
Exception 1 - When You are Allowed to Lift or Move Ball.
Exception 2 - Accidental Movement Before Ball Is Found.
Exception 3 - Accidental Movement on Putting Green.
Exception 4 - Accidental Movement Anywhere Except on Putting Green While Applying Rule.
See Full Rules For further explanation of these Exceptions.
Penalty for Playing Incorrectly Substituted Ball or Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 9.4: General Penalty.
See Full Rules For information when your ball is lifted or moved by your opponent in match play.
If it is known or virtually certain that an outside influence lifted or moved your ball there is no penalty. The ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated).
Penalty for Playing Incorrectly Substituted Ball or Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 9.6: General Penalty.
If your ball-marker is lifted or moved in any way (including by natural forces) before your ball is replaced, you must either:
Before your ball is replaced, if you lift your ball-marker or cause it to move, you get one penalty stroke. If your opponent does so, he or she gets one penalty stroke.
Exception - Rule 9.4b and Rule 9.5b Exceptions Apply to Lifting Ball-Marker or Causing It to Move
Penalty for Playing Incorrectly Substituted Ball or Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 9.7: General Penalty.
The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee. The boundary edge extends both up above the ground and down below the ground.
The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee. The boundary edge extends both up above the ground and down below the ground.
When your ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether your ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If your ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, your ball has not moved.
When your ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether your ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If your ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, your ball has not moved.
To change the ball you are using to play a hole by having another ball become your ball in play.
Any place on the course other than where you are required or allowed to play your ball under the Rules.
When your ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether your ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If your ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, your ball has not moved.
The standard for deciding what happened to your ball - for example, whether your ball came to rest in a penalty area, whether it moved or what caused it to move.
Known or virtually certain means more than just possible or probable. It means that either:
When your ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether your ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If your ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, your ball has not moved.
The standard for deciding what happened to your ball - for example, whether your ball came to rest in a penalty area, whether it moved or what caused it to move.
Known or virtually certain means more than just possible or probable. It means that either:
When your ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether your ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If your ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, your ball has not moved.
When your ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether your ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If your ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, your ball has not moved.
The effects of nature such as wind, water or when something happens for no apparent reason because of the effects of gravity.
Someone who helps you during a round to carry, transport or handle your clubs and/or give you advice. A caddie may also help you in other ways allowed by the Rules (see Rule 10.3b).
A form of play where you or your side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds.
Someone who helps you during a round to carry, transport or handle your clubs and/or give you advice. A caddie may also help you in other ways allowed by the Rules (see Rule 10.3b).
Any of these people or things that can affect what happens to your ball or equipment or to the course:
A form of play where you or your side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.
Any of these people or things that can affect what happens to your ball or equipment or to the course:
When your ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether your ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If your ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, your ball has not moved.
The standard for deciding what happened to your ball - for example, whether your ball came to rest in a penalty area, whether it moved or what caused it to move.
Known or virtually certain means more than just possible or probable. It means that either:
When your ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether your ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If your ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, your ball has not moved.
The effects of nature such as wind, water or when something happens for no apparent reason because of the effects of gravity.
The effects of nature such as wind, water or when something happens for no apparent reason because of the effects of gravity.
When your ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether your ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If your ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, your ball has not moved.
The area on the hole you are playing that is specially prepared for putting, or the Committee has defined as the putting green (such as when a temporary green is used).
When your ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether your ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If your ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, your ball has not moved.
To change the ball you are using to play a hole by having another ball become your ball in play.
Any place on the course other than where you are required or allowed to play your ball under the Rules.
Someone who helps you during a round to carry, transport or handle your clubs and/or give you advice. A caddie may also help you in other ways allowed by the Rules (see Rule 10.3b).
When your ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether your ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If your ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, your ball has not moved.
When your ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether your ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If your ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, your ball has not moved.
When your ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether your ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If your ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, your ball has not moved.
To change the ball you are using to play a hole by having another ball become your ball in play.
Any place on the course other than where you are required or allowed to play your ball under the Rules.
The standard for deciding what happened to your ball - for example, whether your ball came to rest in a penalty area, whether it moved or what caused it to move.
Known or virtually certain means more than just possible or probable. It means that either:
Any of these people or things that can affect what happens to your ball or equipment or to the course:
When your ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether your ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If your ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, your ball has not moved.
To change the ball you are using to play a hole by having another ball become your ball in play.
Any place on the course other than where you are required or allowed to play your ball under the Rules.
An artificial object when used to mark the spot of your ball to be lifted, such as a tee, a coin, an object made to be a ball-marker or another small piece of equipment.
The effects of nature such as wind, water or when something happens for no apparent reason because of the effects of gravity.
An artificial object when used to mark the spot of your ball to be lifted, such as a tee, a coin, an object made to be a ball-marker or another small piece of equipment.
To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either placing a ball-marker right behind or right next to the ball, or holding a club on the ground right behind or right next to the ball.
An artificial object when used to mark the spot of your ball to be lifted, such as a tee, a coin, an object made to be a ball-marker or another small piece of equipment.
To change the ball you are using to play a hole by having another ball become your ball in play.
Any place on the course other than where you are required or allowed to play your ball under the Rules.